AI Futures: An Anthology Excerpt. Part 1 (of 4)
“The Great RenAIssance” Approaches: Why 2023 Was the New 1995
The Accidental Innovator
“You know who you are, Kyle? You’re the Forrest Gump of the Internet.” It was 1995 when
Clay Shirky
fondly jabbed that compliment in my direction late one night in the AGENCY.COM offices in the bowels of the Time Inc. building, as he marveled at the remarkable success we were experiencing. An epiphany about the power of the World Wide Web inspired me to co-found the early digital firm with Chan Suh, late the previous year, and we were indeed on a surreal wave of technological innovation
I suppose in hindsight I really am an accidental explorer who has, somewhat serendipitously, found himself at the forefront of digital revolutions time and again. As I stand here today, reflecting on a career that has intertwined with the nascent stages of personal computing
Throughout my career, from the heady days of New York City's burgeoning internet scene to my explorations in digital storytelling
So, as we delve into this chapter, which is as much about the future of AI as it is about a personal journey through the history of digital innovation, I invite you to reframe the present through the lens of the past. We'll traverse the early days of personal computing, the rise of the internet, and the advent of AI, connecting each dot to paint a picture of a world perpetually on the cusp of the next big leap. I suppose the difference for where I am now, vs. where I was in “Gumpian” 1995 is that I am much more certain about where we are going, because I’ve been in this movie before. I’m confident this AI sequel is about to wipe the floor with its predecessor. Buckle up, Buttercups!
The Room of Magical Machines
The year was 1977, a pivotal moment not just in my life but in the broader narrative of technological advancement. I was a seventh-grader, stepping into a classroom that would irrevocably alter my path.
It was a room that, to my young eyes, was nothing short of a technological wonderland. Every desk cradled a personal computer, a sight both awe-inspiring and profoundly transformative. These weren't just machines; they were portals to a new world, a world revealed to us as we learned to program using BASIC and as limited as it was, it opened up infinite possibilities.
The Radio Shack TRS-80s that adorned our desks were more than just educational tools. They were my introduction to a world where creativity and technology intersected. We were learning more than just how to make characters appear on a screen. We were being introduced to a new language, a new way of thinking, a new means of expression.
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The first thing we learned was the “LPrint” command, which printed characters on the screen. My friend Scott and I were immediately captivated. Within 20 minutes, we had created an animated ASCII “Saturn 5 rocket.” It started at the bottom of the screen and scrolled up, its billowing exhaust of punctuation marks and asterisks mesmerizing us. This moment was more than an introduction to programming; it revealed these remarkable machines as a tool for self-expression.
It wasn't just about learning to program. It was about witnessing firsthand the power of technology to create, innovate, and transform. I still remember the feeling of awe as I typed out commands, each line of code a step into uncharted territory. There was a sense of magic in making a machine respond, of seeing your thoughts and instructions come to life on the screen. This was more than an educational experience; it was the ignition of a lifelong passion for technology
It was during these early explorations that I realized the revolutionary nature of what lay before us. The personal computer was akin to the printing press in its potential impact on society. Yet, even amidst this burgeoning excitement, there was a twinge of regret. I recognized that I was just too young to be part of the pioneering group of tech visionaries – the likes of Jobs and Gates – who were already reshaping the world.
I remember being in the magazine section of a bookstore in the mall one day and seeing a picture of Steve Jobs and “Woz” on the cover of a business magazine, and seeing them as rock stars. I wanted to be like them. On the same rack was a magazine with Bill Gates and the geeky founders of Microsoft and I thought about how cool it must have been to be them. I remember a wave of sadness washing over me, because I felt like a little brother that was still too young to go hang out and do the fun stuff with the older kids. It looked like they were having SO. MUCH. FUN. Even at that age, I was acutely aware of how rare this moment was—the birth of something that will change the course of humanity—and that I would likely never experience being there at the beginning. Ever.
To be continued. CLICK for Part 2
AI Futures: An Anthology is a exploration at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human creativity. This collection brings together a diverse group of humans ranging from teachers to storytellers, civil service workers to writers, technologists to thinkers, creatives, engineers and futurists - all united by their early adoption and experimentation with AI tools. This anthology showcases the stories of these pioneers who delved into the world of generative AI not as technologists but as novices venturing into unknown territories.
The book features essays from: Lee Chazen, M.A. , Cyndi Coon , Dr Wendy Elford , Camilla Esser , Peter Kaminski , Michael Lennon , and Kyle Shannon .
Next: Part 2 (of 4)
"Taking a Byte of the Big Apple" and "Riding a Rocket Ship called AGENCY.COM"