Everyone's talking about AI. But most people don't actually understand what it is, how it started, or why it matters to them. Let's fix that. Did you know that the small computer you place on your lap today was once a humongous, noisy machine that filled an entire room? Hard to imagine, isn't it? From spears, fire, the wheel, tools, machinery, the first computers, the internet, smartphones, and modern mini-computers to artificial intelligence—what a journey it has been for mankind. This transformation took thousands of years to reach where we are today. But will it take thousands more years for huge changes to occur again? Here's what surprised me when I started researching this: studies show that the pace at which the world will evolve with AI is massive. Years will pass like months, and months like weeks. How Fast Is AI Really Moving? AI is getting better incredibly fast. Here's what's happening: Money Is Pouring In: Companies are investing hundreds of billions of dollars every year to build smarter AI. More money means faster progress. More Brains Working on It: Back in the 1990s, only a handful of researchers worked on AI. Today, about 5 new AI researchers join the field every single hour. That's 120 new experts every day. The result? AI is improving 100–175 times faster than it did 30 years ago. What Experts Think Will Happen: In 2024, researchers surveyed 2,778 AI experts. Most believe we'll have AI that can do high-level tasks—like conducting original research—by around 2030. Once that happens, AI could start improving itself, making progress even faster. AI Is Learning Faster Than We Expected: Remember when we thought it would take years for AI to match humans at certain tasks? Now, AI solves problems in months that we thought would take years. It can already code, do math, and recognize images as well as (or better than) humans—and it happened sooner than anyone predicted. What Could Happen Next? Optimistic view: AI could speed up scientific research by 10 to 100 times. Imagine curing diseases, solving climate change, or inventing new technologies in a [...]
