Silicon Valley sees generative AI and ChatGPT as its next platform

When Silicon Valley insiders say that ChatGPT and generative AI are "the next platform," here's what they mean: Why it matters: Any new technology that checks all these boxes and keeps springing new surprises on us earns the world's attention -- as previous platforms did, from the iPhone to the internet itself all the way back to the rise of the personal computer. The big picture: The tech industry has sounded trumpets in the past few years for "next platform" candidates that haven't yet delivered on their promises. But a great many people with long views believe that the AI shift is different -- and for real. Steven Sinofsky is a former Microsoft executive who sounded an alarm to Bill Gates in 1994 about the internet's disruptive potential. He notes that AI can speed into our lives using existing devices and services. Be smart: In the social media world, "platform" has come to mean a stage for users to speak from.