AI: Being Thankful for true 'Paradigm Shifts'. RTZ #553

Today of course is Thanksgiving, and I wish you all the best enjoyment of this Holiday with your family and friends. And I’m thankful you’re taking the time to peruse my 553rd post. My daily AI obsessions with the AI Tech Wave chart below.

So I’ll keep this one short. Thankfully for many of you.

Two days from now, November 30th, is OpenAI’s second anniversary for ChatGPT. The AI App that became the fastest growing app in recent tech history. The one that kicked off this AI/ML/DL/LLM AI thing in earnest. Am thankful for that.

And as readers here know, something we’re barely getting started on with using new software to do old things in very new ways. Thus, the title of this site: “AI: A Reset to Zero”. A ‘paradigm shift’ in other words.

Those words were triggered for me in this Information post “OpenAI’s Sales Chief Sees ‘Paradigm Shift’ in Corporate AI Spending”:

The piece quotes OpenAI’s chief commercial officer Giancarlo “GC” Lionetti as saying:

“We believe AI products are truly a paradigm shift, and that starts to unlock these new ways of working that you’re referring to here. Users and customers are finding a new way to work.”

The whole piece is worth reading, particularly to understand how OpenAI is building both its direct ChatGPT and Enterprise sales businesses. And punching way above its weight. While charting its path parallel with its partner Microsoft.

I’d like to do something broader today. Just talk about this ‘Paradigm Shift’ thing in terms of Tech Waves.

I’ve seen and navigated a LOT of these ‘Paradigm Shifts’ in technology over the decades. My brain immediately translates when I hear ‘paradigm shift’ to this:

‘New ways to do Old stuff’.

It gets my attention in particular if it’s done AT SCALE using technologies both new and old. Think Apple II as the ‘Bicycle for the Mind’, AOL as a gateway to the Internet, Yahoo! as a way to find stuff out online, and so on.

And then its TRULY a ‘paradigm shift’ if it makes money at Scale. Think eBay in 1998, Google in 2004, and so on.

I had the privilege of being in the front row seats with these founders at many of their pivotal ‘paradigm change’ moments. Am thankful for that.

Of course there’re bonus ‘Paradigm Shift’ points when existing markets are fundamentally changed and transformed.

Like using one’s phone to get taxi jobs instead of getting a taxi medallion in one’s town.

And on the other end, hailing a car from one’s phone rather than in the rain on the street with an arm stretched out. Wow, am I thankful for that.

These things when they happen are far more than an easy buzz-word. It’s when they truly transform, and generally expand the market with the ‘new ways’.

Like being able to order more than just Pizza delivered to one’s door. I’m thankful for that particularly for the healthier options some of the time.

Or broadcast one’s own show directly to millions without going through a network. And make good money at scale doing it.

Paradigm Shifts all. And the AI one is barely getting started.

I’m thankful for being at the beginning of these shifts with you all with this AI Tech Wave thing. Appreciate your being on this winding, discovery trip with me. Am truly thankful for that.

Have a great Thanksgiving all. Stay tuned.

(NOTE: The discussions here are for information purposes only, and not meant as investment advice at any time. Thanks for joining us here)