# Is AI a “Normal Technology”? – O’Reilly

**Source:** https://www.oreilly.com/radar/is-ai-a-normal-technology/

## Summary

- • The perception of AI as an unprecedented technology is challenged, suggesting it follows patterns similar to past technological revolutions like electrification and the internet.

- • The pace of technological change is influenced more by adoption rates and human adaptation than by the speed of innovation itself.

- • A four-stage framework for technology adoption is proposed: invention, product development, diffusion, and adaptation, emphasizing that human behavior and organizational responses are critical.

- • Historical examples, such as the transition from coal to electrification, illustrate how technology's benefits are realized through infrastructure and behavioral changes.

- • AI's potential impact on software is discussed, highlighting a shift towards customizing software for individual client needs rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

- • The notion of AI as a "normal technology" implies that fears of AI running amok are exaggerated, as safety can be addressed through established market and regulatory frameworks.

- • Human agency plays a vital role in shaping AI's development and adoption, allowing society to influence its trajectory.

- • The discussion includes the importance of labor law over copyright in addressing justice for creators affected by AI, advocating for new business models that ensure fair compensation.

- • Education reform is advocated, encouraging continuous learning and practical contributions from students, leveraging AI to enhance engagement and relevance in learning experiences.

- • Overall, the document emphasizes the importance of understanding AI within the context of historical technology adoption and the need for societal agency in shaping its future.

## Key Information

### Extracted Entities

**Keyword:** companies, different, future, normal, software, stage, technology, think, using, world

**Location:** AI, Princeton, Us

**Organization:** GPUs, Normal Technology

**Person:** AI, Arvind, Arvind Narayanan, Lao Tzu, Sam Altman, Sayash Kapoor, Stewart Brand, Tim O’Reilly, Witter Bynner

### Referenced Links

- [here](https://youtu.be/Q9OHYw7Lyko)

- [screenwriters guild went on strike about AI and won](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/hollywood-writers-went-on-strike-to-protect-their-livelihoods-from-generative-ai-their-remarkable-victory-matters-for-all-workers/)

- [here](https://learning.oreilly.com/videos/live-with-tim/0642572022182/)

- [Golden Rule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule)

- [WTF? What’s the Future and Why It’s Up to Us](https://www.oreilly.com/tim/wtf-book.html)

*... and 6 more links*

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*Shared from Contexst on Aug 20, 2025 at 14:03*