What Is Shaquille O’Neal’s History With AI? Exploring His Roller-Coaster Stand on New Technology, From Criticism to Latest Announcement

Shaquille O’Neal used to be a non-believer in Artificial Intelligence. He had been publicly disapproving of it, purporting a common argument against it. However, the prolific investor has a knack for recognizing the tech unicorns in their earliest incarnations. The biggest example is Google. Not long after declaring his stance against AI, he’s made a strong 180, seeing immense potential to help people.

Shaq has since shown more inclination toward AI in different ways. He’s not only funneling money into it, he’s enjoying the entertainment side and academic tools.

Shaquille O’Neal’s first stance on AI

A commercial powerhouse and regular supplier of memes, Shaquille O’Neal spoke about the influx of AI-generated memes online. He was wary about the growing reliance on the tech and the lack of accountability – a common argument regarding this field.

“One thing about artificial intelligence is if it comes up with a commercial that bombs, it’s not going to get blamed—you are,” he said in October. He encourages his creative team to use AI as a tool but is wary of dependence on it. Yet while he was denouncing AI, he shared AI-generated memes about Nikola Jokic and Scottie Pippen.

O’Neal has always been wary of changing technology and warned others to be careful, too. He was left burnt by cryptocurrency and advises everyone to tread lightly. The only business mantra that has worked for him is investing in helping others. That brought him to Edsoma.

The AI-based app promotes reading, education, and communication practices in kids. He usually does stock-plus-cash endorsement deals in Lyft, Oura, and Ring. O’Neal himself tried Edsoma and saw the potential in aiding remote learning. He invested an undisclosed sum and helped raise $2.5 million in the first seed round. Under his leadership, Edsoma is developing the app as a foreign language and ESL tool too.

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Speaking about Edsoma at the TechCrunch summit, O’Neal would reveal the high standards of education he held his six kids up to. With a BBA, MBA, and Ed. D., he says his generation had to depend on a borrowed encyclopedia. Whereas his kids have AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard, giving them no excuse to not use these resources to study.

AI Diesel is coming

O’Neal is understandably selective about his business interests, and his arguments about AI are valid. After some experience through Edsoma and more, Shaq is making his biggest AI investment yet.

Authentic Brands Group, which handles the licensing of Shaq’s name and likeness, has filed to trademark ‘ASK SHAQ’ and ‘SHAQ AI’ along with complementary technology in the US Patent and Trademarks office. Shaq, who is the second-biggest stakeholder in Authentic, pushed for an AI-based application to provide sports and entertainment news a few days before the trademarks were filed on Thursday.

We have to wait and see what Shaq is adding to the $454 billion AI industry. What he did specify with Edsoma is that it’s not about the money. He only wants to use AI right and bring smiles.

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