Ken Ono says 2026 should be about formalization, not another compute race
soumitrashukla9 · x · 2026-07-23
Ken Ono argues that 2026 should not be a race for more compute. In a long interview, he breaks AI into three forms—chatbots, superhuman search, and formalization—and says the real opportunity for students is to learn how to formalize problems now.
He also discusses:
- how to tell a good question from a hollow one
- why box-checking admissions systems miss outlier talent
- why comparing yourself to LeBron James or a Nobel laureate is a losing game
- what kinds of AI work are actually hiring right now
Related event: Ken Ono: AI Focus Should Shift to Formalization Over Compute(2 posts)→
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