From the Light Bulb to ChatGPT. Parallelism and Future Possibilities

When discussing the revolution of artificial intelligence, it is often compared to other epochal transformations such as fire, electricity, steam engines, trains, or the internet (to name just a few). I find electricity to be the most fitting comparison in terms of impact and the speed of adoption and growth. Given the holistic impact both technologies have—socially, professionally, organisationally, ethically, and politically- it serves as a benchmark for understanding where AI might lead us.

A World Before Electricity

Imagine a peaceful evening in the mid-19th century, barely illuminated by a candle's dim glow or an oil lamp's flicker. Think of handwritten letters, weeks waiting for a reply (if not months for overseas correspondence), and creaking carriages slowly travelling from city to city. Beautiful, undoubtedly romantic, perhaps fascinating, but honestly, who would go back?

When Thomas Edison, after countless experiments, lit the first electric bulb in 1879, he could hardly have imagined that this faint glow would not only brighten nights but also revolutionise society and the way we live. Gradually, electricity found its way into homes, factories, transport, and our daily lives, profoundly reshaping how we live, work, and interact—almost instantly turning the present into the past.

The Revolution of the Night

On a social level, the impact was staggering. Before electricity, the day ended at sunset. Nature’s rhythms dictated life, and nights limited activities and opportunities. As previously mentioned, communication was slow and difficult, making the world vast and distant. But with the advent of electric power, the night became an extension of the day: bustling cities, continuous trade, and expanding social interactions.

Electricity granted humanity new times and opportunities. Freed from the restrictions of darkness, new professions and social habits emerged. The telegraph arrived, then the telephone, which eliminated distances. This was followed by the radio (with valves, transistors, amplifiers, and stereo systems), television, and finally, the internet, social media, digital music, streaming, and much more. In just a few decades, the world suddenly became smaller and highly connected—a seed that, as it grew, bore fruits once unimaginable.

Artificial Intelligence: The Next Great Revolution

Today, with artificial intelligence, we stand at a similar turning point. Some remain sceptical, just as candle makers scoffed at the light bulb. Ignoring AI, however, would be like neglecting gravity: possible, yes, but with disastrous results.

Amy Webb, a futurist and technology analyst whose 2025 Tech Trends Report I highly recommend reading, reminds us that humanity has surpassed various points of no return in the past year. This has not been a gradual process but a series of sudden leaps profoundly redefining our society. Alongside AI, sensors and biotechnologies are also advancing, giving rise to a form of "living intelligence": systems capable of learning, adapting, and making strategic autonomous decisions.

Just as with electricity, artificial intelligence transforms every aspect of our lives. In the workplace, it automates repetitive tasks, enhances decision-making precision, personalises content, and anticipates needs and desires. This may sound like science fiction today, but let us not forget that radio, television, and the internet once did, too—for our great-grandparents.

According to Webb, the true revolution will come from so-called "Action Models" (LAM): AI systems capable not only of communicating but also of understanding and acting in the real world. Forward-thinking companies are already investing in these systems to automate complex processes, predict maintenance, and optimise entire supply chains.

Imagining a Possible Future

Let us try to imagine a possible future using the technological evolution of electricity as a model:

• From simple virtual assistants (such as ChatGPT) to true digital companions—empathetic and intuitive—capable of supporting us daily.
• Networks of AI agents working on tasks that humans would refuse or perform at a much slower pace.
• From standardised educational systems to virtual teachers that adapt to each student's needs in real-time.

Just as electricity enabled advanced medical devices (such as X-rays and ECGs), artificial intelligence will allow predictive diagnoses, personalised treatments, and increasingly advanced robotic surgery.

In the scientific field, just as the electron microscope opened new frontiers in research, AI will develop powerful simulations and scientific models, significantly accelerating medical and biological discoveries.

As for space exploration, if electricity made space travel and communication possible, artificial intelligence would guide autonomous missions, manage extraterrestrial colonies, and make interplanetary explorations safer and more sustainable.

A Race Against Time

All of this is undoubtedly remarkable. However, technology and automation also have less favourable consequences. A crucial difference between electricity and AI lies in the speed of adoption. Electricity took two centuries to spread, gradually becoming a commodity. Conversely, despite AI originating in the 1950s, it has experienced a dramatic acceleration only in recent years. This rapid progress inevitably creates social challenges, fragmentations, and divides between those who keep up and those who fall behind.

Eliminating repetitive jobs leads to better resource optimisation, but many roles will disappear—just as happened with electricity. Order management, report analysis, research, accounting, and similar roles may no longer exist. How can individuals, businesses, and society reorganise to minimise social impacts?

Even in the military and robotics sectors, generative AI drastically accelerates the development of autonomous systems, raising complex and urgent ethical questions. The competition we perceive between different geographical areas is just one example of a growing trend, further polarising the use of these technologies.

Amy Webb clearly warns that “the decisions we make in the next five years will determine the long-term fate of human civilisation.” This means we must act now—developing skills, education, and policies to ensure that speed does not become an insurmountable barrier for many.

Staying Human

If electricity freed us from darkness, artificial intelligence could liberate us from the limits of human knowledge and creativity. The real challenge will be to remain human, preserving sensitivity, critical thinking, and awareness of our roots amidst the incredible conveniences offered by intelligent machines. The pace of technological evolution no longer allows us to simply shrug our shoulders; we must understand what is happening today, use AI in our daily tasks, and reassess ourselves in light of progress and new possibilities.

If Edison could see what has emerged from his simple light bulb today, he might be left speechless. Who knows—perhaps in a hundred years, someone will smile, reflecting on ChatGPT’s early, tentative steps and how far we will have come.