[csa]

> All they're investing in are AI companies...

Genuine question…

Do you not think that a large percentage of (random cut off) $1b companies over the next 10 years will be AI?

And/or do you not think that the next $100b+ company will be AI-centered?

[conartist6]

Over the next 10 years, no, I think the market will course correct within that time frame. AI is the sauce that's being slathered on everything right now and demand for it is driving record valuations, particularly for AI startups and their founders. That demand is all investor-driven though: investors are falling over themselves to make AI investments, while consumers are not actually especially eager to have all human contact progressively stripped from their lives.

[csa]

> That demand is all investor-driven though: investors are falling over themselves to make AI investments

Largely true.

> while consumers are not actually especially eager to have all human contact progressively stripped from their lives

Hmm… I agree with this sentiment, but I think it’s mostly a straw man. There are many things that AI can do well that people will end up embracing directly or indirectly.

Medical scans is one big one, imho.

Mundane but important legal services is another.

Skillful mediation of scutwork is definitely embraced.

Good and fast simple customer service via phone or text will end up being very welcome (at least in some contexts). I realize that most people will prefer superlative human customer service, but that’s currently not a widespread available reality, especially for simple tasks.

All sorts of learning (great and essentially free tutors).

All sorts of practice (e.g., language, speeches, debates, presentations, etc.).

All of the above (and more) are things that people are using AI for right now, and they seem to be loving it.

I realize that some folks use AI tools in regressive and sometimes dehumanizing ways, but that’s not the fault of the tool, imho.

[conartist6]

I dunno, I see problems with every one of those things.

You could make a customer service AI that was an advocate for the consumer, but it would likely spend the company's money liberally. So instead you'll end up with AI agents incentivized to be stingy and standoffish about admitting the company could improve, just like the humans are.

You can tutor with AI, but there's no knowing what it will teach you. It will sound as convinced of itself when it teaches you why the earth is flat as it does teaching you why the earth is round. The one thing it will certainly do is reinforce your existing biases.

You can practice with AI, but you'd learn more by posing yourself the questions.

A doctor can have AI look at medical scans, but they can't defer to AI judgement and just tell the patient "AI says you have cancer, but I don't really know or care one way or the other". So again, the skill in reading results needs to be in the doctor.

[philipallstar]

> Medical scans is one big one, imho.

People have been trying this for a long time, as it's an obvious win, but have struggled so far. Perhaps newer models will help, though.