The piece begins by framing the current understanding of artificial intelligence through the lens of distance, both temporal and spatial. It compares historical events, such as the fall of the Western Roman Empire, to the evolution of AI, noting that clarity often emerges only with time and perspective. Despite AI’s long history, the last few years have seen rapid advancements, particularly with the launch of ChatGPT and the transformer architecture. The author calls for ongoing dialogue about AI’s shape, emphasizing that understanding its current state is essential as its impact continues to unfold. The narrative shifts to describe AI's capabilities using the metaphor of a "jagged frontier." This concept illustrates that AI's proficiency is uneven across different tasks. Some areas, like chess, showcase superhuman performance, while in others, such as simple tasks a child might handle, AI struggles. This unevenness highlights a significant point: humans and AI are currently at a unique intersection of capability, where both can excel and fail in overlapping domains. The author critiques popular metaphors that oversimplify this relationship, pointing out that how we visualize AI shapes our understanding and predictions about its future. The article argues that the ongoing conversation about AI’s form is vital because it affects how society adopts and integrates these technologies. As companies rush to implement AI solutions, the lack of clarity about its potential and limitations creates an environment of uncertainty. The author emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of AI's capabilities, moving beyond simplistic narratives to grasp the complexities of its development and application.