I remember how refreshing it was to read Nat Hentoff’s excitement about Ornette Coleman’s music, while I was still in High School and so many critics denied it. Same thing when French art critic Nicolas Bourriaud declared post-modernism dead while I was in art school. The thing that still lives for me from these experiences is how much they supported a future for young artists to express themselves in any way they see fit. It’s a belief in the future. Thanks for your piece!
Sounds like an elitist's dream, available to the few very rich, while the rest of humanity is irrelevant. Ed Soph's comment is pertinent. No AI without vast power, and the commitment to get it with or without going totally green is currently absent in this and other countries. Further, data doesn't feed the soul or the body. As in one of Gulliver's islands--supreme scientists doing implausible experiments.
I understand the concern—AI and its development can sometimes seem like it’s driven by and for the elite. But I’d argue that, at its best, AI has the potential to democratize access to resources, improve lives across economic divides, and empower more people, not fewer. We’re already seeing AI being used to enhance healthcare access, boost education through personalized learning, and optimize agriculture to increase food security.
You’re right Mr. Soph. AI does require significant power. But this challenge is also driving major investments in sustainable energy sources like solar, wind, and even promising technologies like green hydrogen and small modular nuclear reactors. There’s a strong commitment—both private and governmental—to align AI’s growth with a transition to green energy. These developments aren’t just theoretical; they’re happening in real-time, driven by the need to balance technological progress with environmental responsibility.
While data alone might not “feed the soul or body,” AI can certainly play a role in supporting those who do—farmers, doctors, educators, and many more. It’s about integrating AI as a tool for humanity’s benefit, not just as an experiment for the privileged few. It’s not about creating a new class of overlords, but rather making the tools of AI work for everyone, enriching lives, solving real-world problems, and, ultimately, serving society as a whole.
Thanks, George. Appreciate your thoughts.
I remember how refreshing it was to read Nat Hentoff’s excitement about Ornette Coleman’s music, while I was still in High School and so many critics denied it. Same thing when French art critic Nicolas Bourriaud declared post-modernism dead while I was in art school. The thing that still lives for me from these experiences is how much they supported a future for young artists to express themselves in any way they see fit. It’s a belief in the future. Thanks for your piece!
Sounds like an elitist's dream, available to the few very rich, while the rest of humanity is irrelevant. Ed Soph's comment is pertinent. No AI without vast power, and the commitment to get it with or without going totally green is currently absent in this and other countries. Further, data doesn't feed the soul or the body. As in one of Gulliver's islands--supreme scientists doing implausible experiments.
I understand the concern—AI and its development can sometimes seem like it’s driven by and for the elite. But I’d argue that, at its best, AI has the potential to democratize access to resources, improve lives across economic divides, and empower more people, not fewer. We’re already seeing AI being used to enhance healthcare access, boost education through personalized learning, and optimize agriculture to increase food security.
Why aren’t climate change’s impacts factored into your paean to AI? How will the increasing demand for electricity to power AI be met?
You’re right Mr. Soph. AI does require significant power. But this challenge is also driving major investments in sustainable energy sources like solar, wind, and even promising technologies like green hydrogen and small modular nuclear reactors. There’s a strong commitment—both private and governmental—to align AI’s growth with a transition to green energy. These developments aren’t just theoretical; they’re happening in real-time, driven by the need to balance technological progress with environmental responsibility.
Very interesting and provocative, Bret. Thank you.
Where is the soul in all of this technological wonderment?
While data alone might not “feed the soul or body,” AI can certainly play a role in supporting those who do—farmers, doctors, educators, and many more. It’s about integrating AI as a tool for humanity’s benefit, not just as an experiment for the privileged few. It’s not about creating a new class of overlords, but rather making the tools of AI work for everyone, enriching lives, solving real-world problems, and, ultimately, serving society as a whole.