1. “You Can’t Dress AI Up in Old Clothes”: Why Sam Altman Changed His Mind
What would happen if you ran the latest high-end 3D game on an old computer from 10 years ago? You would probably have a hard time enjoying it due to frequent lag, screen tearing, and broken graphics.
He sees the smartphones and computers we use today as “relics of the past,” designed for a “pre-AI era” and therefore too antiquated and inefficient to contain the infinite potential of AI.
2. AI Assistant in Your Pocket: OpenAI and Jony Ive’s Secret Project
What’s even more exciting is that OpenAI has joined hands with a design legend, not just a technology company, to create this ‘new body.’ He is the man who led Apple’s innovative designs for the iPhone, iMac, and other products, defining the ‘feel’ of the technology we hold in our hands. Jonny Ive
According to what is known so far, the device they are making is a pocket-sized AI-only device without a screen. This means that instead of taking out our smartphones, searching for apps, and going through the various steps of typing with our fingers, we could come to a time when we can naturally converse with AI and handle tasks while just walking. It is said to be the closest form to the AI secretary in the movie 'Her', where everything is handled by conversing only with our voices. Expectations are high that this could be the 'next-generation device' following smartphones.
3. Stop Nvidia's Dominance! Big Tech's AI Chip War
In addition to the development of AI-specific devices, the market for 'AI semiconductors', which are the core components that actually operate AI, is also reminiscent of a huge battlefield. Currently, the AI chip market enjoys a near-monopoly based on Nvidia's powerful GPU and the software ecosystem called 'CUDA'. However, as OpenAI has decided to introduce Google's AI chip (TPU) to reduce its dependence on Nvidia, the movement of big tech companies to 'de-Nvidia' is intensifying.
This is not just about reducing dependence on a single company, but also a survival strategy to reduce astronomical chip purchase costs and secure a stable supply chain. Giants like Meta (Facebook) and Amazon (AWS) are also pouring tens of trillions of won into building their own data centers and AI infrastructure. They are developing their own AI chips, expanding their data centers, and creating their own “AI fortresses,” as if they were filling their arsenals for future wars.
4. So, how will our lives change?
So what does this massive change mean for us, the average person? In a word, AI is becoming faster, more personal, and more fluid. Dedicated hardware is born for AI computation, so it responds instantly without having to go through multiple apps like a smartphone. And because the device is always with me and learns my habits, speech, and schedule, it provides a one-of-a-kind service that is perfectly tailored to me as a person.
This goes beyond simply taking out your smartphone, searching for an app, and typing, to the device in your pocket and saying, “Call my mom at 7 p.m.” For example, when you see a pretty flower on the street, you can say, “What’s the name of this flower? And make a card image with this flower to send to my mom.” This means the emergence of a true “personal assistant” where technology invisibly permeates our lives and provides immediate assistance when we need it.
The second act of the AI revolution has begun. The fact that we have moved from a software competition to a hardware competition is also a positive sign that consumers like us will have the opportunity to experience more diverse, cheaper, and more innovative products. This has enormous potential to fundamentally change not only personal assistants, but also the way we work, how our children study, and how the physically challenged experience the world.
Now that the smart 'brain' of software is combined with the powerful 'body' of hardware, it seems like it would be good to look forward to what kind of amazing devices and services will change our lives in the future. We may be witnessing the beginning of a true AI era.
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