Discussion
The hype cycle and inflated claims about AI this autumn are getting so bizarre that I feel it's only a matter of time before they out-gonzo the opening of the 1992 SF novel "Steel Beach" by John Varley:
"In five years, the penis will be obsolete," said the salesman.
@cstross Personally glad that prediction didn't come true (also now I need to read this novel).
@cstross ah, cybersex! I remember that used to be a thing.
@cstross I haven't read this book in three decades and I think about that opening line regularly. Certainly through the last two cycles of GPU-based scams, but also when I see people posting about the latest Apple announcement.
@cstross I think so long as the hype keeps working they'll keep going, hoping to stash a few tens of billions in, um what... any ideas? ... before it all goes tits up.
@happyborg @cstross the NVIDIA business model has not been computer graphics for a long time. It is simply inciting a new hype cycle to sell silicon every few years. Crypto, NFTs, "AI". I think "Quantum" will either be the Next Thing or the one after that.
@cstross
And that very year, the penis was detachable.
@cstross oooh I vaguely remember that book. Pretty sure I have a copy in the basement shelves - time for a reread
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@cstross That book's one of my all time faves. I love the ending of Hildy's mocking writeup:
'So those of you who still own and operate a trouser-snake, better start thinking of a place to put it.
No, not *there*, you fool! That's obsolete too!'