Time Is Different

7 hours ago

The article critiques the hype around various technologies, including AI, comparing them to past overhyped innovations.
It references technologies like 3D TV, Blockchain, and NFTs, noting their underwhelming impact despite initial excitement.
The author distinguishes between different types of technological 'bubbles': soap bubbles (disappear completely), rubber balloons (leave a niche residue), and pervasive bubbles (transform society, like the Internet).
AI is speculated to be a pervasive bubble, with long-term, widespread effects, though its exact impact remains uncertain.
The piece suggests preparing for AI's potential pervasive influence by understanding its capabilities and anticipating regulatory and security needs.
The ideology of 'winner takes all' is dismissed as unsustainable, with a nod to Terry Pratchett's depiction of societal absorption of invaders in Ankh-Morpork.

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