This is a short talk by Brad DeLong, Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley and Author of Slouching Towards Utopia. DeLong was one of about a dozen remarkable innovators who spoke at an event which addressed the question “What is the Case for Techno-Optimism Around AI?”

The event was part of a series of events called The AI Age Begins and was held at the Shack15 club in the Ferry Building of San Francisco in March of 2024. The series is hosted, created and produced by Reinvent Futures.

Summary:

In his talk, Brad DeLong delves into the evolution and implications of AI technology, emphasizing a shift towards optimism despite initial skepticism. Highlighting the exponential growth of AI's influence since 2018, he discusses its financial ramifications, particularly in the GPU market, and the potential value of computational capabilities.

DeLong underscores the significance of regression analysis and the emergence of natural language interfaces like GitHub Copilot. Despite concerns from accelerationists, he predicts significant advancements in autocomplete technology and the rise of AI-driven software "pets," drawing parallels to humanity's historical relationship with animals.

Ultimately, DeLong advocates for a hopeful outlook, envisioning a future enriched by AI innovations and emphasizing their transformative potential across various sectors.

Summary created by AI

You can find out more about The AI Age Begins series of events through the written essays in the Substack publication The Great Progression here: https://peterleyden.substack.com

You can find out more about the strategic foresight company Reinvent Futures that hosted, created and produced the events here: https://www.reinvent.net