The following is not an AI doomsday scenario. It is an observation of repeating patterns.
The human-system follows a familiar path. Drawn and driven by the unstoppable power of convenience.
This isn't about the machines. It's about us.
1987: New Hope, New Mexico.
Bud Frisco, 26 years old, owner of Bud's Shoes, awakes suddenly in a cold sweat. The dream is still vivid.
A large, glowing orb hangs in the darkness. Bud sees faces he knows. Friends. Family. Customers. They run towards the orb with vigor. No hesitation as they are absorbed into the light.
To his horror, Bud realizes he, too, is being pulled in. Not against his will, but through an honest desire. At the moment the orb consumes his smiling face, he shakes awake.
The next day Bud sees a notice in the paper. Walmart is coming to town. He quietly puts his paper down and declares to his wife, "if this happens, Bud's Shoe's won't make it."
His wife attempts to reassure him that Walmart only carries a few shoes, while he carries over 50 in multiple sizes. She promises him his loyal customers won't leave him.
Bud wants to believe her. But he can still feel the glow of that orb across his willing face.
Bud senses he will not win this fight. But he tries.
He gathers a petition full of signatures, organizes local business to fight back… But Walmart still moves to town.
The final blow doesn't happen right away. People are resistant to change. But even 'resistance to change' is overcome by the power of convenience.
Within five years mainstreet is a ghost town. Bud's Shoes is closed for good.
1997: Sante Fe, New Mexico
Tens years later and we find Bud a new man.
After his shoe fiasco, he stumbled upon the publishing industry. Over the last 8 years, his magazine company has become a major player with a loyal customer base.
Things are looking up.
For his son's 16th birthday, he gets him a computer. Setting it up the night before, he finally spends some time on the internet.
In a single search, he finds detailed, timely information more up to date than his own magazines. Bud can't believe what he's seeing.
Each time he bookmarks a page, it's like the warm glow of the orb is once again beckoning him near. But he's not naive.
By the time the night is over and he signs his son's birthday card, he was at peace with the fact that his magazine company would go the way of Bud's Shoes.
Some things you can't fight back against. It's like pushing on air.
Where convenience goes, attention flows.
But this time, he isn't going to be swept away in it's path. So Bud pivots. He moves his entire business model onto the internet.
And over the next seven years, as he grows beyond anything he thought possible, every one of his old competitors shuts their doors.
2024: Boulder, Colorado
Today, Bud's grandson, Hudson, is visiting from Denver. While discussing music, Hudson says his favorite kind of music is 'Glitchcore'.
Bud promises to Google it later to find out what it is, and his grandson laughs.
"Google it? Just use ChatGPT!" he says as he pulls out his phone.
Bud's grandson asks ChatGPT to explain the history of Glitchcore like he's talking to a confused Boomer…
And Bud listens in awe as he gets his own personal breakdown of the exact information he was after.
The glow surrounds his body. He is nearly absorbed.
As he snaps back to awareness, Bud knows he will need to pivot again. He's been here before. He can thrive in the change if he moves fast.
Bud commits to learning everything he can about LLM's.
2024: Boulder, Colorado
Bud sits with his wife drinking his morning coffee.
He's been silent lately. Does more deep thinking than anything else.
"Something's coming. I'm not sure how we get out of this one. Not just the company. Our kids, our grandkids, all of us. The whole world."
Bud knows this time is different. He closes his eyes once more and stares deep into the future of that mesmerizing orb. What he sees terrified him.