The Era of Specialized AI - Part I

I wrote this four part essay on how the AGI hype is distracting us from the real AI revolution - specialized AI.

Each part dives deeper on concepts that can be read independently but also offers continuity to subsequent parts. Part IV concludes with actionable approach to navigate the real AI revolution currently underway, here is the TLDR but the longer format offers many useful insights and is well worth your ten minutes :)

The AGI hype is distracting us from the real AI revolution - specialized AI. We're in the early stages of a massive model explosion, and businesses need to adapt fast. Forget replacing jobs en masse, focus on customizing AI to supercharge your existing workflows and up-skill your teams. Don't wait, start experimenting and iterating now!

Part I: The AGI Hype

It's become common to hear that AI will cause massive layoffs and societal shifts. However, it's important to examine which jobs are truly at risk and avoid oversimplifying the issue. If you dig deeper into any current layoffs (Meta, Federal Workers, NIH, etc.), the underlying causes are often more complex than simply AI replacing humans. In the case of software engineers, big tech companies over-hired for years and are now undergoing a correction. While AI can assist with coding tasks, it's not yet sophisticated enough to fully replace human developers. Code is a living thing that needs to be monitored, updated, and adapted as user needs evolve. Even in the non-tech layoffs it is unclear how AI is being used reliably and effectively. Current AI still requires significant human oversight.