In a recent discussion at the “HBR Live: Business of the Future” event, Baidu founder Robin Li addressed the inevitability of an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble during a conversation with Adi Ignatius, the editor-in-chief of Harvard Business Review.
Li drew parallels to historical tech trends, asserting that like all previous technological surges, the current excitement surrounding AI will likely lead to a bubble that ultimately bursts. “After the bubble, about 1% of the companies that emerge will create significant value for society,” he stated.
Reflecting on past technological milestones, Li recalled the internet bubble of the 1990s, which collapsed in 2000, and similar trends during the mobile internet era. He noted that the AI sector is currently undergoing a comparable cycle. “In the era of generative AI, we will experience this same process. After the bubble, innovations that fail to meet market demands will be eliminated,” he warned.
Li further elaborated, “After this period, 1% of the companies will stand out and continue to grow, contributing substantial value to society. We are currently navigating this phase, and the industry is cooler and healthier than it was last year.”
Additionally, Li highlighted that a significant shift in the past 18 to 20 months within the domain of large models has been the improvement in the accuracy of responses to queries.