Will ChatGPT Erase Our Collective Knowledge?

Over the last few months now the excitement and fear of generative AI has been part of most technology discussions. Whether you think we should go full speed ahead and unleash the potential of ChatGPT and its future versions for the benefits we can reap, or you think we have opened Pandora’s box and should now try to contain it as much as we can, AI, the future of work, and technology’s impacts have been front and center.

About The Guest: I read an article from today’s guest that detailed exactly one of these concerns, namely the impact that AI is having on our ability to collaborate and learn, and how it may be signaling the end of our collective knowledge. Peter Nixey is an engineer, designer and occasional investor. He exited his first San Francisco, YC-funded startup and over the years, has been both an Angel investor (including three unicorns) and a Venture Partner. He’s now building Intentional.io, a day planner that helps you ensure that more of what you hope to get done actually does get done.

In our discussion Peter and I discuss the issue regarding collecting knowledge but also address many of the other potential problems and benefits that this new wave of AI is likely to bring about. I personally was so into the conversation that I lost track of the time so unfortunately our conversation ends relatively abruptly but nevertheless we were able to cover the most important points.

Timecodes:

00:01:09 Introduction

00:03:45 Interview Begins

00:08:09 What is Stackoverflow and why is it important

00:10:49 Tangible Benfits of using StackOverflow

00:13:08 How has GPT-4 changed Stackoverflow?

00:17:07 How are developers now using Stackoverflow?

00:17:57 Why is GPT-4 bad for the future of programming?

00:26:47 Will AI remove collaborative knowledge in other areas?

00:31:40 Are we becoming hyperdependant on AI?

00:28:02 Are becoming hyperdependant on AI?

00:36:21 The social consequences of being dependant on AI

00:41:56 Will AI come to dominate our civilization?

00:43:08 Thought on Elon Musk's request to pause AI development

00:48:03 Will there be signs of AI's 'breaking out' of their safety programs?

How quickly can AI go wrong?

00:55:14 Should AI development be made illegal?

00:56:34 End of conversation