⚡ Input is Output - Issue #4
Lego, Decentralised AI, AGI and Moon Music.
Hello! 👋🏼
Welcome to Issue 4 of Input is Output. This is week 4, a metric month (is that a thing?) of sitting down to write. I'm really enjoying the process, and I hope you are enjoying the output.
This week, I wanted to avoid anything AI-related, but I went down a bit of an AGI rabbit hole based on a random shower thought and a book I've been reading, Stolen Focus by Johann Hari. I've been thinking a lot about focus and attention—how we give it, how we lose it, and how technology is increasingly shaping our focus or lack of it. Hari's "Stolen Focus" reminded me of how digital distractions constantly fragment our attention. I've been reflecting on how AGI will only amplify this challenge as technology becomes ever more capable of predicting, manipulating, and influencing our behaviour at an unprecedented scale. We're entering an era where personal data flows like water, shaping our experiences in ways we can't fully grasp. There is a big existential question there, and I've decided to try and articulate my thinking in the thought for the week.
On the flip side, watching a recent interview with Coldplay's Chris Martin and Zane Lowe ahead of the release of their new album, Moon Music. Chris spoke about finding moments of stillness, being present, and creating in a way that connects deeply with the human experience, even in an age dominated by digital noise. It was a refreshing reminder of how creativity and focus can thrive when we're intentional about where we put our attention - something AGI won't be able to replicate. I hope.
Anyway, let's dive in.
This week’s Input is Output in summary:
⚡ 5 Things:
💭 Thought for the week: AGI and ownership of data
⚡ Meta - Orion Glasses
Meta have announced the Orion smart glasses. With Orion, Meta are pushing the boundaries of wearable tech, merging augmented reality (AR) and everyday convenience. Designed to replace smartphones as the go-to personal device, these glasses promise to display messages, calls, and more directly in your field of vision. Meta’s goal is to create an immersive experience where you can interact with digital information in real time without needing to glance at a screen. With seamless integration of AR and practical applications, they represent a glimpse into the future of how we’ll interact with technology in our daily lives. As the wearables market heats up, Orion could redefine how we view personal tech, making this an exciting space to watch.
As a side note, I found this use of Meta’s Ray Ban smart glasses a great example of (un)intended consequence.
⚡ Patagonia - Packaging
Patagonia’s commitment to paper-free packaging is an innovative step toward sustainability and a full-circle moment in the history of retail packaging. Clothing was once commonly wrapped in paper to protect garments before sale, a practice rooted in simplicity and care. Over time, plastic and synthetic materials became the norm, contributing to the waste problem we’re now grappling with. By eliminating paper from their packaging, Patagonia is embracing minimalism and waste reduction, going beyond traditional eco-friendly approaches and rethinking how packaging can evolve. This shift resonates with anyone who values sustainability and innovation. Patagonia shows how brands can push boundaries to address environmental concerns in practical, impactful ways.
⚡ Anthropic - Responsible Scaling Policy
Anthropic's Responsible Scaling Policy is a significant step toward ensuring that AI systems' development remains ethical and safe as they grow in capability. For those interested in the intersection of innovation and ethics, this policy outlines clear measures for deploying AI technologies responsibly. By prioritising safety research, risk assessment, and transparent decision-making, Anthropic aims to avoid harmful consequences as AI scales. It's a forward-thinking approach that encourages responsible innovation in the AI space, offering a model for how tech companies can balance rapid growth with ethical stewardship.
More on this initiative can be found here.
⚡ MIT - Decentralized AI Summit
The MIT Decentralized AI Summit is an event focused on the future of AI, particularly as it relates to the distribution and democratisation of AI technologies. As AGI becomes a more prominent part of the conversation, this summit focuses on the ethical, technical, and societal impacts of decentralising AI to ensure broader access and control over these powerful technologies. The event will look to address the risks of centralised AI, such as monopolisation and privacy concerns. Exploring how decentralised frameworks can empower individuals and smaller organisations in the AI ecosystem. This makes it a vital discussion point for shaping the future of AI governance and equitable innovation.
You can learn more about the summit here.
⚡ Lego - Inner Piece
Ok. You had me at LEGO. Like most children of the ’80s, I grew up immersed in the world of colourful bricks, building and creating anything my imagination could dream up. Fast forward to today, LEGO’s “Inner Piece” event taps right back into that sense of play, but with a modern twist focused on mental well-being and creativity. The event invites adults to reconnect with their inner child, offering immersive installations designed by artists to promote mindfulness and calm in a fast-paced, tech-driven world. In an era where digital overload dominates conversations, it’s a refreshing reminder of the simple joy of analogue, hands-on experiences.
You can find out more about the event here.
💭 Thought for the week: Artificial General Intelligence, Data and the rise of Generalists
If we agree that AI is generalist, will we all become generalists with AGI? What will determine a specialist? This idea has been rattling around my mind for weeks as I reflect on the impact AGI might have not only on industries but also on human roles and expertise.
Unlike today’s specialised AI systems, AGI is designed to understand, learn, and apply knowledge across various tasks like a human does. Think of it as an AI capable of handling anything from diagnosing medical conditions to composing music without requiring task-specific programming. If this becomes a reality, it could transform our relationship with work, skill development, and expertise.
The Fluid Nature of Data in an AGI World
If we assume AGI can learn and operate across multiple domains, data becomes a fundamental asset that is more fluid and adaptive than ever before. The way data moves through digital ecosystems will change profoundly. Data will no longer be a static resource—it will be dynamic and continuously evolving as it flows through various contexts, adapting to consumer needs in real-time.
In this AGI-driven world, data will act as the lifeblood of hyper-personalised experiences and real-time insights, becoming one of the most valuable resources for brands and industries. It will determine how customer engagement evolves, what products are developed, and how organisations create value. However, while the vision of this fluid data future is exciting, it also presents existential risks far beyond mere business disruption. Human agency, privacy, and societal structures may face profound threats in a future where AGI and liquid data dominate.
Data as a Liquid Asset: The New Currency of the Digital Economy
Data will move fluidly between platforms, devices, and contexts in an AGI world. From smartphones to wearables and augmented reality environments, data will seamlessly follow consumers throughout their day, capturing behavioural patterns, preferences, and interactions. For instance, as someone moves from browsing social media during their morning commute to shopping on a tablet later in the day, their preferences and history will effortlessly transfer across these contexts, providing a personalised experience at every touchpoint.
Fluidity Across Platforms and Devices
In this new paradigm, the fluidity of data allows for real-time adjustments in how brands engage with consumers. As AGI processes data dynamically, it can serve up the right ad, content, or product at the perfect moment. A traveller planning a vacation may notice that their previous flight searches influence the ads they see while booking a hotel, but AGI could ensure that this data doesn't spill over into irrelevant contexts, like shopping for groceries.
Contextual Adaptability and Real-Time Adjustments
AGI's ability to handle and process real-time data will be vital to creating contextual, personalised experiences. By analysing data from multiple sources, AGI can adapt content, product recommendations, and experiences based on the user’s immediate context. If someone transitions from a work mindset to a leisure activity, AGI could instantly adjust the advertising or content they encounter, ensuring relevancy and boosting engagement. This contextual adaptability will enable seamless experiences tailored to individual preferences.
However, the flip side of this personalised, real-time data flow is the potential erosion of human agency. As AGI systems become more adept at managing data, there’s a risk that individuals may gradually lose control over their choices. If AI can shape decisions and behaviors in subtle, invisible ways—nudging individuals towards certain products, preferences, or even ideas—what does that mean for human autonomy?
The Rise of Generalists in a World of AGI
AGI’s ability to learn and adapt to any task raises questions about the future of human expertise. Will AGI’s generalist nature encourage us to become generalists as well? Historically, society has placed high value on medicine, law, or technology specialisation. However, as AGI systems become more capable across a broad range of tasks, the line between generalist and specialist roles may blur.
If AGI can act as a generalist, humans may not need to specialise as much in specific tasks, focusing instead on creative, emotional, and strategic problem-solving—areas where AGI may lag behind. However, particular industries may still prize specialised knowledge, mainly where human intuition or deep domain expertise offers an advantage over AGI's purely data-driven insights. The challenge will be balancing leveraging AGI’s generalist capabilities and preserving areas of human knowledge that AGI cannot replicate.
Data Ownership and Ethics
As data becomes more fluid and AGI plays a more significant role in managing it, new questions about data ownership and ethics arise. In a world where AGI controls many interactions, who owns the data that powers these experiences? Ideally, consumers would retain full ownership of their personal data, using AGI as a broker to decide when, how, and with whom their information is shared.
But without careful oversight, this ideal future could quickly devolve into a surveillance-driven reality. If companies or governments control AGI systems, they could exploit fluid data without consumer consent, creating a world where privacy is compromised in exchange for convenience. Mass surveillance and data monopolisation could lead to vast inequalities, where only large corporations can access the wealth of data flowing through AGI systems, leaving smaller players and individuals at a significant disadvantage.
The Existential Threats of AGI
While AGI promises to enhance productivity, creativity, and efficiency across industries, it also brings existential risks that we must address before AGI becomes mainstream. Chief among these risks is the loss of human agency. As AGI systems make decisions on our behalf—whether in small areas like which ads to show or larger ones like medical diagnoses—we risk becoming passive participants in our lives, with our autonomy subtly eroded by the systems meant to serve us.
Moreover, as data becomes fluid and omnipresent, privacy and surveillance become critical issues. Governments and corporations could use AGI systems to monitor and control individuals, creating a dystopian future where freedom and autonomy are undermined by ever-present surveillance.
Balancing Promise and Peril
The vision of a future where AGI manages fluid data to power hyper-personalised experiences is exciting and fraught with ethical dilemmas. The potential benefits are vast—AGI could revolutionise industries, streamline work, and create more meaningful consumer experiences. But the existential threats of privacy erosion, manipulation, and power concentration in the hands of a few entities must be acknowledged and addressed.
To truly benefit from AGI while mitigating risks, we need robust regulatory frameworks that prioritise ethical data usage and protect individual privacy. Equally important is maintaining human oversight over AGI systems to ensure that they operate transparently and with respect for human autonomy.
A Future Full of Promise
As AGI moves closer to reality, it’s clear that data will become more fluid and valuable than ever, shaping the future of industries and consumer experiences. But with this shift comes profound ethical considerations that we must navigate carefully. Will we all become generalists in an AGI-driven world? Or will certain areas of human expertise remain untouched by AI’s influence?
The answers to these questions will determine how we shape the future—whether AGI becomes a force for good, empowering individuals and businesses alike, or a technology that undermines human freedom and exacerbates inequality. As we push forward, the balance between promise and peril will depend on how we embrace AGI's opportunities while safeguarding against its risks.
👀 What I’ve been…
📺 Watching: Coldplay: Moon Music with Zane Lowe
📚 Reading: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
🎧 Listening: Moon Music - Coldplay
💻 Trying: 8 Seats
That wraps up this week’s edition of Input is Output! As always, I’m excited to hear your thoughts - what has caught your attention or imagination lately? Let me know, and we’ll keep this conversation going!
Until next time,
James