Blimey, Google wasn't the magical new thing. It was just a slightly faster version of what we already had. I can't remember the first Internet search I used. W

Blimey, Google wasn't the magical new thing. It was just a slightly faster version of what we already had. I can't remember the first Internet search I used. Webcrawler or Excite perhaps, or something earlier. It was quite magical, but part and parcel of the feeling of tremendous freedom and limitless possibilities which came with the early computers, BBSes, and then the Internet. It was an opening up of opportunity. AI is rather different. Rather than a feeling of freedom, it was one of amusement at the power of the thing, coupled with horror at what it meant for society. But then, I'm 43 this time around.. On reflection it feels like the opposite of the Internet, as so much of what it can do directly nullifies the net.