Bucephalus

Dangerous power emanated from the big, muscular horse.

King Philip II of Macedon was a bit of an equestrian, always on the lookout for powerful, fast horses to be used in his endless conquests. When the Thessalian merchant brought the beautiful black steed to his court, Philip had to have him.

After repeated attempts to tame this horse they called Bucephalus, nothing worked. The horse would immediately rear up and throw anyone who tried to mount him off, violently ending their ambitions to ride this most magnificent muscular machine.

Today, an electricity ran among the crowd that had gathered under the sweltering sun, their voices a low murmur, thick with anticipation. Bucephalus’s rippling musculature underneath a shining black coat hinted at the incredible potential, if only this horse could be tamed, but the wide and darting eyes reflected a world of threats.

When Bucephalus snorted, everyone flinched.

Into this little circle, a 13-year-old kid confidently stepped. This was Alexander, Philip’s son, destined to rule Macedon one day—but until today, considered a child.

Alexander approached Bucephalus gracefully and slowly. He spoke so quietly that the crowd couldn’t even hear the words he said, but Bucephalus did. The crowd, now on edge, wondered whether they might witness a young prince get kicked in the head today.

Young Alexander noticed something particular about Bucephalus’s behavior. Every time he saw his own shadow, he immediately freaked out, becoming startled, lashing out. Pointing Bucephalus toward the sun, Alexander was able to slowly gain the horse’s trust. The horse’s snorting had turned to breathing, and then the breathing had begun to slow as the teen kid slowly stroked his mane.

Finally, Alexander climbed on top of Bucephalus. There was a moment of uncertain tension, and then acceptance of a new partnership.

As Alexander guided Bucephalus in a triumphant walk around the field, a sense of wonder blanketed the onlookers. The air, once thick with tension, now pulsed with awe and admiration. In this moment, a legendary bond was forged.

In the same way that those Macedonian onlookers marveled at the power and beauty of Bucephalus, we are gazing with wonder upon our creations today. Like Alexander approaching the all-powerful steed, we should be aware that the long-term benefits could easily be overshadowed by the potential for catastrophic harm.

In the same way that Bucephalus was frightened by his own shadow, our own inventions have begun to startle us into alarm.

Throughout history, we have witnessed how technology, like a wild horse, can throw us off if approached recklessly. The rapid rise of industrialization brought unparalleled progress, but also unforeseen environmental and social repercussions.

Nuclear technology, while promising boundless energy, casts a long shadow of existential threat over humanity.

The Internet and social media, once heralded as tools for global unity and knowledge dissemination, have also become platforms for misinformation, privacy violations, and mental health crises.

Alexander’s approach to Bucephalus was about carefully considering his approach before attempting to partner with the powerful steed. This wasn’t just about physical mastery; it was about deep understanding.

If we are to partner with artificial intelligence, we ought to approach with extreme caution, circle around a few times, and take the time to note when the sun is in our potential partner’s eyes. We should take the time to learn the language of the horse, so to speak, and get to know what AI really is and how it works before trying to use it for our benefit.

Have you met our world?

This isn’t the way things are going. Instead, we have a massive prisoner’s dilemma, encapsulating the entire world in a game where nobody can blink or slow down, lest their rivals gain market share (or geopolitical power). Folks who called for an AI pause are being dwarfed by those who are on the sidelines screaming, “Go, go, go!”

Alexander and Bucephalus eventually formed a partnership that would become legendary. Can we attain a similarly harmonious relationship with our technology? We need to face the reality that the careful, slow circling Alexander used isn’t really in the cards for us. Instead, we’ll have to learn how to tame this horse while we are already on its back.

We need policymakers who are nimble and adaptive, who can understand and regulate technology even as it evolves at breakneck speed. Education systems need to be revamped quickly, in order to prepare upcoming generations for a world so driven by tech as to be unrecognizable today.

The ability to solve problems we can’t foresee means we need to focus on problem-solving itself, so we need to emphasize critical thinking above all else, not specific skills.

Our success will not be defined by how quickly we advance, but by how wisely we navigate the path ahead. The future of technology is not just in the hands of those who build it, but also in those who guide its course thoughtfully, ensuring that, like Alexander and Bucephalus, we have a healthy partnership with our technology.

We’re all a part of this discussion.