The Next Gen AI Models: Reliable, Consistent, Trustworthy — With Aidan Gomez
Oct 30, 2024
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Aidan Gomez, co-author of the groundbreaking "Attention Is All You Need" paper and CEO of Cohere, dives into the realities of next-generation AI. He dismantles myths about AI's extraordinary capabilities, emphasizing its true value in automating backend processes to save businesses billions. The conversation touches on the limitations of AI training, the role of synthetic data, and practical applications in various sectors like healthcare. Gomez also discusses the synergy between AI and humans, highlighting a balanced, responsible approach to integration in the workplace.
The real value of AI lies in automating essential back-office processes, potentially saving businesses billions rather than focusing solely on consumer apps.
Advancements in AI will be gradual, emphasizing reliability and utility without creating omnipotent systems that solve all challenges instantly.
Deep dives
Understanding Investment and Sustainable Growth in AI
High investments in AI development raise questions about sustainability and return on investment (ROI). It's noted that the current expenditures on training models may seem excessive, but they are relatively minor compared to the long-term value the technology promises to deliver. With the rapid adoption of AI by millions of users, particularly in the enterprise sector, the expectation is that organizations will soon experience significant ROI. However, integrating AI technology into businesses requires substantial effort, training, and adaptation of existing systems.
Realistic Expectations for AI Development
The belief that the next generation of AI models will exhibit godlike capabilities is challenged by the perspective that advances will be gradual rather than revolutionary. While improvements in reliability, trust, and accuracy are expected, these enhancements will not transform AI into omnipotent entities solving all problems. Instead, the focus is on developing powerful, useful tools while ensuring the technology does not overshoot practicality and remains accessible for deployment in real-world applications. This approach emphasizes the need for steady improvements over unrealistic expectations of sudden breakthroughs.
AI's Continual Evolution and Its Practical Applications
AI's evolution is inherently linked to technological advancements in computation power, including the increasing use of GPUs. A shift from training models on a limited number of GPUs to utilizing greater resources exemplifies the improving capability of AI systems, but there are concerns about the sustainability of this model. Ongoing enhancements are anticipated as organizations experiment with various model sizes and architectures, balancing innovation with usability. This evolutionary process reinforces the trend that higher compute resources lead to better model performance while still acknowledging a potential plateau in efficiency as costs rise.
AI's Role in Shaping the Future of Work
The transformative potential of AI technology extends into the workforce by driving increased productivity and efficiency across various tasks. Current implementations are designed not to replace employees but to augment their roles, allowing professionals to focus more on strategic and fulfilling activities rather than mundane tasks. Despite skepticism around AI's practical utility, examples from sectors like supply chain management demonstrate meaningful improvements in processes through AI assistance. The overarching sentiment is that generative AI serves as a valuable tool for enhancing workplace effectiveness, highlighting its significance in the evolving landscape of employment.
Aidan Gomez is the co-author of the "Attention Is All You Need" paper that launched the AI revolution and CEO of Cohere, an enterprise AI company. Gomez joins Big Technology to discuss the myths, facts, and realities of today's AI landscape. Tune in to hear why the real value of AI isn't in flashy consumer apps but in automating crucial back-office processes that could save businesses billions. We also cover the truth about AI capabilities, the likelihood of AGI, synthetic data training, and whether an intelligence explosion is possible. Hit play for a refreshingly grounded discussion about where AI is actually making an impact, from one of the field's pioneering voices.
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