IP Copilot

What is possible is unevenly distributed. As knowledge and technology compound, the distance between those closest to the source and everyone else also exponentially increases.

I believe it was William Gibson who said, “The future is already here, it’s just not very evenly distributed.” While correct, there’s a secondary effect at work. As technology is compounding, those closest to the source have exponentially more potential. There’s a curve of technology, a fountain if you will, and as that fountain erupts the possibilities flow out of it. Those furthest away from the technology know the least about what it’s capable of.

What can AI do?

Today, we have conversations every day ranging from “AI can’t write an email” to “AI has already replaced my entire job”. “AI can’t write a poem” to “I just had AI generate a song for my friends wedding”. At IP Copilot, we use it to write songs as well —

AI-this and AI-that, it really doesn’t matter where people are on the spectrum, they’ll all end up at the same place eventually, or does it matter? What we’re witnessing is the uneven distribution of the future. As with any new technology, those closest to the future have the greatest potential. Those who can see the future, often have a hand in shaping the future.

Historically, the uneven distribution of the future mattered little. Life rarely changed from generation-to-generation. However, since the industrial revolution that’s accelerated dramatically. Those who saw trains develop (early 1800’s), likely never saw planes fly (early 1920’s). On the other hand, if you saw the first plane fly (early 1920’s), there was decent odds you saw us get to space (1960’s). Similarly, those who saw the first computer in the (1940’s), likely saw the first personal computers (1970’s), cell phones (1980’s) and even iPhone (2000’s). Technology has been accelerating for most of human history, but particularly the last couple of hundred years.

Many people who saw the first planes fly, never expected them to fly hundreds of passengers across continents in a few hours, but they did within a few decades. Those closest to the technology, likely knew they were going to.

The Singularity already happened

“AGI, Artificial General Intelligence” or “the Singularity” have often been discussed the last few years. The idea behind the Singularity is that technology, particularly AI, develops so rapidly that it reshapes humanity and transforms it more rapidly and so profoundly it’s unrecognizable.  I would argue that’s already happened and we’re on that curve, we’ve been on that curve for a while now.

If you want a comparison, look at the Amish today. Today, Amish communities in the United States try to largely keep the same way of life they had from the founding of America. At America’s founding they were largely the same as everyone else. Similar values, similar customs, similar social interactions. Today, they often still ride horse and buggies, grow their own food, build their houses by hand and don’t use electricity. Their way of life, their values, their social interactions, everything is grossly different than the norm of today. We are fundamentally different, in profound ways and that will only increase over time and exponentially so.

The singularity started / happened decades ago. It doesn’t matter if it’s AGI or something else that’s progressing technology. Technology has changed our society and humanity so much that it is unrecognizable to those even a hundred years ago. Everything from our mediums of exchange, how we travel, who we talk to, our personal relationships — everything. AI already has managed our finances for decades through stock purchases, it’s managed our economy. Our politics, by what we see via the news feed on social media apps, and so much more.

If the trend(s) continue that will only increase exponentially. Meaning, people of today who reject AI will be like the Amish exponentially more quickly. The Amish largely diverged from the mainstream sometime in the 1800’s, but with the compounding growth of technology, a decade my be equivalent to two centuries in terms of differences.

The future is now. You either embrace it and ride the wave or are exponentially behind.

That’s not to scare you, it’s the truth that we hope you heed. Those who are closest to technology are telling you this technology is world changing and it’s here to stay. It’s better to embrace it and maximize its potential to reap the upside, than to ignore it as a fad.

IP Copilot’s Mission, a glimpse into the future

How does that related to Intellectual Property and IP Copilot?

If you’re an attorney today, you will become the Amish if you sit still. Within a few years you’ll be obsolete if you don’t start using tools. Those who embrace the future will be able to continue to evolve, and ultimately, survive the change.

For my entire career, I’ve worked on the forefront of technology. Now, I lead IP Copilot. IP Copilot’s mission is to identify, manage and protect that technology. To do that, we must understand the present and truly project where technology is going. Our mission is to provide organizations a deep understanding of what they have today and a glimpse into the future to be ahead of the curve.

You want to be as close to the source of technology as you can. It’ll make you exponentially closer to the future.