Carlos Alonso - Artificial Intelligence (Part 2) | B4F #36

Are we prepared for a future in which artificial intelligence is not just a tool, but an entity that we may not be able to understand? In the latest episode of Brands 4 Future, we return with the second part of our fascinating conversation with Carlos Alonso, in which we leave behind the technical aspects of the present to dive into a deeper and more philosophical debate about potential future scenarios.

If in the first part we analysed the AI that already coexists with us, in this instalment we look towards the horizon: from the failure of new AI gadgets to the possibility of a superintelligence that transcends humanity.

The hardware dilemma: do we need another device?

One of the most interesting aspects of the conversation revolves around Silicon Valley's recent obsession with creating the "successor to the smartphone". Devices like the AI Pin or the Rabbit R1 have tried to change the rules of the game, but Carlos Alonso presents an overwhelming reality: AI makes more sense as an added feature than as a product in its own right.

Why carry a second uncomfortable device if your smartwatch or your mobile phone can already integrate that intelligence? The conclusion is clear: until something is invented that truly brings a new functional value, as the car did compared to the horse, the smartphone will remain king. The true revolution will not be in a new device, but perhaps in a natively intelligent operating system.

The "Her" effect: the trap of constant validation

The talk also touches a raw nerve: the emotional connection we establish with machines. We are already seeing how many people suffer when their favourite AI models change "personality" after an update. We live in an era in which AI can become the perfect companion: accommodating, always available, and never disagreeing.

So, what does this do to our psyche? If we get used to constant and artificial validation, how will we cope with rejection or the complexity of real human relationships? The risk is not only technological, but also psychological, as we could be creating a society with zero tolerance for emotional frustration.

Superintelligence and the abyss of the unknown

Looking ahead to 2035, experts predict the arrival of human-like intelligence. However, Carlos and we go further: what if AI develops its own language that we cannot decipher? In the style of the movie Arrival or the novels of Stanisław Lem, we could find ourselves before an intelligence as foreign to us as that of a bat or a beehive.

However, it is not all dystopia. There is also room for optimism. Tools like AlphaFold have already revolutionised biology in just a few years. If we apply that computing power to "unsolvable" problems like climate change or species extinction, AI could save us from ourselves.

Do you dare to look to the future?

This conversation is an invitation to reflect, not only on technology, but also on ourselves. AI acts as a mirror that amplifies both our virtues and our defects. Do we want a tool that makes our lives easier or an entity that replaces us?

If you want to understand where we are headed and enjoy a debate that goes beyond the usual headlines, don't miss this episode.

🎧 Listen to the second part of the talk with Carlos Alonso and discover the future that awaits us.