Five things you need to know about AI

google — at SXSW London last week I gave a talk called “Five things you need to know about AI,” in which I shared what I think are the biggest themes in AI right now. I pulled a few things from our first AI10 list, an annual guide to the most important trends in this buzzy world, but I also veered off on a number of tangents.

In my half-hour slot, I tried to cover the key talking points that I think help to make sense of what’s going on in tech—and thus the economy—today.   (I gave a talk with the same title at SXSW London last year with five different things you needed to know. A lot has happened since then!) So: This is how I’m thinking about AI midway through 2026. Let me know if you would pick different points! 1. Strictly speaking, I didn’t need to show up to give this talk. Tongue in cheek? Maybe. But generative AI tools have already become mundane, used by millions to automate everyday office tasks (including producing and delivering talks). It’s no surprise that one of the biggest questions out there right now is what this all means for jobs. People are confused and scared.