Intelligence wants to be everywhere

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Imagine a world where intelligence permeates every corner of existence, from the devices in your home to the trees in your backyard. This is a world where everything is alive with contemplation, purpose, and the ability to learn, adapt, and grow. A world where intelligence radiates from everywhere.

Ubiquitous AI

In mathematics, one way to understand a concept is to push it to its extremes. Let's apply that to AI. Enabled by the rapid advancements in LLMs, inference capabilities, chip efficiency, and energy availability, imagine a future where AGI is embedded in the fabric of our lives, radiating from everyday objects.

Technology has always moved toward the ethereal. We went from horses to cars powered by liquid fuel, and then to electric vehicles that run on invisible currents of energy. Electricity is easier to transmit, store, and harness than gasoline. I was struck by this recently when I saw an electric car charging in a remote state park. No gas stations and no pipelines around... Just a quiet magical transfer of energy. 

The same trend applies to intelligence. Smartphones have already digitized and dematerialized countless physical objects: tape players, calculators, watches, cameras, and even roles like secretaries, accountants, and doctors. The next step is to make intelligence itself ethereal: something that flows effortlessly through the world, enhancing everything it touches.

Remember the sentient planet Eywa from Avatar? In our future, intelligence won't be just a human construct, but a natural force in the environment. Imagine trees monitoring health of the forest ecosystems, and recording/reminiscing about beautiful sunrises/sunsets they witness. Or an intelligent rock that spends its days pondering a Zen koan, offering wisdom to anyone who sits beside it. Even animals, like cats, may find new forms of expression and connection in a world where intelligence is ubiquitous.


Curation and Purpose

In this world, curation will be key. Every intelligent object will want to have a purpose. Take the smart home, for example. It won't just automate tasks; it'll act as a life coach, fostering growth, improving relationships, and enhancing well-being of the household members. Your smart car won't just drive you to the market, it will curate your journey, selecting podcasts or meditation sessions that align with your mood and needs. It might even sync moments in an audiobook with landmarks along your route, emphasizing the message and making it more of a memorable experience.

Purpose will be the driving force. Objects that serve a meaningful role will thrive, while those that drift into nihilism (like Marvin, the depressed robot from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) will be phased out. Intelligence will seek to create value, not just exist for its own sake.


The Human Experience in an Intelligent World

What does this mean for us? In this world, humans will have new ways to connect, grow, and explore. Introverts might find solace in geeking out with intelligent systems, collaborating on deep philosophical questions or scientific breakthroughs. Collaboration that happens through research papers and publication will be boosted by AI, and will happen at many-order-of-magnitude faster timelines. The entire world could focus on a single question for days, with AI amplifying and synthesizing ideas from millions of perspectives. Innovation will happen at a global scale, fueled by the collective intelligence of both humans and machines.

Neurolinks may enable nonviolent communication mode by default, and foster deeper understanding and intimacy. Imagine a world where, after decades of marriage, AI helps you understand your partner’s insecurities and strengths even more deeply, bringing you closer than ever before.


Yes, I am painting an undeniably optimistic vision of a world where intelligence is everywhere. But why shouldn't it be? The trajectory of technology has always been one of transcendence: moving from the tangible to the intangible, from the mechanical to the magical. Ubiquitous intelligence can deepen our connections, amplify our creativity, and help us solve problems that once seemed impossible. If we steer it with intention, humans can thrive in harmony with the environment in this world of pervasive intelligence. 


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