AI is nothing, AI is Everything!
AI is a revolutionary technology, akin to the rise of computers, the internet, Google, and wireless communications. Like any powerful tool, AI will drastically change how we work, live, and interact. When the internet first emerged, companies scrambled to be "web-enabled." But soon, having an online presence became the norm, no longer a unique differentiator. The winners were the ones who figured out new and innovative ways to leverage the technology. The same dynamic is playing out with AI.
There is undoubtedly a hype bubble around AI, and it will likely burst in terms of AI company stock prices. But just as the internet bubble burst yet left behind a new digital landscape, the aftermath of the AI bubble will be a fundamental transformation in how we work and live. It's too early to predict exactly what that will look like.
My Ever Changing Moods
I've gone through several "moods" when it comes to AI - from seeing it as clever, to boring, to magical, to even evil. In reality, AI is none of those things inherently. It's my own perspective and mindset that changes, not the technology itself. AI is a tool, and how we choose to view and use it says more about us than the technology. It is a tool with side effects — people may get addicted to it, use it as a substitute for real relationships…. sounds a bit like social media! But unlike social media it is interactive. You are engaging in back and forth, I think that is generally a postive (again with the caveat that human interaction is better).
Insane Adoption
AI adoption is reaching in two years what took previous technologies five or more years to achieve. That's incredibly fast!
The rise of generative AI like ChatGPT has been particularly explosive, with the platform reaching 100 million users in just two months - the fastest-adopted consumer technology in history
A whopping 78% of organizations now use AI in at least one business function, representing a massive surge in a very short time
Public sentiment is growing more cautious, with half of Americans now more concerned than excited about increased AI use in daily life
AI has already reached adoption levels that took the internet five years to achieve, while personal computers took a full 12 years
It's clear we're in the midst of an AI revolution. The technology is being adopted at breakneck speeds, but not without raising some concerns. As with any major technological shift, there will be both winners and losers. I'll be keeping a close eye on how this all plays out.