I drove 3,000 miles and saw the America AI is leaving behind

Lewis Liu embarked on a nine-day journey to Silicon Valley, highlighting America's potential to be left behind. The journey reflected America's history, where pioneers traveled west in search of better opportunities, often facing dangerous conditions. His family's drive contrasted with the historical westward expansion as they traveled in a modern vehicle, with the ultimate goal of AI-related success.

Liu was struck by the places left behind during his road trip, such as a boarded-up restaurant in Wheeling, West Virginia, and an oversized object-filled town in Casey, Illinois. These examples exemplified America's ability to innovate and create, even in economically struggling areas. As the trip progressed, the vastness of the country became apparent, as they drove through prairies, mountains, and deserts, eventually reaching the Rockies.

While the journey was long and mostly uneventful, it prompted Liu to contemplate America's strengths in individual action, such as entrepreneurship, but its shortcomings in collective action, such as addressing climate change and infrastructure. The story underscores the complex interplay between America's past, present, and future, revealing both its potential and challenges.