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Five hundred years separate four books from the age of AI. Four books that transformed knowledge sharing after the printing press. Four books that ignited the Renaissance. Four books that offer a roadmap for our AI future.
AI’s Go Spark
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Google’s computer program AlphaGo defeated its human opponent, South Korean Go champion Lee Sedol, on Wednesday in the first face-off of a historic five-game match.
In March 2016, Google's computer program AlphaGo captivated the world by defeating South Korean Go champion Lee Sedol in the first game of a historic five-match series. This victory marked a breakthrough for Artificial Intelligence. Go, a complex game known for its reliance on intuition and creativity, was previously considered "extremely challenging" for AI. Unlike past AI victories like Deep Blue in chess, AlphaGo wasn't just replicating human play.
In the second game, a move by AlphaGo, deemed a 'mistake' by analysts, was later hailed as a 'beautiful' breakthrough. This unexpected move, calculated as highly unlikely by human standards, showcased AI's ability to learn and innovate. AlphaGo wasn't just replicating patterns; it was developing new strategies.
In the fourth game, Lee Sedol elevated his play, executing a surprising strategy that defied AlphaGo's probability calculations. This move, later hailed as "God's Touch," secured a victory for Sedol. Lee Sedol's ability to rise to the occasion and adapt to the new paradigm presented by AI demonstrated the potential for humans and machines to learn from each other.
AlphaGo's overall win underscores a collaborative future. AI isn't a replacement for human ingenuity; it can be a spark. Humans and AI can work in tandem to unlock new levels of creativity and problem-solving, reshaping our world.
Centuries before AlphaGo, another innovation revolutionized knowledge: the printing press.
Four books that impacted how the knowledge and communication were shared after the printing press was invented that sparked the Renaissance.
Book 1. The Bible
Johannes Gutenberg, 1455
Just as AlphaGo's victory marked a leap for AI, the publication of the Gutenberg Bible in 1455 sparked a pivotal moment in human history. Gutenberg and his Bible were more than a new printing method; they were a fountainhead for knowledge democratization, powering the Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment. The Bible was the debut project of this transformative technology to the Western world.
Like AlphaGo, Gutenberg aimed to showcase his invention through a challenging project. Gutenberg was refining the printing process with his press, which was invented some 15 years before the Bible’s publication. And his Bible was an ambitious undertaking, aiming to show that the new technology could create and compete with the hand-scribed masterworks of the day. Printed solely in black text, ornamentation, and flourishes were manually added by artisans and scribes. Pages from the new press were displayed, and a Cardinal in correspondence with the future Pope Pius II viewed some in Frankfurt. He wrote, “The script is extremely neat and legible, not at all difficult to follow. Your grace would be able to read it without effort, and indeed without glasses.” The Bible was a testament to the press's capabilities. It showcased a new standard of typography and layout—a fusion of technology and human artistry. The Bible was a masterpiece.
From Manuscript to Print: Gutenberg’s Bible Bridged Two Eras
Gutenberg’s 42-line Bible, printed between 1454 and 1455 in Mainz, stands as a revolutionary bridge between the medieval and modern eras.
Much like the match with AlphaGo, it marked one of the first public demonstrations of content created by mechanical means that previously could only be done by hand.
Printed Incunabula
The Gutenberg Bible, weighing 60 pounds and spanning 1300 pages, was meant to be read aloud from the pulpit. What was to come in terms of the knowledge revolution was not yet on display or foretold.
In the beginning, printers aimed to make incunabula look like handwritten manuscripts, prioritizing aesthetics over the potential of the new technology. Similarly, AI is often used to imitate human capabilities. While this approach is useful for specific tasks and can boost productivity, it might hinder us from fully exploring AI's potential for innovation.
Graphic artists refine AI-generated drafts much like the scribes of the Gutenberg era. While this approach assists with tasks traditionally done by hand or where AI can analyze information and generate content faster than humans, it may not fully utilize the technology’s potential. The emphasis on imitation rather than innovation could limit our ability to leverage AI's true power to transform our world. As we stand at the crossroads of this next technological revolution, the challenge lies in moving beyond mere replication to truly harness the innovative power of AI.
Book 2. La Comedia
Cristoforo Landino, 1481
In February 2023, Google unveiled Bard, an AI platform capable of explaining the James Webb Space Telescope discoveries to a child, aiming to compete with the media attention surrounding OpenAI's ChatGPT release months earlier. However, The New Scientist pointed out that Bard's demonstration contained inaccuracies quickly revealed by a simple Google search. This episode underscores the risks of pushing immature technology before it's fully developed.
Bard's launch mirrored the aspirations of Cristoforo Landino, a scholar under Lorenzo de Medici's patronage in Florence. In 1481, Landino sought to enhance the city's literary prestige by publishing a groundbreaking edition of the Dante’s Divine Comedy. Landino's ambitious La Comedia project required cutting-edge innovations: renowned artist Sandro Botticelli designed illustrations etched onto copper plates by Baccio Baldini – one for each canto. Plans called for printing 1,125 copies of the Divine Comedy, a monumental task given the extensive commentary and over 100 copper engravings.
Landino's initial contract, detailing the production process and daily proofing, seemed achievable. Despite advancements in printing and the ingenuity of those involved, challenges arose. The press's core strength in replicating text worked well, but the scale of Landino's commentary and one hundred engravings proved overwhelming. Copper engravings offered unprecedented detail, but including all hundred proved impractical. Today, only a fraction of the surviving copies contain engravings, often misplaced – one even upside down.
The Ambition and Reality of the 1481 La Comedia
Three pages from available historical texts of La Comedia that show the ambitious potential and the realities of the overreach.
The launch of Google's Bard AI and the ambitious 1481 printing of La Comedia in Florence serve as potent reminders of the perils of overextending nascent technology. In both cases, the desire for advancement clashed with technological limitations. Pursuing innovation is crucial, but so is acknowledging the limitations and potential errors in untested technologies. The path forward for AI development may lie in a balanced approach. The lesson from La Comedia is clear: ambitious goals must be balanced with a realistic understanding of what's achievable. Progress is often found not in audacious overreach but in the steady march of incremental improvements.
Book 3. The Aldine Virgil
Aldus Manutius, 1501
Following the publication of Gutenberg's Bible, Europe experienced a boom in printing houses and publishing centers. These hubs were strategically located around ports and trade routes, enabling the spread of knowledge. Venice, a thriving Mediterranean commerce hub, swiftly emerged as a publishing leader, its success fueled by its wealth, established trade routes, and skilled workforce.
This historical trend mirrors the rise of AI within today's digital commerce hubs. Leading AI technologies, such as Microsoft Copilot, Google Bard/Gemini, and Adobe Firefly, are closely tied to these hubs. These tools transcend automation, helping users find and organize information and leveraging established networks to accelerate adoption and enhance human capabilities.
In 1494, Aldus Manutius founded the Aldine Press in Venice, initiating a shift from mere replication to innovation. He introduced a new book design tailored for wider distribution and optimized for the printing press. His publication of the "Virgil, Eclogues"—The Aldine Virgil—in 1501 was groundbreaking. It introduced the "octavo" format, a book one-eighth the size of a standard printed page, and boasted an unprecedented print run of 4,000 copies. This innovation echoes the transformative potential of AI today.
| Book Sizes | Length x Width(cm) | Number of Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Gutenberg Bible (1455) | 43.2 x 30.5 cm | 1288 |
| The Aldine Virgil (1501) | 15.4 x 9.4 cm | 228 |
| La Comedia (1481) | 43 x 31 cm | 744 |
| The Aldine Divina Comedia (1503) | 15.7 x 9.4 cm | 486 |
The compact Aldine Virgil contrasted sharply with the massive Incunabula, like the Gutenberg Bible. Before Manutius, small books, known as "devotions," were primarily religious. The Aldine Virgil, however, was one of the first secular books printed for personal knowledge dissemination. Manutius innovated with the italic font to reduce size while maintaining readability. He also removed excessive commentary from the text, a technique exemplified by the Aldine version of La Comedia. This compact, portable format revolutionized personal reading and paved the way for the printing of numerous classical Greek and Roman works. These books graced the personal libraries of luminaries like Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei.
Sizing Up Dante
The 1481 La Comedia is next to Aldine's version in 1501. The highlighted area of Dante's poem is the same size in both. While including all the flourishes, the Aldine version omitted the commentary.
Just as the Aldine Press democratized access to knowledge, AI tools enable us to search through vast amounts of information more quickly and efficiently. They empower us by aiding in the interpretation, discovery, and creation of new knowledge. AI also enables the creation of vast amounts of content. Aldus Manutius' focus on creating high-quality content leveraged the potential of the printing press, opening new markets and opportunities. Similarly, to achieve success with AI's generative power, we must prioritize focus, authenticity, and quality.
Book 4. Champ Fleury
Geoffroy Tory, 1529
To fully realize the latent transformative power of the printing press, further innovations were necessary. Nicholas Jenson, a pioneering printer, made a significant contribution by replacing the ornate blackletter script with the more legible Roman typeface. This pivotal shift showcased the printing press's ability to produce sharper, more consistent letterforms, boosting legibility and visual harmony, laying the groundwork for future developments.
The 16th century witnessed an explosion of printing presses, yet consistency in language, texts, and fonts remained elusive. Geoffroy Tory emerged as a pioneering figure, championing standardization. His seminal work, "Champ Fleury," marked a pivotal shift from the chaotic Incunabula era to a more systematic approach. Tory introduced rules for French spelling and grammar and innovated typeface design grounded in geometric principles. This approach aimed to standardize print and fonts, imbuing Roman type with a repeatable sense of natural beauty and harmony, all for the reader's benefit.
A 500-Year-Old Blueprint for Bookmaking
Geofroy Tory’s ChampFleury, published in 1529, blends humanistic and geometric principles in typography. This laid the foundation for modern design standards that continue to shape the industry centuries later.
Tory's emphasis on geometrically driven consistency aligns with the growing need to establish AI style, design, and usage standards today. AI excels at applying mathematical precision to content and design, enabling unparalleled consistency. Just as Tory harnessed the printing press's unique capabilities, we must recognize AI's distinct strengths. The goal is not to replace human creativity but to leverage AI as a powerful tool to enhance our abilities, ultimately benefiting the learner.
The printing press's impact unfolded through continuous innovation. Comparing Tory's work to AI reveals a shift from manual craftsmanship to digital automation, yet not a competitive one. We must set standards to elevate AI beyond mere human mimicry, similar to how Tory moved printing beyond the Incunabula era. By understanding AI's strengths, we can forge a collaborative future, building upon human creativity with AI's analytical power to achieve greater heights.
The Printing Press and the Trajectory of AI
The claim that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will mirror the impact of the printing press may be overstated. Examining the historical development of print offers valuable insights into AI's trajectory. The printing press wasn't a singular invention; it was an enabling technology that unleashed a cascade of advancements in knowledge creation and dissemination.
What we can learn from each of the four books:
- Gutenberg’s Bible: Just as Gutenberg's invention ignited a chain reaction of innovations studying its impact can provide a roadmap for navigating the coming wave of AI-driven advancements.
- La Comedia: Not all early endeavors will be groundbreaking. However, continued research and development have led to significant improvements.
- Aldine Virgil: Recognizing the true capabilities of AI, like the printing press, has the potential to democratize access to information. Aldus Manutius' Aldine Press transformed books into more personal knowledge devices, leveraging the technology to maximize reach and impact.
- Champ Fleury: Building upon existing strengths, figures like Geoffroy Tory used the printing press to establish standards and best practices, such as typeface design and page layout. Similarly, we can expect AI to lead to the development of new conventions for its control and integration.
AI has the potential to accelerate knowledge creation, technological advancements, and innovation, mirroring how these books shaped the printing press era. While AI's transformation will be long-lasting, significant changes may occur swiftly.
Da Vinci, a Gen-PrintPress Native
In 2019, a digital exhibition by the Museo Galileo in Florence sought to recreate the library of the universal genius. The exhibition offered a glimpse into Leonardo da Vinci's personal library at various times. Da Vinci, a towering figure of the Renaissance, emerged into a generation transformed by a revolutionary invention: the printing press.
Da Vinci was born on April 15th, 1452, when Gutenberg was already at work creating his Bible using the printing press technology that would open knowledge to Da Vinci and the world. Unlike previous generations reliant on rare, hand-copied manuscripts, Da Vinci entered a world where books were becoming increasingly accessible. The printing press arrived in Florence in 1471, and by the time La Comedia was published, Da Vinci owned several books and even designed improvements for the press itself.
By 1501, his library had expanded to 140 titles, encompassing a diverse range of subjects. Works from the prestigious Aldine Press provided access to cutting-edge scientific texts, classical literature, and contemporary scholarship. At his death in 1519, his collection likely numbered around 200 volumes, a testament to his insatiable curiosity.
The staggering growth of book publishing during Da Vinci's lifetime—from 5 million to 80 million titles by 1550—underscores the printing press's transformative power. This unprecedented access to knowledge undoubtedly fueled Da Vinci's polymathic genius, making him a quintessential product of his era.
Artificial Incunabula
Learning from the Dawn of Printing
The internet and advancements in data processing have democratized information access, mirroring the transformative impact of the printing press. However, the true power of the press wasn't just the technology itself, but the explosion of learning and knowledge it enabled. Similarly, AI's potential lies in its ability to unlock significant changes across numerous fields.
We are currently in a transitional phase for AI, akin to the period following Gutenberg's invention. Just as the early printing press revolutionized knowledge sharing, AI is now moving beyond initial imitations to establish the necessary frameworks for its control and integration into society, markets, and daily lives. This period of uncertainty reflects the nascent stage of AI development, offering the potential to discover applications beyond mere automation or mimicking existing tasks.
By embracing AI as an "assistive intelligence" tool, we can usher in a new era of creativity, productivity, and innovation. Similar to how Da Vinci leveraged books off the printing press to fuel his endeavors, we can consider these guiding principles:
Guiding Principles for AI Use
| Principle | Description |
|---|---|
| Focus on AI's Early Strengths | Leverage AI for tasks and questions that benefit from its analytical capabilities. |
| Balancing Innovation with Pragmatism | While pushing boundaries is crucial, understanding current capabilities is equally important. Setting realistic expectations allows us to manage initial limitations. |
| Discipline and Purpose | Maintain authenticity in endeavors that seek to utilize AI effectively. |
| Assisting Intelligence | Don't view AI as a replacement, but rather a collaborative tool. Building standards and guidelines for its practical use and collaboration is vital. |
Gutenberg's Bible showcased the potential of the printing press. Publishers who followed him recognized the need to create something new, not simply replicate existing methods. While some early printed materials faded into obscurity, others, like Aldine Virgil, sparked a revolution in learning and invention.
The success of AI can be measured by the new levels of literacy, learning, and knowledge it generates. These advancements could potentially spark a new generation of polymaths and geniuses akin to Da Vinci. Just as Lee Sedol elevated his Go game to new heights in response to the novel challenge presented by AlphaGo, human-AI collaboration can lead to breakthroughs beyond our current imagination.
Assisting Intelligence
Authentic Approach to the AI Age
Organizations, like early printers, stand at a crossroads. Some may choose to fully delegate tasks to AI systems, striving to maintain an illusion of human touch. Others might embark on bold experiments to leapfrog innovation, grappling with unforeseen consequences. Yet, others will seize opportunities to innovate new products and services. All these paths lead to the generation of new knowledge, thoughts, and ideas. Assisting Intelligence aims to aid organizations in establishing standards for knowledge construction and learning in the age of AI.
Assisting Intelligence posits that AI is not about replicating existing human skills or crafting a synthetic world. It's about harnessing AI's analytical prowess to empower human progress while preserving an authentic approach. "Assisting Intelligence: Build Authentic in the Age of AI" delves into this future. Part one provides a primer on the current state of AI, how to reshape learning for the AI age. Part two explores integrating AI with knowledge creation and development. Finally, the book tackles fostering effective collaboration for authentic learning, where AI plays a crucial role.
