In this video, the creator initially sets out to fix a specific email problem but ends up reflecting on the transformative nature of technological progress. Drawing parallels to the sigmoid curve, he discusses how past technologies, like the internet, followed a pattern of slow adoption, rapid growth, and eventual stabilization. The narrative shifts to the present, where the creator encounters a dilemma in his email backup process, leading him to use Google's Apps Script and eventually ChatGPT to automate the solution. The video explores the implications of advanced AI, particularly ChatGPT, in generating code and its potential impact on various industries. The creator expresses a mix of awe and concern, comparing this AI progress to the disruptive effects of Napster on the music industry, hinting at the possibility of widespread change in the near future.
1. The speaker started the video with a minor existential crisis over the impending changes in the world, particularly the internet.
2. The speaker lived through the mass adoption of the internet and was part of the early internet users.
3. The speaker described the progression of technology as following a sigmoid curve, starting with a slow takeoff, an explosion of growth, and then a flattening of progress as the technology reaches its limit.
4. The speaker mentioned Napster as a major sign of how many industries were going to be changed or completely destroyed by the internet.
5. The speaker was in New Zealand and had a suspicion that tech conferences might not be relevant for much longer.
6. The speaker mentioned that they were trying to fix a specific problem with their email system and the process led them to realize a significant issue with their email backup.
7. The speaker discovered that labels in Gmail only attach to individual messages and not the full thread, which led to many messages not being backed up.
8. The speaker used Google's Apps Script service to write a code to fix the backup issue. The process involved using AI to translate a text description into Google Apps Script.
9. The speaker was surprised to find that ChatGPT was able to generate the code for them. The process involved back-and-forths and the AI making mistakes, which the speaker corrected.
10. The speaker compared the feeling of dread they experienced during the process to the feeling of "being wrong about what comes next", a concept from neuroscience.
11. The speaker expressed fear that the new AI systems might be like Napster, a sign of a major change in the world.
12. The speaker mentioned their concern that they might be at the start of the curve for AI, indicating a major change is about to happen.
13. The speaker ended the video with a statement about possibly being out of a job soon, referring to the advancements in technology.
14. The speaker promoted NordVPN, a tool for staying connected while traveling or browsing the internet, and provided a link for a special offer.