This week, we feature insights from Radical Partner Rob Toews on the emerging frontier of brain-computer interfaces. As invasive and non-invasive BCI technologies advance rapidly, Rob explores how this field will fundamentally reshape the relationship between human and artificial intelligence and why now is the moment to pay attention. The following is an excerpt from Rob’s full article published in Forbes.
We stand at the cusp of a massive technology paradigm shift that promises to transform human civilization. Sam Altman and Elon Musk are building rival companies to compete over what will be one of the biggest market opportunities in history.
No, we are not talking about generative AI. We are not talking about OpenAI and xAI.
We are talking about brain-computer interfaces.
Musk’s Neuralink and Altman’s newly launched Merge Labs are among a handful of companies at the forefront of this fast-moving field.
To most people, brain-computer interfaces (BCI) sound like science fiction. But this technology is getting real, quickly. BCI is nearing an inflection point in terms of real-world functionality, though most people haven’t yet realized it. Before long, these products will be ready for mainstream use and will begin to spread through society. Far-fetched though it may sound, capabilities like telepathy will soon be possible.
One reason why BCI matters so much is that it will play a central role in defining how human intelligence and artificial intelligence fit together in a world with powerful AI.
Now is the time to start paying serious attention to this field.
Read Rob’s full article in Forbes.
AI News This Week
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Top A.I. Researchers Leave OpenAI, Google and Meta for New Start-Up (NYT)
More than 20 leading AI researchers have left positions at Meta, OpenAI, Google DeepMind and other major AI labs to join Radical Ventures-backed Periodic Labs. Founded by Liam Fedus, who co-created ChatGPT at OpenAI, and Ekin Dogus Cubuk from Google DeepMind, Periodic Labs is building AI technology designed to accelerate scientific discoveries in physics and chemistry. The company secured over $300 million in seed funding to establish autonomous laboratories where robots conduct thousands of experiments while AI systems analyze results, learning from physical trial and error to automate the discovery process.
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Behind Job Weakness Are Hints of a Productivity Revival. Is AI the Reason? (WSJ)
U.S. GDP grew by 3.8% annually in Q3, while employment remained roughly the same, suggesting labour productivity surged by around 3.5%. Since the launch of ChatGPT, productivity has grown at an annualized rate of 2%, up from a pre-pandemic growth rate of 1-1.5%. AI adoption has accelerated rapidly, with 19% of workers using the technology on a weekly basis, indicating that AI is a key driver behind the recent surge in productivity. Goldman Sachs analysis found that productivity gains are concentrated in technology and related sectors. Economists estimate that AI could raise productivity growth by 0.5 to 1.5 percentage points annually.
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Gavin Newsom Signs First-in-Nation AI Safety Law (Politico)
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 53, the nation’s first legislation on AI safety, requiring major AI companies to disclose their safety and security protocols publicly. The law creates a framework for companies and the public to report major safety incidents to the state, includes whistleblower protections for AI workers, and establishes groundwork for CalCompute, a state-run cloud computing cluster. Unlike the EU AI Act, which requires private submission of security plans to governments, California’s law mandates public disclosure and requires companies to report crimes committed without human oversight, such as cyber attacks.
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The People Turning to AI for Dating and Relationship Advice (BBC)
Nearly half of Generation Z Americans have used large language models for dating advice. According to research, people are turning to AI to craft messages, process conversations, and navigate relationship challenges. Psychologist Dr. Lalitaa Suglani notes AI can be useful for people who feel overwhelmed or unsure about communication, offering a reflective space and moment of pause instead of reactive responses. AI relationship advice services are emerging to help users who may not feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics like sex with friends, family, or therapists.
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Research: Evaluating the Impact of AI on the Labor Market (Yale/Brookings Institution)
Researchers analyzed US labour market data since ChatGPT’s November 2022 launch and found no evidence of economy-wide job disruption from AI. The distribution of workers across different jobs in the economy has changed by 6-7%, which is slightly faster than during previous technological shifts, such as the advent of computers and the internet. Analysis using OpenAI’s exposure data and Anthropic’s Claude usage metrics showed stable employment patterns across AI-affected occupations, with no increase in unemployment among exposed workers. Even recent college graduates showed minimal occupational differences compared to older graduates.
Radical Reads is edited by Ebin Tomy (Analyst, Radical Ventures)
