A History Lover's Guide to the Market Panic Over AI

Past Technologies Offer Clues to What Comes Next

In May, Google said its AI sales had tripled over the past year. The news sent shockwaves through the tech industry, and investors scrambled to buy shares of AI companies. But amidst all the hype, it's worth taking a step back and looking at the history of AI.

Like Nvidia's AI chips known as graphics-processing units (GPUs), one technology took an early lead. That was arc lighting, which Charles Brush, an American, invented in 1878.

Arc lighting was the first practical electric light, and it quickly became popular for street lighting and other applications. However, it was also expensive and inefficient, and it was eventually replaced by more advanced technologies.

The history of AI is full of similar stories. New technologies emerge, they quickly gain traction, and then they are replaced by something better. This cycle of innovation is what drives technological progress.

So, what does the history of AI tell us about the future of AI? It suggests that the current panic over AI is overblown. AI is still a young technology, and it has a long way to go before it can replace human workers in most jobs.

However, AI is also a powerful technology with the potential to greatly improve our lives. It is important to be aware of the risks of AI, but we should not let those risks blind us to the potential benefits.

Conclusion

The history of AI offers valuable clues to the future of AI. It shows us that new technologies often emerge with great fanfare, but they do not always live up to the hype. However, AI is also a powerful technology with the potential to greatly improve our lives. It is important to be aware of the risks of AI, but we should not let those risks blind us to the potential benefits.