Issue 118: The AI Revolution is Here
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about artificial intelligence. – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
The AI Revolution is Here
The brave new world of artificial intelligence (AI) is upon us. Have you noticed the uptick in articles about how AI has seemingly transformed overnight and is now extremely powerful? Most of the focus is on chatGPT, an AI language model with incredible capacity, and LensaAI, which generates art. With a couple of basic prompts, chatGPT can create long articles in seconds. The power of chatGPT and LensaAI can’t be overestimated, but some points about the larger AI revolution should be put into the proper context.
AI is everywhere. What is taking place now is nothing new. AI systems have been getting powerful for a while. Every day, millions of people feed data into various AI systems that make data-driven AI more powerful. Everything from Google searches to writing emails is feeding the AI networks. The spell checker used to sharpen the language in this newsletter is powered by AI. We shouldn’t really be shocked at the progress of AI system. We are only now seeing their power. That can be understandably alarming, but it doesn't need to be.
Smart steps forward. As the public becomes more aware (and, yes, scared) of AI’s expanding powers, this is a great time for governments worldwide to get serious about communicating their approaches to AI. That means clearer regulations and guardrails for the technology. The UAE, with its Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, has been at the forefront of developments in AI for years. The country has led by example when it comes to the incorporation of AI technologies to improve society. The challenge now is to assuage public concerns about AI’s reach and prowess. AI is not going anywhere but how we regulate it and use it in society is up for discussion. Now is the time for our institutions to lead the way.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"The greatest magic is not in the trick, but in the performer's belief in themselves."
– The AI program chatGPT wrote this quote.
CHART OF THE WEEK
We are looking at AI this week. This chart from McKinsey shows how the number of AI capabilities companies use, such as natural-language text understanding, has grown in the last five years.
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
This should make you think: What happens when machine learning becomes really good? That’s the fundamental question unpacked by Havard professor of internet law Jonathan Zittrain in an old article for the New Yorker. It’s a simple question that opens a pandora’s box of ethical dilemmas and questions for society. Chief among them is the issue of intellectual debt. In this piece from the archive, we explored the intersection of intellectual debt and our cognitive abilities.
Collaboration in tech: Sticking with the AI theme this week, we reviewed Singapore’s strategy for AI innovation in this piece from the archive. Instead of siloing its technology sector, Singapore wants to be an international hive of activity. The same approach is seen in the UAE’s knowledge ecosystem. At a time of global division, this path is a breath of fresh air.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Currency and partnerships. Argentina and Brazil are in the early stages of kickstarting fresh discussions on forming a common currency for financial and commercial transactions similar to the Euro. This is a familiar idea but has been shelved several times because of the numerous political and economic hurdles the creation of such a currency would face. That being said, the idea of common currencies is attractive. Would a Gulf common currency ease business among GCC members? It’s a faint possibility but thinking through what it would be like is a stimulating exercise.
Too much stuff. The technological age has ushered in an era in which we have too many things that could be better made. That’s the controversial argument of a new piece in Vox that looks at consumerism today. Putting aside the issue of too much, the fact is that we buy a lot of poorly made products. Have you ever had an exceptionally well-made bag or pair of shoes? When you purchase a quality product, it takes a life of its own. It grows with you over time. That feeling of consumerism and professional work is undoubtedly in short supply.
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