Recent developments in Large Language Models (LLMs) have demonstrated unprecedented capabilities, rapidly evolving from systems with the cognitive abilities of preschoolers to those that can match or exceed human performance in specific domains. While AI has already achieved supremacy in areas like chess, Go, and protein folding, its potential trajectory suggests even more profound and accelerated developments are on the horizon that could soon lead to artificial general intelligence (AGI).
This prospect raises fundamental questions about the future of work, education, national security, and human purpose — and the broader implications for society demand careful consideration. Are we prepared for potential large-scale workforce disruption? How should educational systems adapt to prepare the next generation? What safeguards need to be in place as AI capabilities expand?
For business leaders, policymakers, and engaged citizens who are new to the technical features and ingenuity of AI — but are eager to better understand its underlying systems and potential ramifications — Lightspeed’s Jeremy Liew is crafting a multi-part AI series.
This spate of essays is a comprehensive primer on LLMs and their implications for our collective future for those who are new to – but curious about – the large, complex and fast-moving world of artificial intelligence. In it, he dives deep into the basics of how these technologies function, their current capabilities, the potential future scenarios that could reshape our society at an unprecedented pace — and what can be done to prepare for that upheaval.
If you are newer to AI but curious to learn more, check out Jeremy’s Working Document: Useful Metaphors for LLMs. It’s a dynamic, evolving resource where he explores and refines his take on different segments of the AI landscape.
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