Let's talk about Artificial Intelligence

[old man emu]

I'm wondering if the AI boom might go bust. I need to separate the technology from the financial backing it needs. I don't see the technological side of things dying off. There will always be people playing with it and developing its abilities. However, it seems that recently there hs been some nervousness amongst the sources of finance for it.

 

At the moment, those seeking to finance AI seem to be hyping it when they are making their requests. Howver, it also seems that those who can provide the finance are concerned that the returns on investment are too long in coming. I'm not a financial expert, but my opinion is that those providing the money want both security for their money and at the same time they want the profits to roll in pretty quickly. In other words, investing in AI is a risky business. I think that these financiers, having been burned by the dot.com bubble and the causes of the 2008 GFC, and factoring the uncertainty of the global political situation might become more reluctant to go in as deeply as those seeking finance might like.

 

However, my opinion is based on the way I think Wall Street types operate. I think that they are too concerned with short term returns. That leaves the other major economy whose mind set allows for playing the long term, regular small returns game. 

 

We live in interesting times.

[nomadpete]

I agree with your skepicism. Sure, it's still early days. But so far the returns don't seem to be ramping up in proportion to the collective $billions being 'invested' in data centres and A.I.

[old man emu]

4 hours ago, nomadpete said:

I agree with your skepicism

I'm not skeptic about AI. A skeptic is a person who questions the truth, validity, or value of an idea, claim, or belief rather than accepting it at face value. I was just wondering if the advance of AI is likely to be slowed by its failure to produce profits rapidly for investors. AI has been developing since the end of WWII. It hit some hurdles in teh 60s and 70s when computing power wasn't up to its needs. Now that power seems to be available, but other factors are at play, and I reckon the major factor is the profit on investment in the short term.