What about AI?
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Hello Everyone. TGIF.
First, I have to apologise for not writing a newsletter edition in almost three weeks. Work has been gruelling and I’ve barely got a chance to catch my breath. The good news is that I've found a system that will ensure I maintain my publishing/writing schedule.
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Here’s a quick fun fact before you read today’s newsletter
60%
The percentage of workers who believe AI will change their jobs in the next year. (Source: IBM's 2023 AI and the Workforce report)
Now to this week’s newsletter:
Human existence has always been punctuated with moments of brilliance and great inventions. It’s how we’ve remained at the top of the food chain as a species. More than a century ago, the industrial revolution began in Great Britain and spread to the United States. It was a period of radical modernisation and mechanisation that changed the way we live and work.
Spoiler alert: Employment conditions in the factory have not changed much since the Industrial Revolution.
Over the past three decades, the internet has rightfully taken its position as the defining innovation of our time, blurring the lines between the physical and virtual worlds. Yet, if the zeitgeist of the past 18 months is anything to go by, Artificial intelligence is redefining innovation. Many knowledge workers use CluadeAI, Chatgpt, and Gemini; from writing essays to creating art, AI is the new cool kid on the block, and everyone wants to sit at its lunch table. It is no longer just a plot device in sci-fi movies.
Investment has followed suit. Earlier this month, OpenAI(the company behind ChatGPT), closed $6.6B in new funding at a $157B post-money valuation. In 2023, funding for generative AI soared to $22.4 billion, nearly nine times more than in 2022 and about 25 times the amount from 2019.
Jack of all trades and Master of All?
Artificial intelligence has evolved far beyond robots and self-driving cars. It's now writing poetry, crafting art, and, some say, possibly plotting world domination (okay, maybe not that last part… yet). Let’s take a closer look at how AI is reshaping creativity and work.
Text Generation: AI can now help you write everything from your press release to the next Pulitzer-winning novel.
Image Creation: Visual creativity is no longer the domain of artists alone. With AI tools, anyone can generate stunning artwork with a few clicks.
Music Composition: Who needs formal music training when AI can compose tracks faster than you can say “Grammy-worthy”?
Code Writing: Programmers, pay attention. AI is now writing code, automating tasks, and might even be the next tech disruptor—but don’t worry, it’ll still need humans to debug.
AI’s Ethical Dilemmas: More Complicated Than Ever
But it’s not all innovation and efficiency. AI brings complex ethical questions, similar to the challenges faced during the internet boom. Job displacement, privacy, and security risks loom large as we integrate AI into more parts of our lives. In fact, a significant portion of the public fears AI could trigger mass job losses, with concerns about automation replacing human roles.
What Does This Mean for Us?
The rise of generative AI feels akin to the Industrial Revolution. It’s transforming the way we live, work, and create. And, like the early days of the Internet, AI is attracting massive investment. In 2023 alone, generative AI funding surged to $22.4 billion. Analysts predict the global AI investment could hit $200 billion by 2025.
Looking Ahead
The future of AI shines bright. We may soon see AI-driven art galleries, hyper-intelligent assistants, and even sitcoms crafted by algorithms (though I doubt they’ll match the cultural impact of Friends). But in this rapidly evolving world, our humanity—our ability to adapt, create, and connect—will remain our greatest asset.
Stay curious, and let’s embrace the future together.
What’s the most surprising AI innovation you’ve seen? Hit reply and let me know!