LLMs invert historical tech diffusion by reaching consumers before enterprise
Andrej Karpathy · Andrej Karpathy: Software Is Changing (Again) · Y Combinator · Jun 19, 2025 · at 12:56
Andrej Karpathy compares AI diffusion to historical transformative technologies like GPS, electricity, and early mainframe computing at YC's AI Startup School.
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“LLMs, like, flip, they flip the direction of technology diffusion, ah, that is usually, ah, present in technology. So, for example, with electricity, cryptography, computing, flight, internet, GPS, lots of new transformative technologies that have not been around, Typically, it is the government and corporations that are the first users because it's new and expensive, et cetera, and it only later diffuses to consumer. But I feel like LLMs are kind of like flipped around.”
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