The Case for AI as Normal Technology
anshulkundaje · x · 2026-07-14
This post features organized slides and a transcript from an ICML keynote addressing the question: "What work is left for humans as AI capabilities continue to grow?" The author presents three core arguments:
- AI as Normal Technology remains a valid framework for understanding AI's impact—treating it as a general-purpose technology that will gradually diffuse into society, rather than a unique tech destined for sudden runaway失控.
- Recursive self-improvement should be taken seriously, but related discussions harbor many unexamined assumptions, which the author specifically rebuts.
- Part 1 summarizes existing perspectives, while Parts 2 and 3 introduce new ideas.
The author also notes that the original Part 2 was too long and was heavily trimmed after team feedback, with the full content to be serialized into future newsletter articles.
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