Extract from AJ Shankar’s article “One Year In, Reflecting on the Wave of GenAI Transformation, Past and Future”
Reflecting on the past year, it’s remarkable to consider the advancements in the field of generative AI, particularly through large language model interfaces like ChatGPT. Launched just one year ago, ChatGPT marked an inflection point in generative AI, spawned a wave of rapid innovation, and set the trajectory for transformations that will continue to play out, in technology, in the practice of law, and in society as a whole, for years to come.
A true leap forward in generative AI technology, ChatGPT and a host of similar tools can perform tasks that would have seemed impossible just two years ago, whether drafting a speech, writing computer code, or passing the bar exam. These tools are powered by LLMs, or large language models, a type of neural network that can read and write in natural languages, such as English. Trained on billions of documents and refined with human guidance, these LLMs are competent to varying degrees in four key areas: fluency, creativity, knowledge, and logical reasoning.
But we did not get here overnight. This journey, while seemingly sudden, is rooted in a rich history of AI development, bringing us to a pivotal moment in technological evolution. So while today we reflect on a few key milestones achieved over the past year, it’s important to keep in mind that the evolution of this technology dates back to the advancement of machine learning and neural networks from over 50 years ago.
