Understanding the Dynamics of the AI Ecosystem with Pace Layers

When a sector goes too fast, it loses support Without a doubt, the pace of the AI ecosystem is dizzying. Just processing it all is difficult enough. Scaffolding it, finding themes, and understanding the shape of it is nearly impossible. Recently, Mike Migurski introduced me to Stewart Brand’s Pace Layers, a framework for organizing fields and categories by how fast they change. Brand writes: Consider the differently paced components to be layers. Each layer is functionally different from the others and operates somewhat independently, but each layer influences and responds to the layers closest to it in a way that makes the whole system resilient. From the fastest layers to the slowest layers in the system, the relationship can be described as follows: Fast learns, slow remembers. Fast proposes, slow disposes. Fast is discontinuous, slow is continuous. Fast and small instructs slow and big by accrued innovation and by occasional revolution. Slow and big controls small and fast by…