For an optimistic perspective on artificial intelligence, watch the inspiring DLD25 talk by Idealab founder Bill Gross, who presents many reasons to marvel at this breakthrough technology.
“Imagine that we discovered an island with a billion PhDs on it who were willing to work all day long for the cost of power”, Gross says. “That would previously have been unimaginable, but I think we will actually see something like that this decade.”
Gross believes AI will dwarf any technological disruption we’ve seen before, comparing it to the IBM PC, Netscape, and the smartphone – each of which democratized access to computing, communication, and mobile technology.
“The reason these disruptive changes are so big is because whenever the cost of something approaches zero, everything’s going to be dramatically impacted,” Gross observes. “With generative AI, the cost of accessing, and maybe even creating knowledge, is approaching zero.”
Already, AI is being adopted faster than the Internet or personal computers, Gross notes. But he also warns that “every new disruptive technology brings unintended consequences.”
Highlighting copyright infringement as an example, Gross introduces ProRata, a system that measures content usage in AI and shares revenue 50/50 with creators. Inspired by platforms like Spotify and YouTube, he believes this approach can empower creators while still allowing AI companies to thrive.
Gross urges the audience to actively shape AI’s future. “This is the decade right now,” he says. “We’re all alive, like Leonardo and Copernicus were when the printing press came out.”
Just as Gutenberg’s innovation spurred societal change, AI has the potential to transform every aspect of life, Gross argues. “There’s hundreds of ways we can make a positive future with AI,” he concludes, inviting collaboration to maximize AI’s benefits and minimize its risks.
