The future of AI isn’t out there
Juan Santiago
CEO at Santex and Technology with Purpose | Co-Founder of Incutex | Partner at Kalei Ventures | Forbes Tech Council Offical Member
AI is a subject of considerable discussion—as a technology, a tool, and even a revolution. But talk is cheap. Those who know me or are familiar with my background know that I’m someone who takes action. I’m committed to turning thoughts into tangible outcomes.
This week, I had the honor of speaking with the Science and Technology Committee at the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina to share my thoughts on AI regulation. I had 7 minutes to make a statement. This was a significant privilege but also a great responsibility.
I knew that I couldn't cover everything or go too in-depth. My focus had to be on connecting the right dots, capturing their attention, and, ideally, sparking some questions. I shared an idea, a fact, and three key messages. If I were to summarize my insights in one sentence, it was a provocation to not view AI as just a decree. It was a reminder that the AI revolution can only take place if we let go of outdated concepts and change the way we think in our daily lives. We must reconsider how we address the significant challenges facing society, how we approach our work, solve problems, conduct transactions, and what progress means, as well as what is and isn’t real.
Just take a look at this experiment I conducted in just 15 minutes. I used my speech from the Chamber of Deputies as a prompt for a new Google app called NotebookLM. It can generate summaries, explanations, and answers based on user-uploaded content. So, what did I do? I uploaded my speech and asked it to create a podcast. Currently, it’s only available in English. Listen to the result:
As eloquent as it sounds—and it does feature two individuals with exceptional communication skills— it’s actually automatically generated AI content. These people don’t exist, even though they sound real. If you were to hear this in a podcast, you might not question it, because this wasn’t possible in the past. Today, however, it is, and this capability will only continue to evolve and become more refined.
That’s why, as a society, we must open our eyes, as well as those of future generations, who may not even know that these powerful solutions weren’t always available. “When we think about the future of the internet, I would guess that 90% of content will no longer be generated by humans . It will be generated by bots, ” says Latanya Sweeney, Professor of the Practice of Government and Technology at the Harvard Kennedy School and in the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences.? Distinguishing between what is generated by humans and what isn’t is something we need to address now.?
Fake news and the differentiation between humans and bots is one of the critical issues we must address when discussing the future of AI. It’s certainly not the only one—there's much more to consider. In May 2024, the Global Pulse Check on AI Risks asked experts which individuals, groups, societies, economies, or ecosystems they were particularly concerned about in terms of potential harm from AI in the next 18 months. Marginalized communities and the Global South, along with children, women, youth, and those in jobs vulnerable to automation, were considered most at risk.
This information must be acknowledged by everyone in the private or public sector, regardless of where they are in the world. Those who hold any degree of power to influence AI can either create opportunities or perpetuate the status quo, further widening the gap.
There's a lot to unpack, and it's urgent that we pause and take action now. We need to participate in every space where raising our voices can make a difference, just as I did in the Chamber of Deputies and as I plan to do on October 26, 2024, at the MIT AI Conference in NYC . I'll be on the panel "The Future of AI: Global Opportunities," moderated by Rebeca Hwang and joined by notable figures like Dilawar Syed, Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Small Business Administration; Mark Gorenberg, Managing Director at Zetta Venture Partners and Chair of the MIT Board of Trustees; and Pablo Di Si, President & CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.
To conclude, rather than just sharing an idea, I have a request for you: Don't let AI confine you to a mold or logic that only benefits those who market it.
Let's keep the conversation going! I’d love to hear your thoughts. I'm all ears.