The Big Tech AI race and money, money, money
The latest most transformational stories you need to know.
Dear reader,
Welcome back to BN Edition: concise analysis on the stories that offer us hints at our unfolding future. Fresh from the desks of the Brilliant Noise team.
Each edition takes a handful of stories from recent weeks and asks three things:
What? The story in a few sentences.
So what? Why do I need to know?
What next? What do I need to do or watch out for?
This week, find out more about:
Google has officially entered the AI race
ChatGPT boss is valuing AI chip-making business at $7 trillion
How we’ll make money on the new internet
Let’s get into it.
Google gets serious in the Big Tech AI race
What?
Last week, Google finally released Gemini Advanced, a powerful AI that competes with OpenAI's GPT-4 and challenges their position as the reigning sovereign of generative AI so far.
Source: Google’s Blog, The Keyword
So what?
Before now, mass market generative AI has been dominated by OpenAI’s ChatGT. But now Google has entered the chat.
Apart from the fact that this is momentous for the ‘AI race’, there are two other things to note with this launch:
It’s good. It’s really, really good. The user interface is slick and doesn’t jitter like ChatGPT does sometimes. Gemini’s image creating capabilities are better than ChatGPT possibly because it’s using Google images whereas ChatGPT is using Dall-E. Plus, if you already work within the Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Google Docs, Google Calendar etc) Gemini can integrate with, and ‘read’ all these applications which has a load of very interesting consequences for personal and enterprise level productivity and creativity. It has an interesting self-checking feature that uses Google Search to check where there might be errors in the generative AI results. It highlights bits in its own replies you might want to check. And looks like this:
However, it’s not available everywhere. Google is gatekeeping Gemini Advanced from the United Kingdom and a lot of Europe, for now. As of today, 15th February 2024, Gemini is not officially available in the UK for the general public (without using a VPN). Here in the UK we can use the basic free version of Gemini, but not Gemini Advanced (without using a VPN). We think this is probably because of the AI regulations the UK Government just published – Google is either being cautious, or, they’re penalising countries who dare to regulate AI…
What next?
Expect some very useful competition. The race for model dominance is on.
In the 80s, Apple and Microsoft struggled for dominance in the personal computer race after Apple decided to take on the PC world by launching the MacIntosh.
As Mark Twain said:
“History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes.”
Google hard launching Gemini Advanced means we’re in a new era in the generative AI revolution. As one of the biggest, most recognisable brands in the world, Google and the potential of AI when used within the existing Google Workspace ecosystem could mean they have the advantage. They weren’t first in the race when ChatGPT took off last year, but neither was Apple when they launched the MacIntosh.
If you can’t access the Advanced version, play with the free version and keep an eye on Google’s channels like their blog for any updates on when Gemini Advanced will be available in your country.
ChatGPT boss is valuing AI chip-making business at $7 trillion
What?
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is reported to be in discussions to raise a monumental sum reportedly in the region of $5 trillion to $7 trillion to significantly enhance global chip manufacturing capabilities, essential for advancing AI technologies.
Source: Sam Altman Seeks Trillions of Dollars to Reshape Business of Chips and AI, The Wall Street Journal
So what?
This fundraising effort, potentially involving major investors like the government of the United Arab Emirates, would not only significantly expand the current scale of the global chip industry, which is currently valued at $527 billion, but it also gives a clue about the kind of almost unimaginable computing power OpenAI are envisioning.
“Altman has often complained that there aren’t enough of these kinds of chips—known as graphics-processing units, or GPUs—to power OpenAI’s quest for artificial general intelligence, which it defines as systems that are broadly smarter than humans.” The Wall Street Journal
What next?
Whenever something is unclear or uncertain or seems unfair, it’s often useful to ‘follow the money’ to see where the power lies. A move like this from the CEO of the world’s biggest AI company signals a future where AI's capabilities could expand exponentially, offering new opportunities for innovation, customer engagement, and competitive advantage.
Altman’s fundraising is a reminder about the critical role of technological infrastructure in the future of AI and digital innovation. Such a vast investment highlights the growing demand for more advanced and accessible computing resources, which are the backbone of AI development and deployment.
How we’ll make money on the new internet
What?
This brilliantly articulated perspective from the People Vs Algorithms podcast explores the transformative impact of AI on the internet and the mechanisms of monetisation in a digital ecosystem increasingly dominated by AI-driven platforms.
Source: The Next Internet, People Vs Algorithms
So what?
Last week (and the week before) we discussed how AI is affecting search and how the traditional web, characterised by active searching and browsing, is being upended by AI technologies that deliver personalised content directly to users.
The shift from a federated network of independent sites to a centralised model where AI aggregates and personalises content according to individual preferences signifies a fundamental change in internet usage.
AI-powered browsers like Arc browser and information assistants like Perplexity are examples of this transition, suggesting a future where operating systems integrate AI functionalities more deeply, streamlining access to information and services.
What next?
Money will always find a way to hack into attention flows. The potential for AI to centralise activity and therefore influence economic flows highlights the importance of understanding and using new ways to get consumer attention. It also will force a reevaluation of content delivery methods. For example, as anti-innovation as it sounds – email might become even more important for bypassing platform dependencies.
An AI-centric digital landscape is coming. The more we move towards AI-driven personalisation and centralised content, the more traditional advertising models are challenged. This of course necessitates new strategies for engagement and monetisation.
Content is king. Again: In a surprise to absolutely no-one, the value of high-quality, unique brand content in a landscape where distribution is no longer a barrier will be even more important for visibility and differentiation.
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Thank you for reading.
The Brilliant Noise team