The brief history of artificial intelligence: The world has changed fast – what might be next?

The brief history of artificial intelligence: The world has changed fast – what might be next?

Just 10 years ago, no machine could reliably provide language or image recognition at a human level. But, as the chart shows, AI systems have become steadily more capable and are now beating humans in tests in all these domains. Training computation is measured in floating point operations, or FLOP for short. One FLOP is equivalent to one addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division of two decimal numbers.

All AI systems that rely on machine learning need to be trained, and in these systems training computation is one of the three fundamental factors that are driving the capabilities of the system. The other two factors are the algorithms and the input data used for the training. For the first six decades, training computation increased in line with Moore’s Law, doubling roughly every 20 months. Since about 2010 this exponential growth has sped up further, to a doubling time of just about 6 months.

In her latest update, Cotra estimated a 50% probability that such "transformative AI" will be developed by the year 2040, less than two decades from now. Many AI experts believe that there is a real chance that human-level artificial intelligence will be developed within the next decades, and some believe that it will exist much sooner.

60 ideas to boost your growth

Broadly speaking, there are seven common types of Turbo Boosts—seven strategies to get a burst of attention for your product:

1. Create a viral video
   A video that tells your story, demos your product, or delights people so much that they can’t help but share it with their friends.

2. Launch a mini-product, or "drop"
   Launch a non-core product offering that gets attention, which reflects attention toward your brand and/or core product. Donothingfor2minutes.com was the precursor to Calm. Why it worked: Turned a problem (being constantly distracted) into a fun challenge. Toucan teaches people a new language while they’re surfing the internet. The company launched Own The Word, which gave people (or brands) “ownership” of any word for 99 cents a month. Why it worked: Owning a sought-after word on the platform became a social flex. Prior to launching its product, Codecademy released a new year’s challenge called Code Year. The challenge received over 400,000 sign-ups in three months. Why it worked: Great timing (i.e. new year’s resolutions).

3. Run an enticing limited-time offer
   Running a promotion on your existing product, giving people a reason to pay attention and act.

4. Coordinate an influencer-led promotion
   Partner with an influencer to promote your product. Reddit got its first 1,000 users when Paul Graham mentioned the platform on his blog. Why it worked: People in tech trust Paul Graham.

5. Co-marketing
   Collaborate with another company to promote your products.

6. Organize an exciting offline experience
   Organize an in-person experience that gets people fired up about your product. Snackpass hired 60 brand ambassadors and sponsored university-centric events for every new campus launch. Why it worked: The "cool factor" of those groups reflected on Snackpass being cool.

7. Pick a fight
   Take a stand against a big company or competitor, which creates controversy and attention.

Although Turbo Boosts can be a powerful tool to stimulate growth, do not fall into the trap of over-relying on them. They are an unreliable source of growth. They are neither scalable nor repeatable. Getting a Turbo Boost to work doesn’t mean you have product-market fit, and it won’t really help you find it.

Connecting the dots

When we look at the brief history of artificial intelligence and the strategies to boost growth, we can find some common points. Both AI and growth strategies rely on innovation and adaptation.

In the case of AI, the exponential growth in training computation, along with advancements in algorithms and access to large amounts of data, has led to significant progress in AI capabilities. This constant evolution mirrors the need for businesses to constantly innovate and adapt their growth strategies to stay ahead in a competitive market.

Additionally, both AI and growth strategies require a deep understanding of human behavior. AI systems that can recognize and understand human language and images have surpassed human capabilities in certain tasks. Similarly, successful growth strategies often tap into human emotions and behaviors, leveraging viral videos, limited-time offers, and influencer-led promotions to capture attention and drive action.

As AI continues to advance and human-level artificial intelligence becomes a possibility, businesses can leverage AI technologies to further enhance their growth strategies. AI-powered analytics and automation can provide valuable insights and streamline processes, enabling businesses to make data-driven decisions and optimize their growth efforts.

Actionable advice

1. Embrace AI: Stay informed about the latest developments in AI and explore how AI technologies can enhance your growth strategies. Look for opportunities to leverage AI-powered analytics and automation to gain insights, streamline processes, and drive efficiency.

2. Prioritize innovation: Continuously innovate and adapt your growth strategies to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market. Experiment with different Turbo Boosts and analyze the results to identify what works best for your business. Remember to focus on the basics and not rely solely on Turbo Boosts for sustained growth.

3. Understand your audience: Invest in understanding your target audience's behaviors, preferences, and needs. This will help you tailor your growth strategies and create experiences that resonate with your customers. Leverage AI technologies to gather and analyze data, uncover insights, and personalize your marketing efforts.

In conclusion, the brief history of artificial intelligence and the strategies to boost growth share common themes of innovation, adaptation, and understanding human behavior. By embracing AI and prioritizing innovation, businesses can enhance their growth strategies and stay ahead in an ever-changing market. Understanding your audience and leveraging AI-powered analytics can provide valuable insights and enable personalized marketing efforts. Remember to focus on the basics and not solely rely on Turbo Boosts for sustained growth.