Watch the video: AI – The potential dangers and revolutionary opportunities by 2030

AI holds incredible possibilities – but also risks that we as entrepreneurs cannot ignore. In this article, you will learn why autonomous AI systems, should they pursue undesirable goals, could even endanger humanity – and what this concretely means for your business.

Why you should know this as an entrepreneur

If you run your own business or are involved in the management of a company, then this topic is absolutely central. AI is not only one of the fastest-growing markets; it will also fundamentally change all our lives and the way business is conducted. Take a look at the displayed graph – it strikingly shows how previous revolutions (like the Internet) have transformed the world. What is coming our way now is an entirely different wave.

The Scaling Laws of AI – How AI scales

The future intelligence of AI depends on four key factors. These so-called Scaling Laws give us a mathematical insight into how far AI can advance by 2030:

• Power Constraint (Energy Consumption):

AI models consume an enormous amount of energy. Even today, the power consumption of a state-of-the-art model corresponds to that of 100,000 households. Projections indicate that by 2030, energy demand will rise so significantly that a substantial part of a country's total electricity production would need to be directed towards it.

• Chip Production Capacity:

The available computing power is a crucial factor. With advancing development, the production of specialized chips becomes increasingly important. Experts estimate that computing power could increase by multiples – perhaps by up to 50,000 times – compared to today by 2030.

• Data Scarcity:

Qualitative data is the lifeblood of any AI. The more high-quality data is available, the smarter the AI will be. Improvements of up to 80,000 times compared to current models are being discussed here.

• Latency Wall:

A physical limit that concerns the transmission speed of data. Although this limit seems far away, it plays a role in the long-term scaling of AI.

The waves of AI development

The development of AI occurs in waves – and we are in the midst of a profound transformation:

• Wave 1 – Generative AI:

This is the current state that most are familiar with – tools like ChatGPT that generate text and answer questions. An impressive but still limited technology.

• Wave 2 – Synthetic AI:

In this phase, AI begins to adapt independently to external data. It can incorporate information from your CRM or customer database to provide even more accurate answers.

• Wave 3 – Autonomous Agents:

Here, AI agents are developed to independently take on economically relevant tasks – for example, making cold calls or scheduling appointments in your calendar. Currently, they still require human instructions, but they are on the path to becoming increasingly autonomous.

• Wave 4 – Machine-to-Machine:

In this next phase, AI systems interact with each other directly, with no human intervention. Humans are largely removed from the decision loop, allowing processes to be almost completely automated.

• Wave 5 – Artificial General Intelligence (AGI):

Originally, it was thought that AGI would not become a reality until around 2040 or 2045. However, due to massive investments and rapid progress, this milestone could happen much earlier. AGI will then be able to operate more intelligently than any human in all areas.

What does this mean for your business?

The developments in AI are not only fascinating; they have direct impacts on the economy and your company:

• Securing a competitive advantage:

Entrepreneurs who engage with AI early and integrate it sensibly into their processes can gain a decisive competitive edge.

• Reducing costs and increasing efficiency:

Automated processes and smart data analytics lead to significant savings and optimize workflows – from customer acquisition to internal management.

• Preparing for the future:

The upcoming wave of autonomous agents will further automate business processes. It is essential for you to prepare your company for this in order not to be left behind.

Conclusion

AI is on the rise – faster and more intensely than many can imagine today. With the scaling laws and various development waves, we can predict that AI models will be many times smarter by 2030 than they are today. For entrepreneurs and business owners, this means: inform yourself, adapt your processes, and seize the opportunities that this technology offers – but also keep an eye on the risks.

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Stay curious and critical – the future of AI is not waiting!