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

Are we prepared for a future where artificial intelligence is not just a tool, but an entity that we might not be able to comprehend? 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 more philosophical and profound debate about possible future scenarios.

If in the first part we analyzed the AI that already coexists with us, in this edition we look towards the horizon: from the failure of new AI gadgets to the possibility of 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 attempted to change the game, but Carlos Alonso presents a crushing reality: AI makes more sense as an added functionality rather than as a product in itself.

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

The ‘Her’ effect: the trap of constant validation

The talk also touches on a sensitive chord: 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 where AI can become the perfect companion: pleasing, always available, and never contrary.

So, what does this do to our psyche? If we become accustomed to constant and artificial validation, how will we face rejection or the complexities of real human relationships? The risk is not just technological, but also psychological, as we might be creating a society with zero tolerance for emotional frustration.

Superintelligence and the abyss of the unknown

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

However, not everything is dystopia. There is also room for optimism. Tools like AlphaFold have already revolutionized biology in a few years. If we apply that computational capacity to “unsolvable” problems like climate change or species extinction, AI could save us from ourselves.

Dare to look into 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 flaws. Do we want a tool that solves our lives 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.