A letter from Om. Issue #15/2023 

Hi! I am Om & this is my letter where I share what’s on my mind, my latest writings, articles worth reading from around the web, my recommendations & some of my photography. 

In this issue I address: 

What I am up to? 

“Generative AI is the single most significant platform transition in computing history/ In the last 40 years, nothing has been this big. It’s bigger than PC, it’s bigger than mobile, and it’s gonna be bigger than the internet, by far.” Jensen Huang, CEO Nvidia

I know it is hard, but by setting aside the existential risks of AGI and considering AI as augmented intelligence rather than artificial intelligence, you’ll begin to understand its radical and significant role in the arc of technology.

Not only is it a major platform shift, as indicated by comments from Nvidia’s CEO and Bill Gates, but it’s also a substantial shift from an infrastructure perspective. It could rival the mobile and cloud transitions in terms of infrastructure needs. Given my background, it’s not surprising that I am dedicating time to analyze these issues. I plan to write more about them in the coming months. 

This platform shift is finally heralding the era of invisible interface, a concept I first discussed nearly a decade ago. How we interact with information and data is set to transform, just as it did with the web and smartphones. I touch upon this shift  in my piece about the AI Pin, a new device from Humane, a San Francisco startup co-founded by former Apple employees. I also had a long illuminating conversation with the company’s founder about the future of computing and interfaces. 

These are both frightening and thrilling times in technology, presenting much to ponder, reflect upon, and investigate.

My recent writings

  • Foundational risks of OpenAI: The shake-up at OpenAI has exposed a massive and obvious foundational risk in placing all bets on a single entity. Everyone should take note, focusing more on this than on the comings and goings at a fast-growing startup — no matter how important these might be to the company.
  • Fixed Wireless Boom  is 20 years in the making: 5G Home Broadband is booming. However, the journey of fixed wireless access has been neither simple nor easy, nor has it been cheap. This recent boom offers a significant lesson: the unpredictable and often arduous journey of technology breakthroughs.
  • The Real Personal (AI) Computer:  IIf you regard Humane’s AI Pin as just another device, it is easy to simply shrug your shoulders. However, when placed in the context of computing development, it becomes evident that we are at the beginning of a new way of thinking about computing.
  • A conversation with Humane’s co-founder Imran Chaudhri, on the future of computing in the age of AI. More importantly, it delves into how to conceptualize the next phase of human-computer interactions
  • My Quick M3 Macbook Review The title says it all.

5 Articles Worth Reading

  • “In the next five years, this will change completely. You won’t have to use different apps for different tasks. You’ll simply tell your device, in everyday language, what you want to do.” Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on the future of software.
  • How AI will disrupt business. [Scott Belsky]
  • The core challenge posed by generative AI right now is that unlike conventional applications, LLMs have no “delete” button. [StackOverflow Blog]
  • Steve Mann, who has been wearing computerized eyewear for 35 years, shares his life, lessons, and most importantly, insights on how to think about the future. Highly recommended [IEEE Spectrum.]
  • Now that Google, like its big-tech peers, is in the sights of anti-trust regulators, it’s a good time to brush up on the long history of anti-trust in America. [NPR]

Me In Media

  • In Part 2 of my conversation with designer Maykel Loomans, I discuss my photography and creative process. I really enjoyed this conversation with Maykel. [Listen] 
  • In Part 1 of the podcast, we discussed the evolution of technology and the internet. [Listen]

Happy Thanksgiving to all fellow American readers. 

November 18, 2023, San Francisco

A Letter From Om
2 comments

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Om Malik is a San Francisco based writer, photographer and investor. Read More

2 thoughts on this post

  1. I don’t have your background, etc., but I have been wondering if “AI” isn’t really more like augmented memory. A computer stores in memory all it is shown and told, or it reads from the internet, etc. and then just regurgitates it back depending upon the request. Is this an accurate view?

    1. Augmented memory was the ability to store and search. You have been able to do that on your computer and phone for a while now. The next continuum is to deal with not only the past but current streams of information and data.

      Memory is one vector as this goes beyond that. For instance finding patterns, and accelerating the processes. It is about giving us ability to deal with complexity we have not been able to deal with.

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