🥪 Will AGI transform or destroy enterprise IT?

Good morning, 🚀 my friend Sharif Sayed helped me shape the intro for today’s newsletter.

He shared with me the story of Billy Joel’s surprising come back (after he famously said he was just a stupid piano player and needed to shut up just before ending his career).

Joel’s new single is out, and it’s called “Turn the Lights Back On.” It’s, as expected, beautiful and deep. However, it’s the video for this song that has become a sensation. The creators used complex AI video-generating solutions to recreate Billy across four decades, seamlessly flowing into one another as the song progresses.

This work will undoubtedly impact the music industry. The Beatles' own new single, “Now and Then” has already shown what's possible with AI. But it’s becoming increasingly evident how AI will help revive old memories, people long-gone, and scenarios long-forgotten.

In the context of today's newsletter, Billy Joel is setting the tone with his ballad, so we’re going to focus on the incredible AI opportunities and achievements. We will also naturally skip your favorite “This Week’s Tune” section since you already have it right here.

So enjoy!

Weekly Enterprise Digital Transformation Index

ALEX’S TAKE
Will AGI transform or destroy enterprise IT?

There is no doubt that your IT team will need to adapt and change by 2029.

How?

Well, for starters, they need to dive into AI as deeply and as early as possible. Today’s engineers will need to work on developing better soft skills. Today’s managers will need to learn to manage AGI.

If your IT organization is still on the fence, you are losing precious time, competitive strength, and possibly your job. Here are 5 things that will change for an enterprise IT organization when AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) is achieved.

NEXT IN AI
AI Military

I can’t help noticing how all the latest technological advancements in AI and Robotics are based on various pop culture themes: Skynet, consumer robots, robo-soldiers..

The US Army Research Lab (btw, that’s probably a badass org to work for) is currently exploring how commercial AI, like GPT-4, can serve as strategic planning tools in war game simulations, particularly noting their performance in strategizing for StarCraft II scenarios.

With the Department of Defense pinpointing over 180 potential military applications for AI, collaboration with companies such as Palantir and Scale AI is intensifying to weave AI technology into the fabric of military operations. Scary? It should be. 

The leap towards using AI for critical military decision-making is sparking a blend of enthusiasm and ethical concerns, underscoring the need for a cautious approach as the global AI arms race escalates thanks to the biggest war in Europe since 1945: Ukraine vs Russia.

It’s hard to tell where this experiment leads our military, but we all just hope our tech stays ours.

FUTURE OF TECH
Robot’s place is in the kitchen!

In just a few decades we might see robots indistinguishable from humans marching the streets of Washington DC demanding equal rights. We may see slogans like “Robot rights are Human rights” and “Robot’s place is NOT just in the Kitchen!”

The reason for this futuristic thinking is this:

Three weeks ago, OpenAI and Figure announced a partnership. Today, ChatGPT has a body. This is 100% end-to-end with no teleop or speedup.

According to Ray Kurzweil we will achieve AGI by 2029 and Singularity by 2045. This means, that realistically we will see such robots (but much more advanced) in our kitchens by 2032. But that time AI and Robots will be an integral part of our lives so much so we will be wondering how we lived without them before, just like our kids today can’t imagine how our world could live without the internet.

THIS MADE US LAUGH

If it’s Boeing, I’m not going.

📚THIS WEEK’S READ
"A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century" by Heying and Weinstein argues that our evolutionary biology clashes with modern life. They propose that understanding our hunter-gatherer past can help us navigate issues like diet, sleep, relationships, and stress in a way that promotes well-being. While I find the evolutionary explanations intriguing, the book's reliance on anecdotes and potential bias of the authors leaves me wanting more scientific evidence. Great book, regardless.

FUTURE OF HEALTH
We are not lonely AI-nymore

I’m only 40, but even I get lonely sometimes. We all do. But if we were to imagine how it would feel to stay lonely and alone when we age to the point when our kids don’t really wanna hang out with us anymore, our friends are slow or gone, and our partners waved their last good bye, we would see a rather drastic picture. Well..

In South Korea, a wave of loneliness is washing over the aging population just like we described. And to combat this, Hydrol AI has created a unique solution: a $1,800 AI buddy designed to specifically address the needs of seniors living alone. This isn't your average chatty companion; this AI pal acts as a friendly reminder to take medication, dispenses helpful health tips, provides musical entertainment to brighten the day, and even features smart sensors that can notify caregivers if something seems amiss.

Today, the impact of these AI companions has been impressive. Local authorities haven't held back, distributing a staggering 7,000 units to seniors across the country.

The results speak for themselves: a significant decrease in feelings of loneliness and a remarkable 9,000 testers reporting better medication adherence. With South Korea's senior population steadily rising, these AI buddies could be the game-changer needed to combat social isolation and ensure a more well-cared-for elderly population.

Now sure, it still looks odd and basic. But let’s give it time. I’m convinced that in 10 years when robots become a commonplace, age-related loneliness will be taken care of by the AGI better than by humans.

CURATED BY
Alex Pshenianykov
founder of Techery