Generative AI Might Be the Worst Technology
GaryMarcus · x · 2026-07-15
Gary Marcus quoted an article from The Atlantic, highlighting the potentially poor scaling efficiency of generative AI. He noted that several AI researchers could not think of another real-world software that "scales so poorly." Even outside the software realm, it's hard to find parallels because economies of scale in industries like solar panels, lightbulbs, cars, and clothing make things cheaper. The article sharply concludes that, economically and engineering-wise, generative AI might be "the worst technology ever deployed."
Related event: Debate Flares Over The Atlantic’s Critique of Generative AI(6 posts)→
More from AGI Musings
- Goldman finds statistically significant negative link between AI adoption and US employment growth — ben_j_todd · 2026-10-27
- a16z: World-changing tech makes a chaotic entrance — AI agents are following the same path — a16z · 2026-10-27
- NEJM AI on medical education: mastery requires performing without the machine — BraydonDymm · 2026-10-27
- Dev warns abliterated models could wreck software supply chains with 1000+ transitive dependencies — nitarshan · 2026-10-27
- Delete your priors: why every SOTA model drop should reset how you think the world works — zack_overflow · 2026-10-27
- Replit predicts every Fortune 500 will be a 'Self-Driving Company' by end of 2030 — amasad · 2026-10-27