Tech visionary Steve Jobs envisioned AI as the natural evolution of books, aiming to foster interactive learning and encapsulate the insights of great thinkers. While AI chatbots are prominent in today’s tech landscape, a recently discovered presentation reveals that Jobs anticipated their potential nearly four decades ago. The Steve Jobs Archive has unveiled footage from the 1983 International Design Conference in Aspen, where the Apple co-founder articulated his groundbreaking vision.
Jobs acknowledged the power of books for their direct connection between source and reader but expressed a desire for greater interactivity. He imagined a future where readers could engage directly with texts, pose questions, and explore the author’s thoughts more deeply.
Reflecting on the future, Jobs remarked, “Looking ahead to the next 50 to 100 years, if we can develop machines that capture an underlying spirit or set of principles, or a unique perspective on the world, then perhaps when the next Aristotle comes along, if they have such a machine with them throughout their life, we could ask it, ‘What would Aristotle have said about this?’ after they are gone.”
Today, Jobs’ vision appears remarkably prescient. AI chatbots like ChatGPT are trained on extensive datasets, including books, to respond to user queries and even emulate historical figures. Although their accuracy can vary, these AI systems provide a novel way to interact with information, ideas, and history.
The newly-released footage from the Steve Jobs Archive offers an intriguing look into the mind of a tech pioneer and underscores how some of today’s most advanced technologies have roots in visions from decades past.
