The Future of Programming and AI: An Existential Crisis

TLDRThe speaker reflects on the rapid growth and impact of technology, particularly the internet, and discusses the potential for significant changes in the future. They share a personal experience with email management and uncover a problem related to Gmail's labeling system. To fix this issue, they turn to Google's Apps Script and even experiment with ChatGPT, an AI text model, for assistance. The speaker contemplates the implications of AI on various industries and raises questions about the evolving role of programmers and creatives.

Key insights

💻Useful technologies follow a sigmoid curve, with a slow start and then rapid growth before leveling off.

📧The speaker encountered a problem with Gmail's labeling system, causing issues with email backups.

🤖To find a solution, the speaker utilized Google's Apps Script and even experimented with AI text model ChatGPT.

📈The speaker ponders the future impact of advancements in AI and programming, questioning the evolving roles of programmers and creatives.

⚙️The speaker reflects on the magnitude of changes brought about by the internet, considering the potential for similar disruptions in various industries.

Q&A

What is the sigmoid curve, and how does it relate to technology?

—The sigmoid curve represents the growth pattern of useful technologies. It starts with a slow takeoff, followed by rapid expansion as people find it beneficial. Eventually, progress plateaus as the technology reaches its limit.

What problem did the speaker encounter with Gmail's labeling system?

—The speaker discovered that Gmail's labels only attach to individual messages within a thread, not the entire thread itself. This caused issues with their email backup.

How did the speaker attempt to solve the problem?

—The speaker employed Google's Apps Script, a service that allows users to automate tasks in various Google applications, to fix the issue with Gmail's labeling system. They also experimented with ChatGPT, an AI text model, for additional assistance.

What concerns does the speaker raise about the future?

—The speaker contemplates the potential impact of advancements in AI and programming on various industries. They question the evolving roles of programmers and creatives in an increasingly automated and AI-driven world.

What is the main theme of the video?

—The main theme of the video is the speaker's reflection on the rapid progress of technology, their personal experience with email management, the challenges encountered, and the potential future changes in programming and AI.

Timestamped Summary

00:00The speaker introduces their goal of fixing an email issue but quickly realizes the potential for broader changes in the world.

02:24The speaker discusses the transformative impact of the internet on various industries, triggered by early signs of disruption like Napster.

05:07The speaker uncovers a problem with Gmail's labeling system, impacting their email backup process.

06:08The speaker uses Google's Apps Script and even experiments with ChatGPT, an AI text model, to find a solution to the labeling issue.

08:26The speaker reflects on the progress of AI and programming, questioning the changing roles of programmers and creatives in an evolving technological landscape.

09:52The speaker contemplates the future implications and potential concerns surrounding the use of AI and text transformers in various creative disciplines.

11:12The speaker acknowledges the benefits and limitations of AI, noting the potential for efficiency but affirming the unique contributions of human creators.

12:26The speaker concludes by highlighting the diverse perspectives and debates surrounding the use of AI in creative fields but also expresses his own reservations and concerns.

Browse more