From Information age to Intelligence era : Unveiling our Future with Generative AI

In my humble view, the true worth of technology lies not in its complexity, but in its simplicity and ability to empower humanity. Over the past few decades, we've witnessed a remarkable acceleration in technological advancements, each wave fundamentally reshaping the way we work and live. The internet's arrival transformed information access, turning libraries into digital fingertips. Smartphones became pocket-sized powerhouses, freeing us from our desks and enabling access to real time information. Now, we stand on the cusp of another revolution – Generative AI (Gen AI). This isn't science fiction; Gen AI is here, and its potential to further amplify human productivity is nothing short of extraordinary.

Between each technological shift, the global GDP has approximately doubled (2x). I dare say the Gen AI tech shift would not just double the GDP but perhaps increase it multifold. Would it be 5x or 10x? Time will tell, but it is up to us to make the most of it. There are approximately 1 billion knowledge workers now. So, imagine the impact we could have. Just as an anecdote, Nvidia's spike in market valuation due to AI has given it a market cap larger than the entire GDP of the United Kingdom. Clearly, people believe in AI's impact, and it is time to put it into practice.

None of the technological shifts took away jobs; they made humans much more productive, increasing economic value. Gen AI is here to do the same.

The Internet Era

The first major shift was the advent of the internet, from the mid-90s to the early 2000s, when the internet began becoming a household phenomenon.

I remember how , applying to undergraduate schools in the US while in India was a daunting task in the mid 90s. I relied on a 5,000-page physical book brought by a family member from the US, listing every possible college. Navigating the admission process felt like a lucky draw. By the late 90s, the process had transformed. Every university had a website and spending a few hours online provided all the information I needed, replacing weeks of tedious research. No more handwritten mails and applications, things could be all done digitally and online.

Learnings:

• Information Accessibility: The internet democratized access to information, making it easier for people worldwide to learn, connect, and grow.
• Global Connectivity: The internet shrunk the world, enabling instant communication across continents, fostering global collaboration and cultural exchange.
• Economic Impact: The dot-com boom spurred economic growth, creating new industries and job opportunities, reshaping the business landscape.

The Mobile Era

The next significant shift in human productivity came with the arrival of the smartphone bringing the digital information literally at the palm of your hands..

In the late 2000s, smartphones enabled me to work from anywhere, stay updated on global events, and monitor my engineering projects from the palm of my hand. My productivity had increased exponentially as I could work flexibly and access information anytime, anywhere. Information started being processed and analyzed realtime.

Learnings:

• Mobility and Flexibility: Smartphones provided unprecedented mobility, revolutionizing work cultures and personal lives.
• App Ecosystem: The development of mobile apps created a new ecosystem, transforming how we interact with technology.
• Real-Time Information: Smartphones provide real-time access to information, enhancing decision-making processes.

The Birth of the Generative AI Era

Having witnessed the transformative power of the internet and smartphones, I never imagined experiencing another era of such profound change. Generative AI (Gen AI) is proving to be just that or probably more —a revolutionary leap forward.

I started engaging with Gen AI last year, initially skeptical of its hype. However, after working closely with this technology, I realized its unprecedented capabilities. Large Language Models (LLMs) can think, analyze, and write, offering incredible use cases. I’ve personally benefited from Gen AI in numerous ways, from analyzing complex documents and extracting insights from terabytes of data to creating business models and proposals in hours—tasks that previously took months or were nearly impossible. On a personal note, I see my kids learning every day with these tools. They grasp complex math and science topics with ease, and I sometimes feel a bit envious, wishing we had these tools growing up—perhaps I’d be a smarter individual today! ???

The internet made data accessible, smartphones made data reachable, but Gen AI is taking it to a whole new level by helping us make sense of data.

Learnings:

• A Digital Assistant for Everything: Gen AI enables us to have a smart, knowledgeable assistant for all aspects of life and work, thinking and acting faster than many of us can.
• Unprecedented Automation: Gen AI can automate complex tasks, from content creation to data analysis, freeing human resources for more strategic activities.
• Enhanced Creativity: AI-generated content and tools augment human creativity, providing new ways to approach problems and create solutions.
• Personalization: Gen AI delivers highly personalized experiences, tailoring content, products, and services to individual preferences, enhancing customer satisfaction and engagement.

By integrating Gen AI into our workflows, we can achieve levels of productivity previously unimaginable. This new era promises to revolutionize how we live, work, create, and interact with the world around us.

Key Questions for the Future of Gen AI: However, this is just the beginning of a new era. There are many critical questions to be answered, which will drive innovation and shape the future of Gen AI:

LLMs & Data

• How will businesses and enterprises keep LLMs from hallucinating, drifting and ensure they remain grounded?
• Will there be training of LLMs to different verticals? Is it needed? Is it practical? Is there ROI?
• How will enterprises get their data to LLMs?
• Will LLMs drive where data resides, or will data decide where LLMs are run?
• What happens if LLMs and data are in different locations?

Gen AI Value Chain

• Will the leader in the cloud depend on who has the best LLMs?
• Who will choose the right LLMs for enterprises ? Would it be driven by accuracy, performance or something good enough but cost effective ?
• Who will manage and operate all the software needed on top of LLMs for business applications to be Gen AI ready? Will this lead to a new category of companies?

Gen AI, Business App Access Controls

• Will Gen AI have a new interface or be integrated into existing business apps?
• Will existing roles be sufficient given how Gen AI exposes users to data?
• Will granular data controls be needed?

Economics

• Will the unit cost economics of Gen AI components including LLM be the same as unit economics of how enterprises derive value?
• How will enterprises measure ROI if the unit economics of cost and value are not similar?

New Tech Personas to manage Gen AI

• Will enterprises need a new skill set in-house to manage this fast-growing trend? Or would the current workforce be trained?
• Will this give rise to the Chief AI Officer role?

We will discuss and answer many of these questions soon together as the new paradigm is created with the birth of the Gen AI era.

As I continue to explore and navigate this new landscape, I am sure we will all learn from our mistakes, innovate, and iterate, helping improve human productivity and increasing economic value. I will continue to share my learnings in this space. Stay tuned.

Disclaimer

Note: I did utilize Gen AI to assist in drafting this blog post, amalgamating its capabilities with my own thoughts. It serves as a testament to the power and potential benefits of this technology. All thoughts are my own and does not represent any current or previous employer I have worked for.