Reflecting on ‘Oppenheimer’ and the Future of Artificial Intelligence

We’re back, and this time with a brand new name. Each week, we’ll bring you the latest news from the world of venture and startups, pulled from our experience on the front lines. We’d like BCV’s Weekly Download to be an insightful, fun, quick read for anyone deep in the startup ecosystem, but for everyone else reading along it will illuminate some of the most important tech stories you may not see in regular tech news, like what’s going on behind the scenes in the world of generative artificial intelligence, or the newest trends powering logistics.?

On that note, you’ve probably come across at least one editorial comparing the trajectory of AI development with the science that led to the atomic bomb; i.e., are we building a technology that is leading to a tool of mass destruction? Part of the reason for this discussion is the summer blockbuster “Oppenheimer” from Christopher Nolan, which has Americans reexamining the Manhattan Project and the way science can arguably advance beyond what mankind is prepared for.

Well, our partner Slater Stich has deep knowledge of both. He invests actively in AI infrastructure and tools, and has read seemingly everything he can get his hands on about the advent of the Atomic Age. His new piece on our site, “What We Can Actually Learn About AI From the Manhattan Project,” takes a thoughtful stance unlike any you’ve likely read on the subject. The overarching thesis: Technology development is unpredictable, and you have to build things if you want to understand them. He’s also included a reading list that anyone exploring this era and potential ties to today will want to check out.

It was with this context that we brought together a few hundred of our closest collaborators — including those working in AI and plenty of other founders and technical talent — for a screening of “Oppenheimer” on opening night in July. We went all out on the themed handouts and decor.

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This edition was edited by Richard Feloni.