The Next Big App newsletter, discussed in issue #55, explores the concern that AI's tendency to provide single, simple answers ("gray") is leading us away from the vibrant diversity of thought and information ("rainbow") that characterizes life. Author Selim Yörük, inspired by Mo Gawdat, questions whether reliance on AI like ChatGPT is causing us to lose the critical thinking and creativity fostered by engaging with multiple perspectives, as was common with early internet search engines like Google.
The newsletter warns of potential negative consequences if we accept this "gray" world, including:
Drawing on insights from Mo Gawdat, the newsletter also highlights broader societal risks related to rapid AI development, such as the concentration of power in unelected hands and the dangers of an AI arms race.
However, the newsletter also offers strategies for both business and personal life to resist this "gray" trend and embrace complexity, such as hosting "Wild Ideas" brainstorms and trying "reverse hobbies". The core message is to actively seek diverse perspectives and challenge AI's single answers to maintain a colorful and vibrant world.
