Ed Zitron’s article on the “con” of AI is a funny read, like a speech by Don Rickles who I would also not expect factual arguments from.
📊 User Numbers Aren’t Magic:
300 million weekly users isn’t just a flashy stat—it’s real engagement. ChatGPT’s rapid climb from 100 million to 300 million users in under two years mirrors early adoption trends seen in tech giants, proving genuine market demand.
💰 Revenue: Barbecue or Buffet?
A $13B annual run rate may not equal profit, but it shows strong market appetite. Like Microsoft’s Intelligent Cloud generating over $25B, heavy spending now can lay the groundwork for future profitability in high-growth tech sectors.
🚀 The ‘iPhone Moment’ Myth:
Critics claim there’s no killer app, yet AI is already transforming work. From coding assistants to enhanced customer service bots, generative AI is steadily integrating into daily tasks—much like smartphones did by combining many tools in one.
📰 Media Hype vs. Hard Data:
While headlines might scream hype, the underlying trends are solid. Rising web traffic, app downloads, and multi-billion-dollar investments from firms like Similarweb and Reuters confirm that disruptive tech is taking hold.
🔧 Innovation in Chaos:
Heavy cash burn and early chaos are common preludes to breakthrough success. Just as Facebook and Amazon weathered early turbulence, the current investment phase in generative AI is likely setting the stage for tomorrow’s transformative innovations.