Ask HN: Could PageRank Have Postponed the Development of Transformers and Modern AI?

The evolution of transformer technology is intertwined with Google’s innovations, showcasing how necessity drives progress.

Key insights include:

Foundational Influence: Without Google’s revenue from PageRank, the synthesis of compute power and data for transformer development may never have occurred.
Accelerated Development: The vast computational resources stemmed from advancements like distbelief in Search and Ads. Custom ASICs, or TPUs, were essential for reducing costs compared to traditional CPUs and GPUs.
Research Investment: The commitment to discretionary research fueled breakthroughs. This willingness to explore beyond immediate product applicability is crucial for technological advancements.
Transformers’ Roots: Emerging from neural machine translation, transformers represent a pivotal shift in AI capabilities.

For AI and tech enthusiasts, understanding these core elements illuminates the path of innovation.

🌟 Let’s spark a discussion! How do you see transformers shaping the future of AI? Share your thoughts below!