Is AI just a fad? Linux Kernel lead developer Linus Torvalds says it's complicated, and only 10% of the hype sold is reality.
What you need to know
- In a recent interview, Linux Kernel lead developer Linus Torvalds claimed that AI is 90% marketing and 10% reality.
- The developer says he ignores advances in the AI landscape because "the whole tech industry around AI is in a very bad position."
- Interestingly, he envisions a future where AI gains broad adoption and is integrated across companies for everyday use.
If the past few months are anything to go by, speculation is brewing about the trajectory of generative AI in the tech world. This can be attributed to OpenAI's recent financial troubles, placing it on the verge of bankruptcy with projections of $5 billion in losses within the next 12 months. The ChatGPT maker got an extended lifeline through a $6.6 billion round of funding from investors, including Microsoft and NVIDIA, pushing its market cap to $157 billion. However, concerns about AI's future and difficulty establishing a clear path to profitability abound.
Is AI but a fad? Your guess could be as good as mine, but the Linux Kernel lead developer, Linus Torvalds, recently shared some interesting insights about the topic in an interview at the Open Source Summit in Vienna (via Tom's Hardware).
According to the developer, the AI landscape is characterized by “90% marketing and 10% reality:”
“I think AI is really interesting, and I think it is going to change the world. And, at the same time, I hate the hype cycle so much that I really don’t want to go there.”
Interestingly, a separate report suggests that AI could be a dying fad, with projections indicating that 30% of AI-themed projects will be abandoned after proof of concept by 2025. On the other hand, market analysts and experts say most tech corporations with an early investment and adoption of AI across their tech stack are on the verge of hitting their iPhone moment with the technology. Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Apple have seemingly had their moments with AI, propelling each to briefly become the world's most valuable company with a market cap of well beyond $3 trillion.
However, the success witnessed by these companies isn't enough to convince Torvalds to get on the AI train like most. According to the lead developer:
"So my approach to AI right now is I will basically ignore it because I think the whole tech industry around AI is in a very bad position (grimaces)...”
- dabourzannan, Tzcon and Mutton
- 3
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.