When considering the resources required to train, run, and oversee generative AI tools, one must question whether the rewards justify the consequences. While it is theoretically possible to use smart machinery to accomplish tasks, it is important to determine when doing so becomes profitable and when the drawbacks outweigh the benefits.
We will soon discover the answer to this question as the hype surrounding systems like ChatGPT transitions into real-world deployment. As with any new and advanced human technology, there will be tasks that the technology cannot perform well and unforeseen consequences.
We understand that all systems are delicate, and the extensive transformation that genAI advocates are pushing for will strain existing social and economic systems. The growing hype surrounding its use will inevitably collide with this reality, and the optimism of early adopters will be tempered by real-life challenges.
I doubt the reality will live up to the expectation.
Aim high, but dream lower
GenAI will not be suitable for every task due to the high costs of operation. Productivity must be profitable, and considering the expenses of machine learning, technology deployment, and resource management, this technology will not be applicable to every task.
With this in mind, it is logical to change our thinking and expectations regarding these technologies. Once we do so, Apple’s determination to find specific domains for genAI deployment becomes more understandable.
While the Chat GPT store may offer an AI app for everything, not every task will prove to be the right fit. I agree with Cory Doctorow that the most successful genAI deployments will be those that truly make a difference in people’s lives at work, home, or play.
Even OpenAI agrees. “It’s essential to distinguish between narrow AI, which excels in specific tasks, and general AI, which would exhibit human-like intelligence across a broad range of activities. Achieving general AI remains a long-term goal and is not yet realized,” the company said.
Move slow and make things
So why rush and create chaos when you already know that separating the Jackson Pollock fragments from the bricks will only result in a mess on the murals and economic and social chaos?
Indeed, I believe that the “Move fast and break things” mantra, once beloved in parts of Silicon Valley, has become a relic of the past.
In the current economic, social, political, and environmental crisis, it is more sensible to proceed slowly and create things. This aligns with Apple’s deliberate approach to AI deployment.
Naturally, this approach is consistent with the company’s broader philosophy of tech deployment. Apple takes pride in the ideas it chooses not to pursue, just as much as the ones it does pursue.
2024-01-06 07:00:03
Article from www.computerworld.com rnrn