Clara Shih, CEO of Salesforce AI, drew striking parallels between the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and the early days of the internet’s development. Speaking at a panel discussion at Viva Tech Paris 2024, Shih equated today’s AI landscape to the year 1988, a pivotal moment just before the emergence of the World Wide Web.
“Today is like 1988 for AI… The first wave [of AI] automates mundane and repetitive tasks… When the technology becomes mature, we will invent new business models,”
Clara Shih highlighting the potential for groundbreaking advancements.
Shih’s comparison is backed by historical data: in 1988, the internet was still in its infancy, with approximately 60,000 users worldwide, mainly confined to universities and government offices.
It was also during this time that the internet began expanding globally, with countries like Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden joining the National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET), marking a significant milestone in its international accessibility.
Anticipation of Groundbreaking Advancement
Shih’s remarks suggest that society stands on the brink of a transformative AI breakthrough, akin to the disruptive impact of the World Wide Web.
“With the Internet, some jobs were replaced… but across the board, people needed new job descriptions. And we’re living that now [with artificial intelligence].”
AI’s Role in Workforce Evolution
Contrary to fears of widespread job displacement, Shih believes that AI will redefine rather than replace human labor.
“We don’t want to replace but augment humans with artificial intelligence…”
Axel de Goursac, director of AI Factory at LVMH, echoing Shih’s sentiment on the collaborative potential of AI.
Salesforce AI CEO Clara Shih’s insights underscore the potential of AI to reshape industries and enhance human capabilities. Thus, echoing the transformative impact of the internet’s early days.
While society embraces this AI revolution, the focus remains on harnessing its potential to complement and enrich human endeavors, ushering in a new era of innovation and collaboration.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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