Kevin Kelly Inevitable

Summary

This insightful talk explores the future of artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and tracking technologies. The speaker highlights AI's growing role as a commodity, emphasizing how its integration will revolutionize various industries, making tasks more efficient. The rise of VR is also discussed, particularly how it has evolved to be more affordable and impactful. The speaker warns about the inevitable rise of tracking technologies, proposing a more civil and accountable approach to data collection. Finally, the talk concludes with the idea that we are on the brink of new, yet-to-be-invented technologies that will shape the future.

Takeaways

• 😀 AI is rapidly advancing and will soon become a utility, much like electricity, available for purchase with varying levels of intelligence, making it accessible to all industries.
• 😀 Gaming communities played a pivotal role in making AI more affordable, with gaming chips now being used for parallel processing in AI research.
• 😀 Current AI is narrow but highly useful, as demonstrated by Google's image recognition and its ability to play and learn video games.
• 😀 AI is becoming a commodity that can be added to various industries, transforming products and services in ways not previously possible.
• 😀 The future of AI will likely involve network effects where the more AI is used, the smarter and more efficient it becomes.
• 😀 Jobs that focus on creativity, relationships, and experiences will remain valuable, as automation and AI will handle the more efficient, repetitive tasks.
• 😀 The automation of labor through AI and robotics will not necessarily displace humans but will instead redefine the nature of work.
• 😀 The development of virtual reality (VR) is accelerating, with major advancements in affordability and practicality, despite previous overestimations of its impact.
• 😀 Tracking will become ubiquitous in the future, with everything that can be measured likely to be tracked, which could raise concerns but also offers benefits in personalized medicine and more.
• 😀 The future of tracking and technology will likely involve creating a more balanced system of accountability, where individuals can track those tracking them and correct any inaccuracies.
• 😀 We are just at the beginning of technological advancements, with many of the most important innovations in the future still to be invented, underscoring the importance of fostering new ideas and inventions.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the speaker in this transcript?

The primary focus of the speaker is on the future of artificial intelligence (AI), its rapid development, and how it will change industries and society. The speaker also discusses the evolution of virtual reality (VR) and the growing trend of tracking and personalized experiences.

How has the gaming community contributed to AI development?

The gaming community made significant contributions by creating parallel-processing chips for gaming, which became affordable and available as a commodity. This enabled AI researchers to run artificial intelligence on these chips, which were much cheaper than previous solutions that cost millions of dollars.

What is the distinction between artificial intelligence and artificial smartness according to the speaker?

The speaker distinguishes between artificial intelligence and artificial smartness by suggesting that AI focuses on solving specific tasks very efficiently, such as image recognition or playing games. Artificial smartness, on the other hand, is a broader, more pragmatic approach where AI enhances processes and makes decisions in specialized domains without being humanlike in nature.

How does the speaker envision AI evolving into a commodity?

The speaker envisions AI becoming a commodity, similar to electricity, where individuals and businesses can purchase AI based on the amount of 'IQ' they need. This would make AI widely accessible and integrate seamlessly into various industries, just as electricity powers modern technologies.

What is the 'Take X, Add AI' formula for startups?

The 'Take X, Add AI' formula suggests that future startups should find an existing product or service ('X') and integrate AI into it. This approach focuses on leveraging AI to enhance or optimize processes in ways that haven't been done before, making it the core innovation of a product or service.

What role does AI play in the acceleration of its own development?

AI accelerates its own improvement because more AI is used to develop and improve other AI systems. As more AI systems are employed, the feedback loops and network effects cause rapid advancements, enabling faster and more effective iterations of AI technologies.

How does the speaker compare the future of AI with past technological shifts, such as agriculture?

The speaker compares the future of AI to the past transformation in agriculture, where only 1% of people farm today, compared to 70% in the past. The speaker suggests that many new jobs and industries will emerge due to AI, just as new roles were created when agriculture became more mechanized.

What skills does the speaker believe will be most important in the future job market?

The speaker believes that the most important future job skills will be the ability to work alongside AI, robots, and automation systems. People will be hired based on how well they can collaborate with intelligent devices and processes, rather than their ability to perform manual or routine tasks.

What are the types of jobs the speaker believes AI and robots will replace?

AI and robots are expected to replace jobs that involve routine tasks and high efficiency, particularly those in manufacturing and some service industries. However, jobs that are creative, experiential, or relationship-based, like in art, healthcare, and social services, will continue to be in demand because these are inefficient by nature and can't be easily automated.

How does the speaker view the future of tracking, especially in the context of personalized medicine?

The speaker acknowledges the inevitability of tracking in our future, suggesting that anything that can be measured will be measured. In the context of personalized medicine, tracking could lead to tailored treatments where AI adjusts medicine doses based on real-time data from the individual, improving personal health management.