Addressing the Misconceptions of Generative AI
The exponential rise of generative AI has been nothing short of meteoric. Fueled by a convergence of several transformative forces — burgeoning growth of digital data, leaps in processing and storage capabilities, seminal breakthroughs in Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), and transformers – these elements have crafted the perfect arena for Generative AI to shine.
And shine it has.
For the uninitiated, generative AI uses large language models (LLMs) trained on extensive datasets to generate a broad range of content — text, images, audio, video, and more. When provided with a text or image-based prompt, these models can identify past patterns and structures within the existing training data to generate new and contextually relevant outputs.
Much like the computer revolution decades ago, this new technology stands poised to reshape our world in unimaginable ways. However, it’s crucial to remember that generative AI isn’t a substitute for human ingenuity but a tool to unleash it. From healthcare and biotech to finance and edtech, generative AI will be leveraged by all firms, impacting every business vertical.
Evidence of this impact is already apparent, as AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and Bard have cemented themselves in millions of users’ day-to-day workflows.
And thanks to the dynamic, open-sourced nature of the AI community, thousands of new tools are popping up each day. Perplexity is rethinking the way users search for information. With Fireflies.ai, meetings can be automatically transcribed, recorded, clipped, and summarized. Via Tome, building a presentation or pitch deck is as simple as entering a prompt.
Companies that fail to adapt and experiment with these tools risk being left in the digital dust.
Unlike mobile phones or similar technologies, which affected small industry sectors and spread gradually, generative AI, especially ChatGPT, has amassed over 100 million users in just two months. It took Instagram nearly two and a half years to reach the same feat.
So why such rapid adoption?
The answer lies in its intuitiveness and minimal learning curve. Where it took years to bring the masses on board the social media bandwagon, it takes mere seconds to appreciate the wizardry of generative AI.
But therein lies a double-edged sword.
There’s a common but misguided notion that AI, with its capacity to amplify the abilities of novices to mimic expert output, is a panacea. While it unquestionably democratizes access to creativity and skill, this perspective overlooks a crucial factor:
Generative AI isn’t an autonomous solution. Devoid of human guidance, these tools, while promising significant time savings, could easily turn into unanticipated bottlenecks. Despite their user-friendliness, AI tools need a discerning human touch to guide them toward optimal results.
The artistry lies in prompt engineering – crafting clear, concise, and effective prompts that quickly deliver expert-level outputs, fully unlocking their efficiency-boosting potential.
A tool is only as good as the hands that wield it. Generative AI is no different.
While these tools level the playing field, seamlessly transforming mediocrity into competency, the journey from good to exceptional requires more. It calls for rigorous practice, skill refinement, and a deep understanding of interacting with these AI tools to deliver expert-quality outputs.
Human mastery adds the essential touch to the machine’s might, allowing us to unleash the true potential of generative AI.
The future belongs to those who master this human intelligence and AI symbiosis. At Corner, we are committed to navigating this journey alongside our innovative partners and ambitious investors.
We’re not just investing in technologies; we’re investing in people and their ability to master these technologies. And our portfolio companies are in complete alignment, leveraging generative AI not as a standalone solution, but as a powerful instrument to enhance their existing products and services.
Brainvivo maps the biological neural network of the human brain in action, scanning and encoding ‘expert’ brains to create digitized intellects of elite experts, called BrainTwins. For example, if a user wants fashion advice, BrainTwins uses generative AI to create new digital outfits, tapping into the insights of fashion experts for personalized, AI-generated outfit suggestions. AI then scans the internet for similar clothing items and shows users where to purchase these new looks, resulting in improved customer experience and monetization.
Nexar, one of only two US companies with a large, continuously collected data set suitable for training AI models (the other being Tesla), uses AI to drive its smart dashcams, offering a constant vigil for car safety. Its “Baby Driver” feature —which trains an AI foundation model on human driving behavior —marks the advent of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and previously inconceivable safety capabilities. Combining its data moat and robust LLM capabilities, they are also building a robust Geographic Information System (GIS) expert – “Ask Me Anywhere” (AMA).
Ask AMA, “How many people are in line at Katz’s Deli right now and how long will the wait time be?”
You’ll have your answer in seconds.
These examples embody the foundation of our approach at Corner. Our team is dedicated to learning not only what new technologies are available, but how to leverage them to the best of their abilities. In fact, this entire blog post was written heavily with AI. From transcribing and summarizing our initial brainstorming session to building an outline, drafting, and editing.
As we look ahead, there’s no question AI technology will continue to blaze trails, inspire innovation, and redefine industries, while transforming how we work, create, and dream.
But we must remember…
Generative AI is not a hands-off solution; it’s an orchestra that requires a master conductor. Only through skilled human guidance can we fully unlock its potential, harmonizing the symphony of progress.
The future isn’t on the horizon, it’s here—knocking at our doorstep. It’s high time we embrace it, learn its rhythms, and master the art of this groundbreaking technology.
