I always enjoy reading Work in Progress, this article is one of the best. Someone has to challenge general AI ignorance and shake the regulatory tree by its roots.
I have no doubt your overall thoughts are right. In the cultural context of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, I do think it can be a helpful shorthand. San Francisco was put on the (Western) map after the (Northern) California gold rush of 1849.
The companies, and individuals, that got rich and stayed rich were not the miners, but the metaphorical 'picks and shovel' providers. The San Francisco-based jean manufacturer, Levi Strauss, is one example. Others that became rich and successful as a result of the gold rush (Hearst, Atherton, Brannan) did not make their money directly from mining.
Yes, I get the San Francisco 1849 story. I should have put a paragraph in about that. The difference between the California gold rush and South Africa was the presence of significant amounts of gold. It stands to reason if there isn’t lots of gold, the money is made elsewhere.
Ah! Interesting point. “During a gold rush, when there isn’t actually a lot of gold, sell picks and shovels”… it does put the saying in a different light.
‘Hope is not a strategy.’ Kaboom!!
I always enjoy reading Work in Progress, this article is one of the best. Someone has to challenge general AI ignorance and shake the regulatory tree by its roots.
I have no doubt your overall thoughts are right. In the cultural context of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, I do think it can be a helpful shorthand. San Francisco was put on the (Western) map after the (Northern) California gold rush of 1849.
The companies, and individuals, that got rich and stayed rich were not the miners, but the metaphorical 'picks and shovel' providers. The San Francisco-based jean manufacturer, Levi Strauss, is one example. Others that became rich and successful as a result of the gold rush (Hearst, Atherton, Brannan) did not make their money directly from mining.
Yes, I get the San Francisco 1849 story. I should have put a paragraph in about that. The difference between the California gold rush and South Africa was the presence of significant amounts of gold. It stands to reason if there isn’t lots of gold, the money is made elsewhere.
Ah! Interesting point. “During a gold rush, when there isn’t actually a lot of gold, sell picks and shovels”… it does put the saying in a different light.