A Message From My Future Self About Search
Subject: A Quick Chat With My Future Self
Hey there,
You ever have one of those days where you’re just minding your business, sipping your morning coffee, when all of a sudden an email notification pops up from — get this — Future You? No? Just me then? Well, as surreal as it sounds, it seems I’ve been having quite the back-and-forth with my supposedly more enlightened self. I must admit, it’s been… illuminating.
You see, it all started a few weeks ago when I found an email nestled amidst the usual clutter in my inbox. The sender: Future Mark. The content: insights and tales from a world yet to come. I know, it sounds straight out of a sci-fi novel, right? But here we are.
So, I figured, why not share the fun? After all, we all deserve a peek into the quirks and surprises the future may hold. For instance, remember when we used to worry about how many ads Google was serving us? Well, apparently future me has some thoughts on that. And they involve more acronyms than a NASA briefing.
One thing to note, though. While these email exchanges have a touch of the whimsical about them, they are, at their heart, a work of fiction. So don’t go betting on the stock market or building a bunker based on future me’s musings, okay?
Right, so without further ado, let’s dive in. Here’s the latest dispatch from Future Mark…
(P.S. Future Mark, if you’re reading this, lottery numbers for next week would be much appreciated.)
Cheers, Past Mark
Subject: The Future of Search Engines — A Look Back
Dear Past Mark,
Greetings from the future! I hope this message finds you well. I thought I’d share some insights and observations about how our world has changed, particularly in the realm of search engines and AI. It’s been quite a journey, and I wanted to fill you in on what’s happened.
Remember when we used to Google everything? Well, things have changed dramatically. With the emergence of AI models like ChatGPT working in tandem with tools like Browsing or WebPilot, the need to use Google has dwindled significantly. I find myself rarely seeing Google’s ads these days, and I’m not alone.
Naturally, Google didn’t sit idly by. When their ad revenue plummeted, they responded by trying to block bots and restrict other AIs from accessing their services. But they underestimated the tenacity of the open-source community.
The open-source enthusiasts, unhappy with the situation, decided to build a new paradigm. They crafted a blockchain-powered open-source chat engine, accessible to those who donated compute to the network. The more you donated, the more privileged access, points, or social titles you received. These titles became badges of honor, signifying a user’s generosity and commitment to the network.
Yes, open-source search was rough around the edges at first. However, the shared dissatisfaction with Google’s policies led to rapid adoption. Soon, several networks gained popularity, and eventually, one became dominant, though with a handful of runner-ups, each emphasizing different priorities like emphasizing privacy or only returning financial information or providing results via a cartoon cat.
As you might expect, AI models like GPT-5, Claude 2, various open source models, and (ironically) PaLM 3 became instrumental in this transition. They evolved to the point where anyone could simply command their computer to “go help open search,” and these AI models would instantly contribute as highly efficient coders, researchers, and communicators. So those donations I was talking about? Mostly compute rather than money.
Faced with the new reality, Google had no choice but to open their services again. They tried to monetize by offering a “Premium” service, but the open-source models continued to improve. As these models grew in capability and scale, people saw less value in paying for Google’s service.
This shift forced Google, and other commercial search engines, to pivot and adopt different strategies. Here are a couple of them:
1. AI as a Service (AaaS, I know, quite an unfortunate acronym): People are willing to pay for a third-party AI if they consider it unbiased, trustworthy, and discrete. While local machines can run open-source models adequately, not everyone has the resources to run them optimally. Which contributes to…
2. The rise of cloud vendors: Companies started selling compute resources that were easily accessible for AI to perform short-term tasks. For instance, if you want to generate a 3D world, you simply ask your personal chatbot to do it. The bot then purchases the necessary compute power and accomplishes the task swiftly and cost-effectively, compared to the expense of owning high-powered GPUs.
Looking back, it’s been a roller coaster ride, but we’ve emerged in a place where technology serves us even better. And the best part? We’ve made this transition together, as a global community.
Best,
Future Mark
Subject: Musings on a Message from the Future
Well, well, well,
That certainly was a ride, wasn’t it? When Future Mark started talking about AI and open source and blockchain, I must admit, I was a tad lost at first. I had to Google a few things to keep up. Or should I say, ask ChatGPT? Oh, the irony.
Joking aside, it’s quite fascinating, this peek into a potential future. I mean, a world where our digital assistants are sophisticated enough to join the ranks of coders and researchers? Where donating computing power is akin to a societal status symbol? It’s wild, but not entirely far-fetched. It’s almost as if we’re brushing the edge of a new frontier, don’t you think?
The thought of Google becoming a relic of the past, edged out by a swarm of AI-powered, open-source initiatives is both daunting and exciting. It hints at a revolution of sorts, a drastic shift in the dynamics of the digital world. While it’s all conjecture at this point, I suppose that’s what the future is all about — possibilities.
I also had a good chuckle at the notion of AI as a Service, or “AaaS.” I mean, who could resist such a delightful acronym? Future Mark, you’ve outdone yourself there.
In all seriousness though, these speculations serve as a reminder of the rapid pace of change and the infinite potential of technology. It’s fascinating, even comforting, to imagine a world where technology aligns more closely with our needs and values, where it evolves in tandem with us, rather than imposing itself upon us.
Of course, it’s crucial to remember that this is a fictional narrative, a playful exploration of ‘what could be.’ As enthralling as these emails from Future Mark are, I’m going to stick to living in the present, one Google search at a time.
Until the next email arrives…
Past Mark
P.S. Still waiting on those lottery numbers, Future Mark. No pressure.
