Now Entering The Co-Pilot Era: Generative AI Is 'A Gold Rush,' Google Veteran Says

Generative artificial intelligence, or GenAI, is revolutionizing storytelling, according to Bilawal Sidhu.

After spending six years at Alphabet Inc GOOGL GOOG, Sidhu is now creating viral content and advising businesses on how to supercharge their efforts with GenAI.

“TikTok and short-form video was the tip of the iceberg," he tells Benzinga. "As creative barriers crumble every few months, soon anyone will express themselves in any medium — witty words, melodic music, mesmerizing movies, or immersive games. The 1% game becomes anyone's game — all you need is a vision and an ability to work in concert with these large AI models that are a distillation of our documented knowledge and creativity. It’s the dawn of the co-pilot era.”

Various employers are paying big money for “prompt engineers” or “whisperers” who can instruct AI models to generate better outputs that bridge the gap between the AI hype and practical use cases.

Sidhu isn't surprised by the hype. His departure from Google, where he launched foundational platforms across augmented reality and virtual reality, positions him to participate in this continued disruption across industries.

“I sit in a unique place," Sidhu says. "You can create monetization opportunities by building organic reach and having subject matter expertise."

The "IKEAs of the world" may want to amp up the digital worlds they’re building, he explains. Before, large 3D teams filled with artists and technicians were needed. With AI, you can build these worlds at a fraction of the cost.

Sidhu boasts that today's businesses need individuals like him — experts versed in creative technology, and blending the physical and digital worlds — to elevate their brands and meet consumers where they are.

Sidhu also has a monetizable audience of more than a million engaged subscribers on YouTube and TikTok.

“I can get paid to collaborate with businesses while also helping their product teams revamp their own offerings” he says on his work with brands like Autodesk Inc ADSK. “It’s a gold rush.”

Sidhu also issued a warning: With great AI power comes great responsibility.

“Consumption platforms and their discovery algorithms must prioritize the well-being of creators and consumers as much as the massive monetization opportunities," he said. "We must wield these new AI capabilities responsibly, crafting a future that elevates the human experience and enriches the cultural landscape. The future of creative expression hangs in the balance.”

With AI, the next Walt Disney Co DIS could be a modern content influencer like Mr. Beast, Sidhu says, citing how venture capital will likely flow into text generation models and visual media.

"Leaving Google takes me full circle to my creator roots as an 11-year old," he says.