CONCEPTS & TURNING POINTS / 1 MIN READ
The Generative and Agentic Era (2020–present)
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From 2020, AI shifted toward large generative models and autonomous agents. This sub-article expands Section 7 of History and complements Recent Topics.
Large Language Models
- GPT-2, GPT-3, GPT-4 and open models like Llama demonstrated few-shot learning, code generation, and general text understanding.
- Scaling laws showed predictable gains from compute, data, and parameters.
Multimodal and Generative Models
- Models now process text, image, audio, and video together.
- Diffusion models (DALL·E, Stable Diffusion, Sora) generate images and video from text.
Agents and Tool Use
- Models increasingly act as agents: planning, calling tools, browsing, and taking actions.
- Frameworks (LangChain, ReAct, computer-use agents) connect models to the world. See Agents & Tooling.
Safety and Governance
- Frontier labs publish safety evals; the EU AI Act (2024) and international summits address risk. See AI Safety.
Why It Matters
This era made AI broadly accessible and consequential, shifting the debate from capability to alignment, safety, and societal impact.
Sources
- OpenAI. GPT-3 Language Models are Few-Shot Learners (2020).
- European Parliament. AI Act (2024).
Back to History · See Recent Topics.