It’s the 1950s.

Elvis just recorded his first song, "That's All Right," at Sun Records in Memphis.

(Happy Birthday to the King—90 years today.)

Here, in the Fabulous Fifties, diners and drive-ins define the culture…

And the optimism of the post-war boom is palpable.

Computers, however, are massive, room-filling machines reserved for only the largest corporations, governments, or universities.

They’re slow, power-hungry, and unimaginably expensive.

Now imagine that, in this era, artificial intelligence—something like ChatGPT—emerges.

What would it look like?

Well, let’s start with the obvious.

AI in the Age of Elvis

The ‘50s were a time of peak centralization.

One telephone company (AT&T). Two superpowers (the United States and the Soviet Union). Three TV networks (ABC, NBC, CBS).

Everything revolved around a few massive players controlling the infrastructure of communication, culture, and power.

Also, mid-century US was far more corporatist than entrepreneurial.

Computing wasn’t much different.

Early data centers, though primitive by today’s standards, were essentially fortresses—physical spaces dominated by mainframes like the UNIVAC, owned and operated by a select few.

If AI like ChatGPT had been released back then, its potential would’ve been fully locked up in the hands of maybe one or two companies.

Think of a hypothetical “General AI Corporation,” controlling every aspect of this new technology.

They’d own the data centers, the hardware, and the intellectual property.

All of it.

To access it, you’d probably dial a rotary phone, connecting to massive data centers where operators manually transcribed queries.

Responses would come slowly, with long pauses and high costs.

AI wouldn’t be a collaborator—it would be a distant oracle, locked in brutalist fortresses filled with fragile vacuum tubes.

Worse, a single failure could bring the system down, and with just a few companies in control, innovation was stifled.

But this isn’t the 1950s.

AI today operates in a radically different ecosystem…

One where bigger doesn’t always mean better.

Life on the Edge

Today, thousands of data centers, from hyperscale giants like Amazon and Google to smaller regional players, drive global computing power.

Fierce competition on cost, efficiency, and innovation ensures constant improvement and wider accessibility.

The world itself has also shifted to far more multipolarity since the debut of ‘I Love Lucy’.

While the U.S. and China lead, new nations, companies, and startups are reshaping the balance of power.

Open-source initiatives and nimble innovators often set the pace, forcing tech giants to adapt—or risk being left behind.

And the biggest transformation set to shake up the next couple of years? The rise of edge computing.

Specifically Edge AI—where computation happens closer to the user—which brings the power of AI directly to your smartphone, car, and even household appliances.

That’s why, for good reason, it’s getting some spotlight this week in Vegas.

Edge Computing Shines at CES 2025

One of the dominant trends at CES 2025 is the migration of AI capabilities from centralized cloud systems to decentralized edge devices.

This transition is being driven by three primary needs:

First, there’s reduced latency. Local AI processing ensures faster responses for time-sensitive applications like autonomous vehicles and real-time gaming.

Second, enhanced privacy. Edge computing allows sensitive data to remain on the device, minimizing risks associated with transmitting information to the cloud.

And last but not least: efficiency.

Distributing workloads between cloud and edge systems optimizes power and processing resources.

As you saw yesterday, Nvidia had plenty to say.

One of the most notable edge computing announcements was Project DIGITS, Nvidia's first desktop AI supercomputer.

But Nvidia wasn’t the only one pushing edge computing closer to the mainstream.

Intel unveiled its "Core Ultra" series, designed specifically to handle AI workloads directly on PCs.

Qualcomm showcased its vision for AI-driven personal devices with its Snapdragon X platform.

This would allow devices to process complex tasks like predictive analytics and image recognition without reliance on cloud services.

And, the rub:

When Elvis blended country, blues, and gospel into rock ‘n’ roll, it marked a turning point in music—creating something entirely new.

Today, AI is at a similar crossroads.

It’s not just about a few towering players.

Intelligence is moving to the edge. AI is becoming more local, personalized, and more niche.

Small is becoming the new big.

And, as usual, we’re on the hunt for the BIGGEST opportunities in this space.