EU state of tech and tech legislation

David Heinemeier Hansson writes about the EU law on technology legislation. He is right that the cookie banner laws have led to this awful way where we must wrestle through consent forms while browsing the web. And yes, he is right:

Europe is in desperate need for a radical rethink on how it legislates tech. The amount of squandered potential from smart, capable entrepreneurs on the old continent is tragic. It needn’t be like this. But if you want different outcomes, you have to start doing different things.

He goes on

So little of the core tech innovation that’s driving the future, in AI or otherwise, is happening in Europe. And when it does happen there, it’s usually just incubation, which then heads for America or elsewhere as soon as its ready to make a real impact on the world.

I’m not sure where elsewhere would be. More importantly, there is more nuance to this state of affairs.

America is leading in technology but also in creating technological waste or the enshittification of technology. At least there is a body on this planet that puts boundaries on what monopolistic tech companies can do to citizens. That body is not the US government; it is the EU government. Yes, there is a lot to say about it, but you can state that the EU is protecting its citizens.

Furthermore, DHH could adopt a more critical stance towards the IT industry. While IT became a consumer product, companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Facebook have shown that they do not always act in the best interests of their customers, to say the least. Legislation is not just a socialist or communist necessity, but a fundamental requirement for the proper functioning of capitalism. This is particularly true in the US, where the excessive focus on stockholder value has led to a decline in company ethics.

PS Just this morning, I read that US antitrust laws are working against Google’s anticompetitive behavior.

The cost of AI and other challenges

I stumbled upon this fascinating article by Stuart Mills looking at the challenges that further development and operations of AI models face.

The costs of model development and operation are increasing. Efficiencies in development and operation are challenging but may be addressed in the future. However, model quality remains a significant challenge that is more difficult to solve.

Data is running out. Solutions such as synthetic data also have their limitations.

There is also a severe challenge around chips. There is a supply shortage in the context of geopolitical tensions between China, the US, and the EU. Also, the environmental costs of running large AI models are significant.

The costs of model development and operation are increasing. Efficiencies in development and operation are challenging but may be addressed in the future. However, model quality remains a significant challenge that is more difficult to solve.

Data is running out. Solutions such as synthetic data also have their limitations.

There is also a severe challenge around chips. There is a supply shortage in the context of geopolitical tensions between China, the US, and the EU. Also, the environmental costs of running large AI models are significant.

Two revenue models may emerge in the AI industry, each with its own take on the cost aspects highlighted above. The first is the ‘foundation model as a platform’ (OpenAI, Microsoft, Google), which demands increasing generality and functionality of foundation models.

The second is the ‘bespoke model’ (IBM), which focuses on developing specific models for corporate clients.

Government action can support and undermine the AI industry. Investment in semiconductor manufacturing in the US and China may increase the supply of chips, and strategic passivity from governments around regulations such as copyrights is suitable for the industry. Government interventions should regulate the AI industry in areas related to the socially and environmentally damaging effects of data centers, copyright infringement, exploitation of laborers, discriminatory practices, and market competition.

Exploring Ethical Search Engines Beyond Google

There is no good reason why you should still rely on Google search for your search engine. Read this excellent article on Google’s practices, and Big Tech chills run down your spine. There are ample good alternative search engines these days that do have integrity:

DuckDuckGo

Ecosia

Bing (though also Big Tech and historically suspect)

Brave

StartPage

And there are more.

Lately, I’ve been using Ecosia and DuckDuckGo side by side. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything about Google.