Slate News Slate Money - Money Talks: Battle of the AI Bots
Sep 16, 2025
Gary Rivlin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of "AI Valley," dives deep into the competitive world of AI tech giants. He discusses the fierce race among companies like Microsoft and Google to create the most profitable AI models. Rivlin explores the challenges AI startups face in attracting talent against bigger players and reflects on the emotional connections users develop with AI. He balances differing perspectives—from techno-optimism to skepticism—highlighting the ethical implications and future of AI in our lives.
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Hype Harms Trust And Adoption
- Overhyping AI (AGI claims, grand launches) creates unrealistic expectations and backlash.
- Letting users discover value organically (like ChatGPT's quiet launch) can produce more authentic adoption.
Treat AI As A Tool, Not A Boss
- Use AI as a tool and co-pilot rather than a decision-maker in charge of outcomes.
- Treat models like fast assistants for research, editing, and brainstorming, not autonomous authorities.
Why Chatbots Finally Broke Through
- AI systems have been in products for years but chatbots broke through by making the process visible and interactive.
- Chat interfaces let users see and hear AI working, which drove mass engagement with ChatGPT.
