Five Things AI: AI Trio, Amazon, Button Problem, AI vs Humanity, Imperfections
No GenerativeAI was hurt in writing this email.
Well, hello again and welcome to Five Things AI!
This week we’ll take a look at the new $100bn fund that will push even more money into AI, then we’ll read about Amazon and how it is using AI, after that we’ll get into the button problem and we’ll learn about what it will take AI to overtake humanity, before we have a look at stuff that AI still can’t do right.
So, let’s get right into it!
Please remember that I read a lot of stuff to bring you this selection so you don’t have to. If you find Five Things useful or even mildly entertaining, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription. Thanks! And make sure to forward this email to your friends who are interested in AI!
Titans’ AI alliance is a bid to dominate the next tech frontier
“Imagine a consortium between a) a multitrillion dollar asset manager whose corporate governance values shift with the wind b) a juggernaut tech company that has faced censure from competition regulators and c) an authoritarian petrostate with a chequered human rights record. Is this the latest villain to come out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? No, this group is very real. The alliance is planning a $100bn spending spree that is to “enhance American competitiveness in AI while meeting the growing need for energy infrastructure to power economic growth”.” - it seems to me that the Financial Times is not really that excited about the proposed $100bin fund.
Amazon is stuffing generative AI into its shopping experience
Honestly, what took Amazon so long? This is the obvious usecase for AI on an eCommerce platform.
The Button Problem of AI
“Every incremental innovation in technology starts off as a differentiated skill but ends up as a button. When a new, hard-to-grok tool hits the market, a craftsman can command a higher wage by learning to use it. However, over time, most tools become easier to use, and their capabilities become commoditized. They are buttonified, bundled, and obfuscated into a machine, sometimes with the result of downgrading the craftsman to a lineworker.” - so, how will AI evolve?
When will AI outthink humans?
So we have a few more years before the machines are taking over. I’m still curious what that exact moment will look like.
Is That AI? Or Does It Just Suck?
Until the machines are taking over, we still have some time to enjoy all the weirdness around AI.
If you missed last week’s edition of Five Things AI, you can read it here:
That’s it for Five Things AI this week! 🤖
— Nico