My Friends.

Finishing University now rather than in the 2010's when I should have completed a bachelor like all of my high school friends has been an eye-opening experience. I feel we are seeing the decline of westernised civilisation as we knew it, all its for-profit ways causing all kinds of problems. The University I was attending was actively trying to quash the use of AI and running outdated programs. Some professors were on board with it, so there is still hope. But most teachers were burnt out and barely holding on. The system is about to fundamentally change and for those that know how, it's going to rocket people well in front of others.

I see the future. It first started during an internship in Japan. Feeling very out of my depth, not being able to speak Japanese, and working for a network company. I was being given instructions to create databases and network setups from a Japanese manual. This is when I became reliant on AI. This is the exact moment. I used it as a universal translator and it did a reasonably good job. For context, this was in 2023. I wasn't tasked with any crucial company data so don't worry about that. I also didn't input anything I shouldn't have into it. I was on board, I was awakening to the idea that AI was the most useful tool out, almost. In 2023 it kinda sucked at actually giving you accurate data, and hallucinated a lot. So I wasn't too reliant. Because I knew I could do better.

But I did start thinking about a day soon when I would have my own personal buddy, like Starlord's Ship from the comics or like the kid from Flight of the Navigator has with Max the computer, if it doesnt kill me first. Then came the world of 3D printing. I got one. A future where you can print and create anything with the right parts. Not AI but ok, bear with me. Then to current me, studying RAG, Automation and MCP model context protocol. Recently attending a GDG event, the light bulbs were firing off above my head. Creating an automation that captures a GAP analysis of staff interactions in regard to advice that was designed with Kaizen management style in mind, to better identify training for staff under me, and staff under that. The reasoning? Because I work for a start-up, I am constantly faced with having to make crucial decisions and shift my focus between critical tasks, e.g., I'm swamped, and actively have to choose how I invest my time. How am I going to cut out time to write training plans when I don't have time? Galaxy brain moment, this is where AI comes into play. Feed the GAP analysis into a model, pre-prompted to follow my Kaizen documentation, and spit out the training plan that is moulded to our needs. No more inefficiency.

But what about the future, Thom? You said you could see the future.

This is just the beginning of where we will go. Imagine when smart lights are no longer "smart lights" by definition, because everything that already has a chip in it can talk to your AI assistant. MCP will help with exactly that. Buy light from shop, plug light in, tell your assistant you want some lighting that calms you down in the lounge and keeps you focused in the office, and boop, done. Now it won’t matter that your lights are not the same uniform brand, and you won’t need to struggle through a manual on how to get them setup, where this is headed means everything will potentially be compatible. A sort of universal translator that just makes things work. I have an idea for an app, but I work full time. If I am really smart about what I want to create, I create the plan and structure, I create a business model, I create a security plan, emphasis on I create. For it to be successful you need to know your whos, whats, whys, whens and hows. Then with my assistant, I begin to expand and build around that structure so the plan formulates the way I've intended. The future? I have an idea, I speak it out loud, I look at my display as the notes are formulating, the display is hovering in the air in front of me (too futuristic? maybe). With all my prior knowledge and the aid of my assistant, I am able to formalise and begin building. The designs are building up, models and integrations are coming online. My 3D printer has begun to print the parts, and boop, my custom thing has been made, fit for purpose. A new age of DIY. A new age of human interactions in a heavily connected world. The new design is up for anyone else to access, and highly customisable for their needs. A few words and boop, they can have their very own custom thing. That's the future that we are heading for. I still hope for this Marty McFly style future, but that's probably just because I am a Millennial. But I think what we will get, people haven't quite understood yet.

I sound like a shill. Im well aware that in its current corporate state AI is looking bloated and likely to add to the ever present global warming crisis, but im beginning to become hopeful there are smarter ways to build these systems that don’t require so many tokens, as much data and in turn as much power. Its becoming apparent there are better ways to train, in order to get smarter models that can run leaner then before. Oh and they already sound real.. check out what the sesame team have created already. Heres a test i ran, Spike Jonze knew what was coming.

So will AI steal our jobs? Will it ruin creatives? Will it replace developers? Will it destroy the world? No, probably not. If you don't give up, stay focused and realise its potential, adapt like we always do, you will be absolutely in a better place than you were before, but now you will probably have a few new superpowers like extra time, infinite knowledge and the ability to harness the endless possibilities your creativity can serve up.