“AI is the big one,” said Bill Gates in a recent Q&A session on Reddit. “I don’t think Web3 was that big or that metaverse stuff alone was revolutionary but AI is quite revolutionary.”
The tech giant and philanthropist went on to express his admiration for OpenAI’s ChatGPT, calling it “a glimpse of what is to come” in the world of AI.
“I am impressed with this whole approach and the rate of innovation,” he said.
But what exactly is generative AI and how was it impacting the world of technology?
Recent advancements in AI had led to the development of generative models, a type of AI that can create new and unique content based on the patterns it learns from existing data. This technology can be used to generate text, music, images, and even videos. In the world of AI art, generative models had been making waves in recent years, with notable examples like Midjourney, an AI art generator that took the world by storm in 2022 and won an art competition.
But the potential of generative AI extends far beyond the art world. In the business world, generative AI can be used to generate product designs, write marketing copy, and even create financial forecasts. In healthcare, generative AI can be used to create personalized treatment plans and help with drug discovery. In education, generative AI can be used to create personalized learning experiences and improve access to education in remote areas.
One exciting application of generative AI was in the field of virtual reality. Generative AI can be used to create unique and immersive virtual environments, from realistic landscapes to fantastical worlds. It could also be used to generate non-player characters that interact with users in a believable and natural way. This technology could also be used to create personalized virtual experiences, such as virtual shopping or virtual tours, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to innovate in the field of virtual reality.
“I am quite impressed with the rate of improvement in these AIs. I think they will have a huge impact,” said Gates. He went on to express his views on the potential of AI tutors that help kids learn math, and medical help for people in Africa who can’t access a doctor. And as he notes, “I still work with Microsoft some so I am following this very closely.”
It is clear that generative AI was a technology worth keeping an eye on. It has the potential to transform industries and change the way we live and work, including virtual reality. Businesses that embrace generative AI then would have a significant advantage over those that don’t, and it is an opportunity for individuals to improve their skills, access to information and opportunities.
It’s a world away from the paper pages we know today, and an interesting way to make print relevant again, in a world where most people read news and articles on their smartphones.
Not content to stop there, the next issue of TIME on January 15th will sport yet more AR features, with an infographic created by Bono. Yes, the U2 Bono. He’s quite rightly highlighting the gender gap in education, and is inspired by drawings created by Bono himself.