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The video by David Shapiro, https://youtu.be/0tI6JGNKNyA, 29 July 2024, the talented Chief AI Officer on YouTube, presents a timeline predicting AI developments from 2024 to 2030.

  • Predictions are based on conversations with industry insiders, including startup founders and government advisors.
  • Each year is broken down with specific technological advancements and societal impacts.
  • The focus is on how AI will evolve and influence various sectors like business, healthcare, and daily life.
  • The speaker emphasizes the importance of staying informed and adaptable as AI progresses.

Executive Summary (TLDR)

  • Prediction Clarification: Shapiro begins by addressing perceived inconsistencies in his predictions, acknowledging a downturn or “trough of disillusionment” in AI but maintaining optimism about long-term advancements.
  • 2024 Expectations:
    • AGI Delayed: Initial predictions for AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) by the end of 2024 have shifted, with a more likely arrival around 2027.
    • Model Releases: GPT-5 is expected by late 2024 or early 2025, with Claude 4 following a similar timeline. The pace of AI model releases is accelerating, though breakthroughs are becoming more costly and incremental.
    • Robotics: Shapiro highlights the potential for significant advancements in robotics, especially humanoid robots, as a major development in 2024.
  • 2025 – Year of Disillusionment:
    • AI Plateau: Although GPT-5 and Claude 4 will likely be more intelligent, they won’t achieve AGI, leading to a sense of disappointment.
    • Benchmarks: AI models may reach the 95th percentile across various benchmarks, a significant achievement, but Shapiro criticizes current benchmarks for not fully measuring real-world intelligence.
    • Enterprise AI Adoption: Small and medium businesses (SMBs) will lead in AI adoption due to their agility, but larger enterprises will remain cautious.
  • 2026 – AI Becomes Enterprise-Ready:
    • General-Purpose Models: By 2026, AI models like GPT-6 or Claude 5.5 may be considered “enterprise-ready,” capable of handling a wide range of tasks across different industries.
    • Domestic Robots: The release of more advanced and affordable domestic robots is anticipated, potentially becoming more common in households.
  • 2027 – The Year of AGI:
    • AGI Milestone: AGI is expected to emerge around 2027, with industry insiders predicting it with varying confidence levels.
    • Creative Disruption: AI’s influence will extend to creative industries, possibly producing the first entirely AI-generated Hollywood blockbuster by this time.
  • 2028 – A Critical Year:
    • Geopolitical Tensions: Shapiro predicts that 2028 could see increased geopolitical tensions, particularly with China, coinciding with economic challenges such as mass layoffs due to AI and robotics integration.
    • Political Impact: AI safety, job protection, and discussions around Universal Basic Income (UBI) could dominate the political landscape.
  • 2029 – The New Renaissance Begins:
    • Technological Advancements: 2029 is seen as a pivotal year, with commercial nuclear fusion, quantum computing, and significant progress in material science and genetic engineering.
    • Optimism and Change: Shapiro predicts a shift toward a new era of optimism, akin to the post-war boom of the 1950s, as these technologies begin to transform society.
  • 2030 – The Intelligence Age:
    • New Normal: By 2030, the “intelligence age” or “AI age” may fully take hold, marking the beginning of a new industrial revolution.
    • Longevity Escape Velocity: Advances in AI, quantum computing, and related fields could bring humanity closer to achieving longevity escape velocity by 2030, a concept where life expectancy increases faster than aging.


The Future of AI: A Year-by-Year Breakdown from 2024 to 2030

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been one of the most talked-about topics in technology for years now, and for a good reason. The rapid advancements in AI have brought about significant changes in various sectors, from healthcare to finance to entertainment. But as we look to the future, what can we expect from AI in the coming years? In a recent video, David Shapiro laid out his predictions for AI development from 2024 to 2030, based on conversations with industry insiders and his own analysis of current trends. Here, we’ll explore his insights, year by year, and what they could mean for the world.

2024: Setting the Stage for AGI and Robotics

As we approach the end of 2024, the buzz around AI remains strong, but there’s also a sense of caution in the air. Shapiro begins by addressing a shift in his predictions for AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). Initially, he was optimistic about AGI arriving by the end of 2024. However, after further conversations with experts and observing the current pace of development, he now believes that AGI is more likely to emerge around 2027. This adjustment highlights the complexity of predicting such groundbreaking advancements.

Despite the delay in AGI, 2024 is still expected to be a significant year for AI. Two major AI models, GPT-5 and Claude 4, are on the horizon. GPT-5, the next iteration of OpenAI’s language model, could be released as early as fall 2024, but more likely by December or early 2025. Similarly, Claude 4 from Anthropic is anticipated around the same time. While these models will offer improvements, the breakthroughs we’ve come to expect from AI might slow down, primarily due to the increasing costs of development.

One of the most exciting developments in 2024, according to Shapiro, will be in the field of robotics. Companies worldwide, particularly in China and the United States, are making significant strides in developing humanoid robots. These robots could soon move from the lab to the commercial market, offering new possibilities in various industries. Disney, for instance, is leading in robotics for entertainment, but Shapiro believes their technology has the potential for much broader applications. He predicts that humanoid robots might become one of the most exciting advancements in AI for 2024, signaling a new shift in the industry.

2025: The Year of Disillusionment

As we move into 2025, Shapiro warns that this could be a year of disillusionment for many AI enthusiasts. While GPT-5 and Claude 4 will likely be smarter and more capable, they won’t reach the level of AGI that many are hoping for. This could lead to a sense of disappointment, as the hype around AI might not match the reality.

One key achievement in 2025 will be the ability of AI models to perform at the 95th percentile across various benchmarks. This might sound impressive, but Shapiro is critical of these benchmarks, arguing that they don’t fully capture what true intelligence means. Current benchmarks test specific skills, like reasoning in an abstract state, but they don’t measure an AI’s ability to navigate real-world situations or adapt to chaotic environments. As AI models reach these high percentile marks, the industry may realize that new, more meaningful benchmarks are needed to measure real-world intelligence.

In terms of AI adoption, 2025 will likely see a divide between small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and larger enterprises. SMBs, which can pivot more quickly, are expected to lead in adopting AI tools, whether it’s using Microsoft’s Co-pilot or custom solutions from startups. On the other hand, large enterprises might remain cautious, with many leaders still skeptical about whether AI is truly ready for enterprise-level deployment. Despite this caution, the year will likely see a surge in AI adoption in the startup space, as these smaller companies continue to explore innovative ways to leverage AI.

2026: AI Becomes Enterprise-Ready

By 2026, Shapiro predicts that AI models will finally be considered enterprise-ready. This means that larger companies, including those on the Fortune 500 list, will start integrating AI into their operations more fully. The models around this time, possibly GPT-6 or Claude 5.5, will be capable of handling a wide range of tasks across different industries, making them truly general-purpose models.

What does Shapiro mean by “general-purpose models”? These are AI systems that can work across various modalities, from text to video to sensory data. Essentially, they would be versatile enough to function as the “brain” for any application, whether it’s a digital assistant, a self-driving car, or a humanoid robot. NVIDIA is one company working towards this goal, aiming to create AI models that can operate across multiple domains seamlessly.

2026 could also be the year when domestic robots become more common. Shapiro mentions that the first generation of these robots might be quite expensive, possibly around $80,000, but as competition increases and manufacturing scales up, the prices could drop significantly. This would make domestic robots more accessible to the average household, marking a significant shift in how AI and robotics are integrated into daily life.

2027: The Arrival of AGI

Shapiro identifies 2027 as the year that AGI might finally arrive. This is a significant milestone, as AGI represents a level of AI that can perform any intellectual task a human can. Industry insiders have varying levels of confidence about this timeline, but many agree that 2027 is a strong possibility.

The arrival of AGI could lead to massive changes across all sectors. Shapiro suggests that this could also be the year when we see the first feature-length Hollywood blockbuster created entirely by AI. While AI-generated content is already being produced in various forms, a full-scale, high-quality movie made by AI would represent a major leap forward in creative disruption. This could potentially reshape the entertainment industry and set new standards for what AI is capable of.

2028: A Year of Geopolitical Tension and Economic Shifts

As AI continues to advance, the year 2028 could become a turning point, not just for technology but for global geopolitics and economics. Shapiro predicts that 2028 might be marked by increased geopolitical tensions, particularly between the United States and China. This period could coincide with economic challenges, including mass layoffs due to the widespread adoption of AGI and robotics.

The integration of AGI into various industries could lead to significant job displacement, which might trigger political and social upheaval. Issues like AI safety, job protection, and Universal Basic Income (UBI) could dominate the political discourse, as societies grapple with the economic implications of advanced AI. Shapiro envisions 2028 as a “fever pitch crisis year,” where these challenges come to a head.

At the same time, the potential for a new arms race or even a conflict with China could further complicate the global landscape. Shapiro notes that China is facing significant demographic challenges, including a shrinking population, which could prompt the country to take bold actions sooner rather than later. This could escalate tensions and create a volatile geopolitical environment as AI continues to transform the global economy.

2029: The Dawn of a New Renaissance

Despite the challenges predicted for 2028, Shapiro remains optimistic about the future. He sees 2029 as the dawn of a new renaissance, driven by the convergence of several groundbreaking technologies. This is the year when commercial nuclear fusion reactors are expected to become operational, quantum computing could go mainstream, and significant advancements in material science and genetic engineering might occur.

These technologies, combined with AI, will likely lead to a new era of innovation and growth. Shapiro compares this period to the post-war boom of the 1950s, a time of optimism and rapid development. He suggests that 2029 could mark the beginning of a new golden era, where the benefits of AI and other advanced technologies begin to be fully realized.

Medical breakthroughs, such as the concept of “longevity escape velocity,” where life expectancy increases faster than aging, could also become a reality around this time. Additionally, the integration of cybernetics and other advanced technologies into human life could further enhance our capabilities and quality of life.

2030: Entering the Intelligence Age

By 2030, Shapiro predicts that we will have fully entered what he calls the “Intelligence Age” or the “AI Age.” This period will mark the beginning of a new industrial revolution, where AI and related technologies become an integral part of everyday life. He draws parallels to previous eras, such as the Space Age of the 1960s and the Information Age of the 1980s and 90s.

In this new era, the way we work, live, and interact with technology will fundamentally change. AI will no longer be a futuristic concept but a standard part of how society functions. Shapiro suggests that by 2030, the world will have settled into this new normal, with AI driving much of the economic and social activity.

One of the key concepts Shapiro discusses is the idea of “post-labor economics.” As AI and automation become more prevalent, traditional economic models may no longer apply. While money and capitalism are likely to persist, the structure of the economy could shift dramatically, with new paradigms emerging to address the challenges and opportunities of a world where AI performs much of the work.

Shapiro also touches on the potential for continued advancements in longevity and health, as well as the importance of finding new ways for people to find meaning and purpose in a world where work is no longer a necessity for survival. He expresses hope that by 2030, society will have begun to adapt to these changes and that the Intelligence Age will usher in a period of renewed optimism and growth.

Conclusion: The Road Ahead

Shapiro concludes with a hopeful outlook, suggesting that while the coming years may be challenging, they could also pave the way for a new golden era. He emphasizes the importance of grounding predictions in reality while remaining optimistic about the long-term impact of AI.

David Shapiro’s predictions for AI from 2024 to 2030 paint a picture of both challenges and opportunities. While the road ahead may be difficult, with economic upheaval, geopolitical tensions, and the need for new social and economic models, there is also a sense of hope. The advancements in AI and related technologies could lead to a new era of prosperity and innovation, reminiscent of the post-war boom of the 1950s.

As we move closer to 2030, the world will need to navigate these changes carefully, balancing the benefits of AI with the potential risks. But if Shapiro’s predictions hold true, the Intelligence Age could be a time of great promise, where the full potential of AI is finally realized, and humanity enters a new golden era of progress and possibility.

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