> I think it’s remarkable that what was until recently sci-fi fantasy has become a mainstream view in Silicon Valley.
I wonder if Tom Phillips isn't very familiar with the history of Silicon Valley, because this is the most unremarkable thing. 60 years ago personal computers were sci-fi fantasy, and 50 years ago they were a mainstream view in Silicon Valley. 50 years ago usable GUIs were sci-fi fantasy, and 40 years ago they were a mainstream view in Silicon Valley. 40 years ago a global computer network used by almost everyone was sci-fi fantasy, and 30 years ago it was a mainstream view in Silicon Valley. 30 years ago always-internet-connected wearable computing devices were sci-fi fantasy, and 20 years ago they were a mainstream view in Silicon Valley. 20 years ago renewable energy cheaper than coal was a sci-fi fantasy, and 10 years ago it was a mainstream view in Silicon Valley.
There were a lot of other sci-fi fantasies that didn't pan out, of course, or at least haven't panned out yet, so this isn't a sign that AGI will definitely happen. Xanadu, the Information Superhighway, graphical programming, virtual reality, freedom, world peace, energy too cheap to meter, the full automation of production, flying cars, and so on. But the entire point of Silicon Valley is that it's a machine for turning sci-fi fantasies into the realities of everyday life.
I wonder if Tom Phillips isn't very familiar with the history of Silicon Valley, because this is the most unremarkable thing. 60 years ago personal computers were sci-fi fantasy, and 50 years ago they were a mainstream view in Silicon Valley. 50 years ago usable GUIs were sci-fi fantasy, and 40 years ago they were a mainstream view in Silicon Valley. 40 years ago a global computer network used by almost everyone was sci-fi fantasy, and 30 years ago it was a mainstream view in Silicon Valley. 30 years ago always-internet-connected wearable computing devices were sci-fi fantasy, and 20 years ago they were a mainstream view in Silicon Valley. 20 years ago renewable energy cheaper than coal was a sci-fi fantasy, and 10 years ago it was a mainstream view in Silicon Valley.
There were a lot of other sci-fi fantasies that didn't pan out, of course, or at least haven't panned out yet, so this isn't a sign that AGI will definitely happen. Xanadu, the Information Superhighway, graphical programming, virtual reality, freedom, world peace, energy too cheap to meter, the full automation of production, flying cars, and so on. But the entire point of Silicon Valley is that it's a machine for turning sci-fi fantasies into the realities of everyday life.