A moment in technology can feel like an eternity compared to the fast-paced world of politics. Just a little over a year ago, the economy was humming along as usual. However, during that time, the tech landscape was undergoing a significant transformation. Platforms were transitioning from being user-friendly to exploiting their users for the benefit of business clients, ultimately aiming to reclaim all value for themselves—a process humorously termed “enshittification” by Cory Doctorow.
Elon Musk was actively working to combat Twitter and hasten the demise of the platform. Meanwhile, the younger generation was engrossed in spending an excessive amount of time on TikTok. Financial troubles loomed as FTX filed for bankruptcy, leading to the disappearance of over $1 billion in investor funds. In the UK, the convoluted website health act was navigating its way through parliament. Notably, figures like Sam Altman and Geoffrey Hinton were relatively unknown outside the software industry at that time.
Everything changed on November 30, 2022, with the release of ChatGPT by OpenAI, a rising tech company spearheaded by Altman. Despite focusing on creating large language models (LLMs) like the powerful GPT-4, OpenAI surprised many by unveiling ChatGPT, a chatbot powered by the older MPT-3 technology. This move was partly influenced by competitive pressures from rival companies like Anthropic.
The public’s response to ChatGPT was unprecedented, with the platform gaining a million users within a week, setting a new record for rapid growth. This unexpected success sent shockwaves through the tech industry, prompting rapid responses and strategic shifts among major players. The New York Times provided an insightful account of the events, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes reactions of tech giants facing this disruptive force.
The narrative highlighted how established companies, despite prior concerns about the risks associated with LLMs, rushed to release their own versions following ChatGPT’s success. Microsoft’s Satya Nadella integrated the technology into Bing search engine, while Google hastily followed suit to maintain its competitive edge. Meta (formerly Facebook) faced its own challenges, with Mark Zuckerberg compelled to release Meta’s Llama LLM as open source, leading to a loss of control over the technology.
Amidst this tech frenzy, Elon Musk made waves by announcing the launch of a humorous robot, contrasting with his efforts to combat Twitter/X. The competitive drive among tech giants led to the hasty release of imperfect products, prioritizing gains over safety and ethical considerations. This narrative underscores the high-stakes competition and questionable decision-making prevalent in the tech industry, raising concerns about the implications of rapid technological advancements in the quest for dominance.
