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Introduction to AI (2). AI as a General Purpose Technology

AI Xplorers Team

— 3 min read
Introduction to AI (2). AI as a General Purpose Technology
General Purpose Technologies (wheel, printing press, steam engine, computer,...)

Imagine technologies so groundbreaking that they completely reshape how we live, work, and interact with the world. These are General Purpose Technologies (GPTs), and they're like the cornerstones of civilization.

GPTs in History

We can find GPTs throughout the human history:

  • The Wheel (circa 3500 BC): This seemingly simple invention was a game-changer. It revolutionized transportation, agriculture, and even warfare. It paved the way for chariots, carts, cars, and airplanes.
  • The Printing Press (1440 AD): Gutenberg's invention democratized knowledge, making books and information accessible to the masses. This fueled the Renaissance, scientific revolutions, and social reform movements.
  • The Steam Engine (1712 AD): This powerful invention fueled the Industrial Revolution, transforming manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture. It led to factories, trains, and steamboats, ushering in a new era of productivity and economic growth.
  • Electricity (late 19th century): Electricity illuminated the world, powering homes, factories, and entire cities. It revolutionized communication, transportation, and countless industries, shaping the modern world as we know it.
  • The Computer (20th century): From room-sized behemoths to pocket-sized smartphones, computers have revolutionized information processing, communication, and automation. They've transformed every aspect of our lives, from work and education to entertainment and social interaction.
  • The Internet (late 20th century): This global network connected the world like never before, enabling instant communication, information sharing, and e-commerce. It has transformed business, education, and social interaction, creating a truly interconnected world.

Historically, GPTs – these groundbreaking inventions that reshape societies – have been slow to take root. Think about the internet. It took decades for it to become what it is today! We needed things like user-friendly web browsers, affordable computers, and fast internet connections before it truly transformed our lives.

Now, where does AI fit in?

AI shares key characteristics with these historical GPTs, like wide applicability; continuous improvement, and evolution; or as an innovation catalyst driving innovation in other fields such as robotics, biotechnology, health, and material science, leading to new discoveries and technologies.

But AI is different. It's like a rocket compared to a horse-drawn carriage. AI based on Large Language Models (LLMs), which we will explain in another post, has become incredibly powerful in just a few years. ChatGPT, born in November 2022, for instance, gained 100 million users faster than any other technology in history!

AI: The Productivity Powerhouse

Past GPTs, like the steam engine, certainly boosted productivity. But AI? Early studies suggest it could increase productivity by a whopping 20 to 80 percent across various jobs.

Even more impressive, AI is not just automating repetitive tasks. It's acting as a "co-intelligence," augmenting or even replacing human thinking in ways we never imagined.

AI: Beyond the Workplace

But AI's impact extends far beyond the workplace. It's transforming every aspect of our lives:

  • Education: AI writing tools are revolutionizing how we teach and learn, with the potential for personalized AI tutors to reshape education entirely.
  • Entertainment: AI is creating personalized stories and experiences, shaking up Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
  • Social Interaction: While AI is changing how we connect, it also brings challenges like the spread of AI-generated misinformation.
  • Sense of Self: AI is forcing us to rethink what it means to be intelligent and conscious, challenging our very understanding of ourselves.

AI: The "Alien in the Room"

AI as the "Alien in the Room", as Ethan Mollic refers to it in its book Co-Intelligence, is the possibility that AI represents a new form of intelligence. It's already passing tests of human-like thinking and creativity, leading some experts to believe we've created something truly unique – an "alien mind" that could change everything.

The Unknown Future

No one knows exactly where AI is heading, but one thing is certain: it's already transforming our world in profound ways. It's a powerful tool, a co-intelligence, and perhaps even in a future a new form of consciousness. The future is unfolding before our eyes, and AI is leading the way.

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