AI is “more important than fire or electricity,” says Google CEO
27 July 2023 · News · Trade Exhibition
Audio Intelligence with Raoul Wedel -
- A monthly update on the state of all things AI and Audio
A technological revolution is unfolding, and according to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, AI is "more i...
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Tags: AI | Audio Intelligence with Raoul Wedel
I could write a thesis based on many of the topics raised and stimulated by this article.
The price of digitising, storing and networking data, particularly audio and video editing has come down significantly.
In the early 1980s, the Fairlight "computer" costing $50000 could sample sounds, record and notate music. In the mid-to-late 1980s, the Commodore Amiga could achieve the same for $1300.
At the same time in the late 1980s, SoundBlaster soundcards could be installed on a PC's pci bus and later on a usb cable. Sound could be recorded, stored and edited.
Similarly, in the early 1990s, the ABC develops the D-Cart system of recording, editing, storing and networking audio. The D-Cart system was adopted by broadcasters including the BBC and CBC.
During the 1990s, as costs of making and selling editing, storing and networking audio fell, broadcasters were using other systems such as AudioVault and ProTools, to name a few.
A summary is that barriers to entry in the manufacturing and selling digital audio equipment fall. There is a short time for the pioneer to enjoy a monopoly on the technology unless the pioneer continues to innovate and adding value.
A similar story applies for the graphics machine used in the production of TV graphics the Quantel Paintbox which cost $250000.
Newer entrants including editing Adobe Photoshop with more powerful and cheaper PCs with GPUs as well as Macs and Androids made systems like the Paintbox redundant.
Similarly the RodeCaster empowers more people to make audio and video productions for broadcast and podcast purposes for less than $1000.
As a result, more people are empowered to use and apply digital technology.
Thus the production of audio and video content is no longer an esoteric and exclusive club.
We can also see thanks to Google that people are empowered to make their own AI programs through open sourced software.
It's generating a reality where more teenage moguls or those moguls who are young at heart or those reinventing themselves to contribute something to the world.
There will be more Bill and Wilhelmina Gates in the world.
When you think about it, with more powerful and faster CPUs and GPUs performing analysis of audio, video, medical research, weather forecasting, AI is all about "number crunching" in the same way as number crunching has been used for less-intensive calculations in engineering, science and accounting for decades.
It is exciting
Thank you
Anthony, I'm so excited and I just can't hide it, Strathfield South, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation.