Build it, don’t hype it.

The subject of AI really isn’t new anymore, but it has come up for me unusually often and in a wide variety of cases in recent days – not least due to the launch of GPT-4o (and the resulting scandal concerning Scarlett Johansson’s voice). But it also repeatedly centred on the European Union’s AI regulation – and how that is to be implemented in practice (nationally and even locally).

Slowly but surely, the topic is actually reaching the general public.

However, the public appears to be rather unsettled than inspired. And this leads to hesitant, reactive and sometimes almost panicked behaviour instead of an open debate about the opportunities (and challenges) of generative AI (GenAI) and LLMs (Large Language Models).

Yes, we urgently need to talk about issues such as copyright and bias. We urgently need to talk about the absurd energy and water footprints associated with the computing power required to train and operate AI.

But above all, we need to say goodbye to techno-utopian marketing hype and the absurd ideas associated with it – such as that of an imminent “AGI” (Artificial General Intelligence), i.e. a human-like artificial intelligence with real learning ability. But ChatGPT is not intelligent – it is only good at imitating intelligence.

I am convinced that, unlike the NFT and blockchain bubble of a few years ago, the area of AI can and will lead to sustainable changes for society as a whole, even outside of niche areas.

That is why it is important to have an active discourse among the general public – to create understanding and perspectives and to democratically negotiate rules and values for the new reality instead of letting the big tech companies “do their thing” until it is too late and the facts have been laid down.

Here’s my (not so bold) thesis:

This discourse will not be created by hype, half-knowledge and unrealistic claims. This discourse will be created through concrete, small, comprehensible and tangible solutions that allow people to experience the technology directly. Solutions that allow them to understand what is possible and how the new technology can support them in practical ways.

So let’s please stop the hysterical hype train. Let’s start taking the small steps together. Let’s get hands-on, try things out, learn, show, discuss.

Let’s open up the tech bubble and foster AI expertise for everyone.

Now that would be really disruptive.