Suddenly, every other app was bragging about its "AI-powered" features. Your dating app promised to find you the perfect match. And let's not forget the rise of "AI art," which, let's be honest, mostly looked like a toddler had a seizure while playing with a kaleidoscope.
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| AI express: in 2024, it was Tuesday |
But here's the thing: "Is Skynet finally online?" they'd ask, eyes wide with terror.
"Will the robots steal our jobs?
Our souls?
Our very identities?"
Honestly, it got a bit ridiculous.
And then came the "experts." Oh, the experts. They all had opinions, of course. One minute they were warning us about the dangers of "AI bias" – apparently, the robots were judging people based on their sock choices and their preference for pineapple on pizza (a truly heinous crime, I agree).
The next they were raving about the "ethical implications" of a chatbot that could write better poetry than them. It was enough to make your head spin.
So, where does that leave us?
Well, I'm not sure. All I know is that 2024 was a year of both incredible promise and potential challenges.
But hey, at least the robot dog walker still listens when I tell him to fetch the newspaper. Progress, I guess?
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General. "We need governments urgently to work with tech companies on risk management frameworks for current AI development, and on monitoring and mitigating future harms. And we need a systematic effort to increase access to AI so that developing economies can benefit from its enormous potential. We need to bridge the digital divide instead of deepening it. "
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. "AI is a very significant opportunity – if used in a responsible way. I am a tech optimist and, as a medical doctor by training, I know that AI is already revolutionizing healthcare. That’s good. AI can boost productivity at unprecedented speed. First movers will be rewarded, and the global race is already on without any question. Our future competitiveness depends on AI adoption in our daily businesses, and Europe must up its game and show the way to responsible use of AI. "
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General. "The runaway development of AI without guard rails poses an existential threat and has the potential to increase inequality in the world. We need the full engagement of the private sector in the UN’s multi-stakeholder effort to develop a governance model that is networked and adaptive, tapping the benefits of this incredible new technology while mitigating its risks. "
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. "I think it’s good that we and others are being held to a high standard. We can draw on lessons from the past about how technology has been made to be safe and how different stakeholders have handled negotiations about what safe means. We have our own nervousness, but we believe that we can manage through it, and the only way to do that is to put the technology in the hands of people. Let society and the technology co-evolve, and sort of step-by-step with a very tight feedback loop and course correction, build these systems that deliver tremendous value while meeting safety requirements."
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc. "AI is one of the most profound things we’re working on as humanity. It’s more profound than fire or electricity. We have to ensure that AI is harnessed for good and that it benefits everyone"
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. "The future of AI is not about man versus machine, but rather man with machine. AI will augment human capabilities and help us achieve more than we ever thought possible. "
Fei-Fei Li, Co-Director of the Stanford Human-Centred AI Institute. "AI has the potential to be a great equalizer, but it also has the potential to exacerbate inequalities if not developed and deployed responsibly. We must prioritize human-centred AI that serves all of humanity. "
Ginni Rometty, Former Executive Chairman of IBM. "The future of AI lies in its ability to augment human intelligence, not replace it. We must focus on creating AI systems that enhance human capabilities and work alongside us "
Mehdi Sayegh, Co-founder of AI Connect Africa. "There remains this idea in some places that AI is evil. People still do not know if AI is secure and if their data is safe. We need to improve digital literacy and train more people in AI to overcome these challenges. "
Abubakar Suleiman, CEO of Sterling Bank. "Africa needs an AI-ready workforce to compete. With our youthful population, we have the opportunity to develop AI expertise locally and compete internationally. AI can help solve systemic issues in healthcare, education, and infrastructure. "
Carmine Di Sibio, EY Global Chairman and CEO. "People are key to confidence in AI. Effective AI implementation has to be with people at the centre of AI governance systems to alleviate the trust and confidence in AI for critical sectors. "
Bill Gates, Microsoft Founder. "Generative AI has the potential to change the world in ways that we can’t even imagine. It has the power to create new ideas, products, and services that will make our lives easier, more productive, and more creative. It also has the potential to solve some of the world’s biggest problems, such as climate change, poverty, and disease. "
Elon Musk, Telsa CEO. "If you want to do a job that’s kinda like a hobby, you can do a job. But otherwise, AI and the robots will provide any goods and services that you want ."
Elon Musk, Telsa CEO. "If you define AGI (artificial general intelligence) as smarter than the smartest human, I think it’s probably next year, within two years. "
Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI. "The stuff that we’re seeing now is very exciting and wonderful, but I think it’s worth always putting it in context of this technology that, at least for the next five or ten years, will be on a very steep improvement curve. These are the stupidest the models will ever be. Coding is probably the single area from a productivity gain we’re most excited about today. "
Satya Nadella, Chairman & CEO, Microsoft. "Artificial Intelligence is more than just using natural language as an input; it can also see, hear, and understand our intentions as well as our environment. I wish to give you an idea of what can happen when the outside world serves as your prompt and interface. That is the result of combining AI and mixed reality. "
Jeff Schumacher, CEO of NAX Group. "To truly realize the promise of AI, businesses must not only adopt it but also operationalize it. This process involves connecting AI models with observable actions, leveraging data subsequently fed back into the system to complete the feedback loop. "
John Kamara, Founder of Adanian Labs. "The future of AI in Africa is bright. We must focus on building AI solutions that address local problems and create economic opportunities for our communities. "
Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda. "AI offers a unique opportunity for Africa to leapfrog traditional development paths. By investing in AI education and infrastructure, we can create solutions that address our continent’s specific challenges and drive sustainable growth."
A reflection on the AI-fueled whirlwind of 2024, exploring the anxieties and excitement surrounding this rapidly evolving technology. From dating apps promising "AI-powered" soulmates to the rise of AI art that looks like a toddler's fever dream, 2024 was a year of both incredible promise and terrifying potential.
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