The Generative Future
Impulses and thoughts on how generative AI will shape the possibilities of our future.
In Google Trends one term is clearly dominating: ChatGPT.
Barely anyone gets past it, barely anyone doesn’t seem to be affected by it in some way. The discussed field of tension ranges from a mood of optimism to job fears. The true value lies, as so often, probably somewhere in the middle. But especially in the middle of the possibilities. I’ve formulated some impulses and thoughts on these possibilities. Impulses should serve as a motivational driver and act as a counter-argument to give people confidence again and take away fears.
01. The human search
What if the search finally felt natural linguistically and didn’t sound like we were reading a laundry list?
25 years ago Google launched its most popular product: Google search. Technologically a milestone, for human language a stone-age regression. We’ve always searched as if we were reading from a laundry list. This will now change radically. We are getting our language back. From mechanical keyword language to conversational language. From machine to human.
02. Impetus of imagination
Generative AI triggers tremendous imagination and fantasy in so many people. We jump over barriers that were previously considered almost insurmountable. We become creative, and curious and develop partly surreal results. it can hardly be a coincidence that in 1924, almost 100 years ago, the term surrealism was coined. We are in the midst of this new movement, a kind of Dali’s movement. Different in approach, but driven by the same imagination.
03. Made for 5 billion people
Currently, more than 5 billion people have access to the Internet. And all these people can potentially use such applications without additional hardware or software. Free from barriers. Free from additional restrictions. This is triggering a completely new movement of possibilities. Perhaps Generative AI is the most accessible technological innovation of all time.
04. Conversational learning
We are ushering in a whole new era of learning. The days of Wikipedia articles being mindlessly copied are over. In the future, conversational tools such as ChatGPT will offer entirely new possibilities for educational formats. What if ChatGPT could act as a kind of learning companion in the future, unleashing a whole new motivation to learn in students?
05. The equalization of knowledge levels
Everyone now has access to broad knowledge regardless of education or knowledge level. This means people can now read scientific or technical articles prepared in a way that is understandable to their level of education. We are in the midst of a version of democratized knowledge. This could be a huge contribution to achieving the 4th SDG goal: Quality Education.
06. Expansion of the peripheral knowledge field
Today, search works one-dimensionally: keyword leads to a catalog of results. Specific keyword-based search immensely reduces the possibility to get exciting and different answers. Knowledge or especially knowledge construction works similarly to our peripheral field of vision. We learn only what moves directly in our peripheral field of knowledge. ChatGPT expands massively this field and turns questions into inspirations.
07. Atmosphere of elation
There is an atmosphere of elation. ChatGPT was launched on November 30, 2022 and already now there are countless extensions, business ideas, or if only gimmicks. In times of insecurities, fears, and continuous negative headlines it is good to be in the middle of this positive atmosphere of elation. It helps us to stay curious and still evaluate critically.
This compact summary serves as an introduction to the in-depth discussion of the theses and impulses, which I will successively expand on in the coming period.
Let us walk together through this portal of possibilities. Because there is no key to it. The door is always open.
