Your sentiment toward generative AI ("the foundation for many useful new technologies") is exactly the same that the crypto/NFT bros have towards crypto/NFT. So far generative AI has shown a couple niche use cases and a lot of surface level demos that don't actually work in the real world. Honestly it's hard to tell the current AI hype apart from all the other fads, tho this one at least feels like it will go somewhere
Well, as a developer in a small team it has made my work significantly easier, so personally I am already directly enjoying the benefits. It has supercharged my capacity to pick up new languages and technologies.
Besides that, it will have a huge impact on non-trivial things like the design industry and data interaction. Being able to programmaticly handle abstract decision making is a big one as well.
It frankly baffles me that people can describe the current AI boom as a fad, when a simple extrapolation of the current technologies will show you what an enormous impact it is going to have in the coming years...
> It frankly baffles me that people can describe the current AI boom as a fad, when a simple extrapolation of the current technologies will show you what an enormous impact it is going to have in the coming years...
In fairness, I do see _some_ possible value in AI (though much less than the superfans do) - but you must admit that this exact sentiment was being expressed by cryptobros a couple of years ago.
I was never bullish on Crypto currencies, but GenAI is another story.
It’s worth looking at who the detractors are: People, creatives especially, feel genuinely threatened by generative ML models. The recent writers strike, specifically addressed it. Nobody that I saw felt threatened by crypto currencies in the same way.
Even at the foundational level, crypto currencies/“smart” contracts/NFTs are additive to the economy, they are a new, different and discreet, whereas AI is disruptive/transformative it is a new way of doing something that people already do. I still can’t pay my bills with crypto or even deposit it at traditional financial institutions, but artist are already using genAI as a tool, today.
