On AI, hitting pause may be a good thing

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Editor's note: In 1950, British mathematician Alan Turing wrote, “I propose to consider the question, ‘Can machines think?’” The question framed the discussion around artificial intelligence research for several decades. When I first started writing about artificial intelligence, the available AI solutions couldn’t tell a picture of a cat from a dog. Now, they can make elaborate art and imagery from text prompts. They can also write essays, edit videos, take competitive exams, and much more. From “there’s an app for that”, we’ve entered an era of “there’s an AI service for that”, setting the path for transformation of jobs and industries, similar to what agricultural or industrial revolutions brought about. The release of ChatGPT by OpenAI in November last year brought in its wake widespread mainstream attention to the possibilities generative AI offers. A chain of announcements followed from the likes of Microsoft and Google, which not only showcased new search experiences but also shared how AI-powered tools are quickly working their way into their products and services. That said, AI is at a turning point right now. The rapid pace …