You Are Not Late to Artificial Intelligence

To study it, learn to use it, understand it, or build with it

This article is a selection from The Algorithmic Bridge, an educational project to bridge the gap between AI and people.

I get this question all the time: Is it too late to start with AI?

The answer is no.

The rest of this short post is my attempt at arguing why that’s the case.

It’s never too late

Kevin Kelly’s essay “You Are Not Late” (the inspiration for this one), is a cautionary tale about confusing the invisibility of the best present opportunities with their non-existence. If you can’t see them it doesn’t mean they’re not there.

Kelly eloquently explains why looking back at the early days of the internet now gives us that feeling we all know so well: “Oh, if only I realized the possibilities we had then!”

Short and cool domains were open, Kelly recalls. But even leaders of their sectors, like McDonalds, didn’t recognize the opportunity. Everything internet-related that we now take for granted was still to be built: browsers, search engines, video platforms, social media, all the apps you use daily, and companies like Google, Facebook, or YouTube.