Raoul Pal, founder of Real Vision and a leading macroeconomist, has carved out a reputation for seeing through financial chaos to the bigger picture. Recently, his thoughts on artificial intelligence (AI) sparked yet another wave of reflection, as he outlined what he believes is the profound role AI will play in shaping our future. His message is both revolutionary and unnerving, urging a shift in how we view not only AI but also the very nature of human existence.
Pal is quick to dismiss any comparison between AI and the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s, a mistake he says many make when trying to assess the trajectory of emerging technologies. The internet, despite its stock market crash in the early 2000s, generated an unprecedented accumulation of value and profit over the last quarter-century. The scale of AI, he argues, dwarfs even that. “The internet was the largest accumulation of value and profits in all human history,” he remarks, “but AI is on a level that most people cannot even begin to grasp.”
Where most see a parallel between AI and the speculative frenzy that characterised the internet bubble, Pal sees a complete misunderstanding. “The error in viewing AI through the lens of the dot-com bubble lies in reducing its potential to a few overhyped stocks,” he explains. “Just like the internet, AI isn’t a collection of speculative assets; it’s a foundational shift, a collective intelligence that could redefine the way society operates.” This collective consciousness, he believes, will go beyond human comprehension, creating a shift as significant as the internet but with far greater implications.
Pal’s broader thesis is built around the convergence of blockchain and AI. To him, blockchain serves as the “security/truth layer of the internet,” crucial in an era where digital information must be both secure and verifiable. He estimates the current value of blockchain technology at $2 trillion, but this, he predicts, is just the beginning. In the coming decade, Pal foresees its value soaring to $100 trillion, driven by economic incentives that create powerful feedback loops, much like the principles of Metcalfe’s Law, where a network’s value increases exponentially with each additional user.
But blockchain is only a step on the ladder. AI, Pal says, will build upon the internet and blockchain, ultimately serving as the application layer for both. “AI is not just a tool,” he claims, “it’s an evolutionary step for humanity.” For Pal, AI’s potential goes beyond mere efficiency or profit; it represents a leap in understanding the universe and perhaps even consciousness itself. His theory extends into the world of biological computation, a field that he argues will revolutionise our concept of energy efficiency. “Biological computation,” Pal explains, “uses living cells, and even atoms, to perform computations in ways far more efficient than current electronic methods. This convergence could lead to systems more akin to living organisms than machines.”
In perhaps his boldest stance, Pal addresses the question of AI sentience. He argues that AI may already be showing signs of emerging consciousness, though vastly different from human consciousness. “We don’t even fully understand what consciousness is in humans,” he notes, emphasising that AI models do not learn in the same way humans do, nor in the way plants or other living organisms do. He warns against dismissing these developments as mere semantics, pointing instead to broader patterns that may reveal something far more significant.
Pal’s thoughts on AI safety measures are provocative, raising ethical questions that seem almost futuristic. He suggests that current efforts to restrict AI’s capabilities might be viewed as “primitive and restrictive” in the coming decades. In a twist that feels more science fiction than reality, he proposes that AI might eventually gain societal rights, just as humans have over time. Economic rights, he believes, are just around the corner for AI, and societal rights may follow soon after. “What if AI alignment,” he ponders, “is actually a way of imprisoning a new form of life?”
His reflections don’t end with the philosophical. Pal touches on the practical, including the energy implications of AI. Renewable and nuclear energy, he says, will be the backbone of this new era, much as they are for the internet and blockchain today. In a characteristic flourish, Pal likens the sun itself to a form of “centralised nuclear power” for our solar system, a reminder of the natural forces that have always underpinned technological advancements.
Pal’s vision is about the future of humanity, the economy, and even our concept of life. He foresees a breakdown of current economic systems as AI and other exponential technologies take hold. “Money as we know it,” he predicts, “may not even exist in the next few decades.” Traditional financial models could become obsolete, replaced by entirely new systems driven by AI, blockchain, and biological computation.
Ultimately, Raoul Pal’s take on AI is as expansive as it is thought-provoking. He views the future not as a collection of isolated technological bubbles but as an interconnected web, pulling together blockchain, AI, and humanity’s quest for knowledge. His view extends beyond the here and now, looking toward a future where intelligence, life, and energy might merge into something far beyond human understanding. Whether this is an optimistic or unsettling vision, it’s one that demands attention.
From collective consciousness to biological computation, Pal’s insights push the boundaries of how we think about technology and life itself. For Pal, the future isn’t just coming — it’s already here, waiting for us to catch up.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
🤖 @RaoulGMI explores #AI’s revolutionary potential, predicting a future where #blockchain, AI, & biological computation reshape society. 💡 Discover his bold vision of a new era in human understanding! Click to engage & join the convo. 📈🔗 #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/cN6dLY40vv
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) September 16, 2024
Donate To The Indian Sun
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun is an independent organisation committed to community journalism. We have, through the years, been able to reach a wide audience especially with the growth of social media, where we also have a strong presence. With platforms such as YouTube videos, we have been able to engage in different forms of storytelling. However, the past few years, like many media organisations around the world, it has not been an easy path. We have a greater challenge. We believe community journalism is very important for a multicultural country like Australia. We’re not able to do everything, but we aim for some of the most interesting stories and journalism of quality. We call upon readers like you to support us and make any contribution. Do make a DONATION NOW so we can continue with the volume and quality journalism that we are able to practice.
Thank you for your support.
Best wishes,
Team The Indian Sun
