Why as a 60-years old technologist; Who Lived Through 5 tech revolutions I believe the AI hype.
Space travel, PCs and software, the Internet, Mobile phones and AI
Some of my retired friends think I am crazy when I tell them I am working 70-hour weeks learning about AI and creating Assistants with a team of developers; most of my developers born after all of those technologies were invented.
I admit I am crazy….excited about the technological revolution AI represents. I am writing this article because I have been reading about the hype, the enormous costs training models and the relative commercial un-sustainability of AI in model development and energy consumption. The investments required to put a man on the moon with the Apollo program, Saturn, suits and everything were estimated at $28billion in 2023 dollars. All of it funded by public money.
Some of you will accuse me of comparing apples to oranges but developing game changing technologies is never cheap. And nobody has died yet developing LLMs or actually risking their lives testing models unlike the Saturn project.
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, we’ve witnessed transformative waves that have reshaped our world. Space travel accelerated the development of computers and aerospace, the internet connected us globally, mobile phones put the world in our pockets, and PCs and software solutions streamlined every aspect of our lives.
As a 60-year-old tech entrepreneur having worked in international telecommunications then with Cirque du Soleil and for the largest adult domain name in the world(I will let you guess which one..)) I have had an eclectic career in technology as I rode these waves and I can tell you with unwavering certainty:
Artificial intelligence is not just the next big thing. It’s the biggest thing. Ever.
Imagine, if you will, a world where the Wright brothers (the inventors of the first controlled, sustained flight in a powered airplane) didn’t just invent the airplane, but simultaneously created a network of airports, air traffic control systems, and a global airline industry. That’s the scale of change we’re looking at with AI. It’s not just a new technology; it’s a paradigm shift that will redefine every aspect of human existence.
The Tipping Point
Malcolm Gladwell, in his book “The Tipping Point,” talks about how little things can make a big difference. He describes the moment an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold and spreads like wildfire. AI is at that tipping point right now, but its spread will be more akin to a supernova than a wildfire.
Consider this:
The internet took about 30 years to become ubiquitous. Mobile phones, around 20 years. Software solutions? Let’s say 40 years, give or take. AI? It’s already here, and its impact is accelerating at a pace that makes Moore’s Law look like a leisurely stroll. ChatGPT was launched in 2022 and rached 100 million users in 60 days.
The Multiplier Effect
Here’s where things get interesting. The internet, mobile phones, and software solutions were revolutionary, no doubt. But AI is a multiplier for all of these technologies. It doesn’t just build on them; it exponentially enhances their capabilities.
Take the internet. It gave us access to information. AI gives us the ability to understand, synthesize, and create new information at a scale and speed that’s simply mind-boggling. Mobile phones connected us. AI will anticipate our needs before we even realize them. Software solutions automated tasks. AI will redefine what tasks even are.
The Human Touch in a Digital World
Now, you might be thinking, “Isn’t this just another tech hype cycle? Haven’t we heard all this before?” Fair question. But here’s the kicker: AI is not just about technology. It’s about enhancing human capabilities in ways we’ve only dreamed of.
As a 60-year-old entrepreneur, I’ve seen my fair share of technological revolutions. But AI is different. It’s not just changing how we work or communicate. It’s changing how we think, how we create, how we solve problems. It’s augmenting our cognitive abilities in ways that will make our current selves look like Neanderthals in comparison.
The Birth of idea-lab.ai
This realization is what led me to create idea-lab.ai. After decades in the tech industry, witnessing and participating in various revolutions, I knew I had to be at the forefront of this one. The decision wasn’t just about business opportunities; it was about being part of a revolution and shaping the future.
idea-lab.ai isn’t just another tech startup. It’s a laboratory for the future of human-AI collaboration. We’re not just developing AI assistants; we’re exploring how AI can enhance human creativity, idea generation, problem-solving, and decision-making.
The Thousand-Fold Impact
Now, let’s talk numbers. Why do I say AI will be a thousand times more important than all other technologies combined? It’s not just hyperbole. It’s based on the potential for exponential growth and impact across every single industry and aspect of human life.
1. Universal Applicability : Unlike previous technologies that had specific use cases, AI can be applied to literally every field of human endeavor. From healthcare to education, from art to engineering, AI will revolutionize everything.
2. Self-Improving Nature: AI systems have the potential to improve themselves, leading to a cycle of rapid advancement that we’ve never seen before in any technology.
3. Cognitive Augmentation: While previous technologies extended our physical capabilities, AI extends our cognitive capabilities. The potential for human-AI collaboration is limitless.
4. Speed of Impact: The rate at which AI is advancing and being adopted is unprecedented. We’re talking about fundamental changes happening not in decades, but in years or even months.
5. Economic Impact: PwC estimates that AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. That’s more than the current output of China and India combined.
The Human Element
But here’s the crucial part, the part that keeps me up at night with excitement:
AI is not about replacing humans. It’s about elevating humanity. At idea-lab.ai, we’re not just creating smart software. We’re creating tools that will allow humans to achieve things we’ve never even imagined.
Imagine a world where language barriers don’t exist because AI can translate in real-time with perfect accuracy and cultural context. Imagine medical diagnoses that are 100% accurate, treatments that are perfectly tailored to your genetic makeup. Imagine education systems that adapt in real-time to each student’s learning style and pace.
The Ethical Imperative
Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. The ethical implications of AI are profound, and they’re something we take very seriously at idea-lab.ai. We’re not just asking “Can we do this?” but “Should we do this?” and “How can we do this in a way that benefits humanity as a whole?”
This ethical dimension is another reason why AI’s impact will be so profound. It’s forcing us to grapple with fundamental questions about what it means to be human, what consciousness is, and how we want to shape our future as a species.
The Road Ahead
As we stand on the brink of this new era, I’m filled with a sense of awe and responsibility. The decisions we make now, the systems we build, the ethical frameworks we establish — these will shape the course of human history for centuries to come.
At idea-lab.ai, we’re committed to ensuring that this AI revolution enhances human potential rather than diminishes it. We’re creating AI assistants that are not just tools, but partners in human creativity and problem-solving.
The Ultimate Collaboration
In the end, the true power of AI lies not in its ability to replace humans, but in its potential to collaborate with us. It’s about creating a symbiosis between human creativity and machine intelligence that will unlock possibilities we can’t even fathom yet.
As a 60-year-old entrepreneur who’s witnessed the birth of the internet, the mobile revolution, and the software boom, I can say this with confidence: AI is not just another technological wave. It’s the wave that will lift all boats, the force that will propel humanity into a future that’s brighter, more creative, and more full of potential than anything we’ve seen before.
The adventure is just beginning. And at idea-lab.ai, we’re not just along for the ride. We’re helping to chart the course. The future is AI, and the future is human. Together, they’re unstoppable.