Learning from History: How AI is Changing the Future

In today's fast-changing world of artificial intelligence (AI), people often talk about the future with a mix of excitement and concern. But what lies ahead for AI isn't just a matter of big ideas. It's also about how laws and rules will shape the landscape, especially when it comes to copyright and legal issues.

We all know the phrase, "history repeats itself." When new technologies shake things up, they can move faster than the rules can keep up. Remember Napster? It was a game-changer for music. People could share and get music online easily, but it went beyond the rules. Napster thought the law was not clearly defined and tried to take advantage. They got into trouble with lawsuits from music creators. This showed that having an amazing idea wasn't enough. You needed a solid plan that respects the law and content creators.

Now, let's look at AI. The situation is a bit like Napster's. There's this idea that "data is the new oil," and AI is proving that true. AI, like Large Language Models (LLMs) aka ChatGPT, can give us quick and personalized info. But here's the catch: They learn from existing data, similar to how Napster worked with music. This raises questions about using data without permission, and big players like OpenAI are now dealing with the legal ramifications.

This situation reminds us of Napster's journey – a time of excitement but also legal challenges. Some experts believe that today's LLMs might have reached their peak. It could take a while for new rules to come in that make sure people are paid fairly and copyrighted content is respected.

So, what's the roadmap for responsible AI? We can look at the rise of streaming platforms for guidance. Just like Napster's era led to new ways of sharing music, the AI landscape is changing. We're in a phase where AI is innovative, but we need new laws to make it sustainable. These laws will focus on things like identifying content, managing it, and fairly compensating creators.

This transition might mean that AI is in a similar place to where Napster was – on the cusp of change. To move forward, we need a new legal framework, and the people who create it will shape the future of AI. This change will rely on something important: private data that belongs to each company.

What's special about the AI journey is the idea of data sovereignty. This means that companies owning their private data are ahead. They're not just doing well legally, but they're also respecting their customers' data rights. This shift is a game-changer. Businesses are turning their focus to using their unique data to build strong AI systems.

This all ties into the idea that "data is the new oil." Companies that have AI built on their own data are powerful and the biggest data companies doing this will eventually control global economies the same way those that control oil have been since the Industrial Revolution. The AI story is about using AI with unique data, and this not only helps companies succeed but also protects them legally in addition to winning brand trust with their customers.

Remember that the real transformation brought by AI isn't some distant ideology – it's happening now. Data ownership and responsible AI are key players in this change. Data is information and, as they say, information is power.