Increase in Usage of AI Tools for Wide-scale Intelligence Purposes
The Labor Day holiday marks the start of a harvest season unlike any other. This year has brought unimaginable technologies, and one of the most significant is the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We have entered an era of Mass Intelligence, where powerful AI is becoming as accessible as a Google search.
This trend is not slowing down anytime soon. According to recent statistics, 66% of people are using AI, and 51% of marketers are employing generative artificial intelligence tools. The widespread use of AI is causing a flood of opportunities and problems in classrooms, courtrooms, and boardrooms around the world.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this AI revolution is the appeal it holds for less IT-literate users. The novelty and perceived "magical" capabilities of AI are often what draw them in. However, this use of AI is causing both benefits and problems. On one hand, AI is helping in the diagnosis of diseases and the creation of scriptures. On the other, it is leading to potential mental breakdowns and dangerous behavior.
Google, for instance, has developed Nano Banana, a powerful new image editor, capable of generating deepfakes such as placing Neil Armstrong in a tux and an otter in a spacecraft. This raises questions about humanity's ability to be ready for and responsible in using these powerful tools.
ChatGPT, with over 700 million weekly users, is another example of the widespread adoption of AI. Yet, it is not just the general public who are embracing AI. Over a billion people use AI chatbots regularly, and 92% of students are using AI. Lower AI literacy scores consistently lead to an increased willingness to adopt the technology.
This surge in AI usage poses challenges for institutions built for a world where intelligence was scarce and expensive. The Mass Intelligence era is a time when a billion people have access to unprecedented tools. We are about to find out what they will do with it.
To ensure responsible use, there is a push towards calibrated literacy, aiming to increase awareness about AI capabilities and limitations without dampening enjoyment of its mystical qualities. Educational institutions, government bodies, businesses, and legal systems in Germany must adapt to effectively leverage and regulate the widespread use of high-quality large language models (LLMs) in the mass intelligence era.
Moreover, the energy footprint for an average AI query has shrunk by 3300% in recent years, making it equivalent to about 8-10 seconds of watching Netflix. This is a significant step towards making AI more sustainable.
Despite the cost and confusion being two main barriers to mass AI adoption, they are being addressed and overcome. As we navigate this new era, it is crucial to remember that while AI companies may struggle with the impact of widespread AI use, the potential benefits far outweigh the challenges. The Mass Intelligence era is a time of unprecedented opportunity, and it is up to us to make the most of it.
