(BNS) Simon Willison And SWYX Tell Us Where AI Is In 2025
Jan 11, 2025
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Simon Willison, a thought leader in AI, joins SWYX, an AI specialist, to delve into the future of artificial intelligence as we approach 2025. They discuss the evolution of AI models and the challenges surrounding AI agents, such as reliability and misinformation. The rise of AI influencers and the necessity for human oversight are highlighted, alongside innovations in creative industries. They explore the future of user interfaces, local LLMs, and the integration of AI in everyday life, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful regulation and the exciting developments in AI wearables.
By 2025, AI has become more efficient and affordable, leading to significant accessibility improvements for everyday users and businesses.
Local AI models have progressed to compete with cloud-based services, empowering users with greater control and privacy regarding AI applications.
The conversation around AI requires deeper criticism to address its environmental, ethical, and societal implications while celebrating its advancements.
Deep dives
The Current State of AI in 2025
In 2025, AI technology has significantly improved in terms of performance, cost, and speed. Models have become faster and cheaper, with enhancements in capabilities such as multimodality—effectively processing not just text but images and videos as well. Although expectations were high for a game-changing successor to GPT-4, the advancements have been more about affordability and efficiency rather than a dramatic increase in intelligence. As a result, existing models are now more accessible, allowing users to leverage AI for various practical applications without requiring exorbitant computing resources.
Breaking the GPT-4 Barrier
Over the past year, numerous organizations have developed models that either match or exceed the original capabilities of GPT-4, effectively breaking the barrier that once set OpenAI ahead of the rest. At least 18 new models have emerged, exhibiting comparable performance without the need for expensive GPU setups. Many of these models can even run efficiently on consumer devices, making powerful AI tools much more accessible to everyday users. This shift has democratized the landscape, allowing a broader range of organizations and individuals to innovate using AI.
Dramatic Price Reductions in AI Models
The cost of using AI models has experienced a staggering decrease, leading to a more affordable landscape for consumers. For example, the price for operational tokens in OpenAI's GPT-3 has dropped by a factor of 100 over the past two and a half years. New competitors have also entered the fray, offering models that are strikingly cheap compared to past offerings. Such affordability enables more businesses and individuals to experiment with and implement AI solutions, stimulating broader usage across various industries.
The Evolving Role of AI Agents
AI agents are gaining traction, but their current implementations raise concerns regarding reliability and decision-making. Despite their potential, many applications continue to struggle with fundamental issues like gullibility, where these systems can easily be manipulated or provide erroneous outputs. The distinction between agents acting autonomously versus those needing human oversight is critical, and many in the industry question whether full autonomy is feasible in the near future. The conversation remains focused on what role AI can realistically fill in both personal and professional contexts.
Local Models Gaining Ground
The development of local AI models capable of running on standard hardware is beginning to create a niche for efficient, accessible AI applications. These local models have improved to the point where they can even rival cloud-based offerings in terms of usability and functionality, beckoning users to explore options outside of centralized solutions. The ability to run models locally suggests a shift towards personal ownership and control over AI capabilities, as users no longer have to depend exclusively on cloud infrastructure. This increases privacy and potential customization options for users wanting to tailor AI to their specific needs.
The Need for Thoughtful AI Critique
A notable concern in discussions surrounding AI pertains to the quality and depth of criticism regarding its environmental impact, ethical concerns, and societal implications. There's a need for more nuanced conversations that balance the benefits and drawbacks of AI technologies, acknowledging valid concerns while also celebrating their progress. High-quality discourse can assist individuals and organizations in navigating the changing landscape of AI, avoiding overly simplistic arguments that fail to address the complexities involved. Establishing rich, informed discussions can empower stakeholders to make better decisions about the direction of AI development and implementation.
The great Simon Willison joins SWYX and I to talk about everything we learned about LLMs in 2024, and what the state of AI is generally, as we go into 2025.
