Artificial Intelligence Archives

OpenAI’s Strawberry

Happening quickly…

Exclusive: OpenAI working on new reasoning technology under code name ‘Strawberry’ | Reuters:

The document describes a project that uses Strawberry models with the aim of enabling the company’s AI to not just generate answers to queries but to plan ahead enough to navigate the internet autonomously and reliably to perform what OpenAI terms “deep research,” according to the source. This is something that has eluded AI models to date, according to interviews with more than a dozen AI researchers.

AI’s Awful Energy Consumption

Be mindful and intentional with technology tools…

Google and Microsoft report growing emissions as they double-down on AI : NPR:

“One query to ChatGPT uses approximately as much electricity as could light one light bulb for about 20 minutes,” he says. “So, you can imagine with millions of people using something like that every day, that adds up to a really large amount of electricity.”

Thrive AI Health from OpenAI Founder

Fascinating read from Sam Altman and Ariana Huffington here as they release Thrive AI Health, which will be something of an AI coach backed by OpenAI / ChatGPT. Combining this with Apple Intelligence is going to be interesting…

AI-Driven Behavior Change Could Transform Health Care | TIME:

Using AI in this way would also scale and democratize the life-saving benefits of improving daily habits and address growing health inequities. Those with more resources are already in on the power of behavior change, with access to trainers, chefs, and life coaches. But since chronic diseases—like diabetes and cardiovascular disease—are distributed unequally across demographics, a hyper-personalized AI health coach would help make healthy behavior changes easier and more accessible. For instance, it might recommend a healthy, inexpensive recipe that can be quickly made with few ingredients to replace a fast-food dinner.

My Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence

A client reached out and asked if I could put together a “beginner’s guide to AI” for them and their team a little while ago. I thought long and hard on the topic as I have so much excitement for the possibilities but so much trepidation about the impacts (especially to individuals in careers that will be threatened by the mass adoption of AI). Apple’s announcement this month that they are infusing iPhones with ChatGPT intelligence only drives that home. We are in a time of transition, and I want my own clients but anyone running a business or working in a sector that will be affected (which is every sector) to be prepared or at least mindful of what’s coming.

So, I put this together in a more expanded format with charts, examples, etc, but this is a good outline of the main points. I thought it would maybe help some others, and my client graciously said I could post this as a result. Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions!

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a topic that’s constantly buzzing around us. Whether you’ve heard about it in the context of ChatGPT, Apple Intelligence, Microsoft’s Copilot, or self-driving cars, AI is transforming the way we live, work, and even think. If you’re like many people, you might be on the fence about diving into this technology. You might know what ChatGPT is but aren’t quite sure if it’s something you should use. Let’s break down the benefits and costs to help you understand why AI deserves your attention.

The Benefits of Embracing AI

Efficiency and Productivity

One of the most compelling reasons to embrace AI is its ability to enhance efficiency. In our busy lives, whether managing businesses, marketing campaigns, or family time, finding ways to streamline tasks can be a game-changer. AI can help automate mundane tasks, organize your day, and even draft your emails. Imagine having a virtual assistant who never sleeps, always ready to help you.

For instance, AI-powered scheduling tools can help you manage your calendar more effectively by automatically setting up meetings and sending reminders. This means less time spent on administrative tasks and more time dedicated to what truly matters – growing your business, strategizing your marketing efforts, or spending quality time with your family.

Personalization

AI can personalize experiences in ways we’ve never seen before. For marketers, this means creating targeted campaigns that resonate on a personal level. However, AI can analyze data to understand preferences, behaviors, and patterns, allowing for a more customized approach in almost any field.

Imagine being able to offer each customer or client a unique experience that caters to their needs and interests. This personalized approach can significantly enhance engagement and loyalty. In marketing, AI can help create highly targeted content that speaks directly to the needs and interests of your audience, increasing engagement and conversion rates.

Access to Information

The vast amounts of data generated daily can be overwhelming whether you’re solo, on a team, or working in the C-Suite. AI can sift through this information and give you the insights you need. Whether you’re researching a new marketing strategy, preparing for a presentation, or just curious about a topic, AI can help you find relevant and accurate information quickly.

Think about how AI-powered search engines and research tools can simplify the process of gathering information. Instead of sifting through endless articles and papers, AI can provide the most pertinent sources, saving you time and effort. This is especially valuable in professional settings where timely and accurate information is crucial.

Creativity and Innovation

AI isn’t just about number-crunching; it’s also a tool for creativity. Tools like ChatGPT or Copilot or Gemini or Claude can help brainstorm ideas, generate creative content, and even compose poetry. It’s like having a creative partner who can help you think outside the box and explore new possibilities.

As someone who values creativity, imagine having an AI that can help you brainstorm new marketing ideas, create engaging content for your campaigns, or even assist in writing your next blog post. AI can inspire new ways of thinking and help you push the boundaries of your creativity. It’s not just for writing high school papers, but there are very tangible ways to use AI to spur new insights and not just “do the work for you.”

The Costs and Considerations

Privacy Concerns

I’m a huge privacy and security nerd. I take this very seriously with my own personal digital (and non-digital) life as well as that of my family members. One of the main concerns people have with AI is privacy. AI systems often rely on large amounts of data, some of which might be personal. It’s essential to be aware of what data you’re sharing and how it’s being used. Look for AI tools that prioritize data security and transparency if you’re using AI in any sort of corporate or work-related output.

For instance, when using AI tools, always check their privacy policies and opt for those that offer robust data protection measures. Be mindful of the information you input into these systems and ensure that sensitive data is handled appropriately. Balancing the benefits of AI with the need to protect personal privacy is crucial.

Dependence and Skill Degradation

There’s a valid concern that relying too much on AI could lead to a degradation of our skills. Just like relying on a calculator too much can weaken basic arithmetic skills, leaning heavily on AI might impact our ability to perform specific tasks independently. It’s important to strike a balance and use AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, our capabilities. As someone who has worked in education with middle and high schoolers, I especially feel this need to train and model this balance.

Consider using AI as a complement to your existing skills rather than a crutch. For example, while AI can help draft emails or create marketing strategies, reviewing and personalizing these outputs is still important. This way, you maintain your proficiency while benefiting from AI’s efficiency. AI systems are constantly being developed and will continue to improve, but there are very real examples of businesses and even attorneys and physicians using AI output that was later proven to be false or misleading. Be wise.

Ethical Considerations

AI raises a host of ethical questions. How should AI be used? What are its implications for decision-making processes? These questions are close to my heart as someone interested in theology and ethics. It’s crucial to consider the moral dimensions of AI and ensure that its development and deployment align with our values.

Engage in discussions about AI ethics and stay informed about how AI technologies are being developed and used. Advocate for ethical AI practices that prioritize fairness, transparency, and accountability. By doing so, we can help shape a future where AI benefits everyone.

We are constantly hearing stats about the number of jobs (and incomes) that AI replace in 1, 5, or 10 years. I do believe we are in for a societal shift. I do not want people to suffer and lose their jobs or careers. However, AI is not going away. How can you or your business manage that delicate balance in the most ethical way possible?

Economic Impact

AI is reshaping industries, which can lead to job displacement. While AI creates new opportunities, it also means that some roles may become obsolete. Preparing for these changes involves continuous learning and adaptability. It’s important to equip ourselves and our teams with the skills needed in an AI-driven world.

Promote the development of skills that are complementary to AI, such as critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Encourage yourself or your team to pursue fields that leverage AI technology, ensuring they remain competitive in the evolving job market. Emphasizing lifelong learning will help individuals adapt to the changes brought about by AI.

Embracing AI: A Balanced Approach

AI is a powerful tool with immense potential, but it also has its share of challenges. As we navigate this new landscape, it’s essential to approach AI with a balanced perspective. Embrace the benefits it offers, but remain vigilant about the costs and ethical implications.

For those still hesitant, I encourage you to experiment with AI tools like ChatGPT. Start small, see how it can assist you in your daily tasks, and gradually integrate it into your workflow. AI isn’t just a trend; it’s a transformation that’s here to stay. By understanding and leveraging AI, we can better prepare ourselves and our businesses for the future.

Explore AI Tools

Begin by exploring AI tools that can assist you in your daily activities. For example, try using ChatGPT for drafting emails, creating marketing strategies, or brainstorming ideas. Experiment with AI-powered scheduling tools to manage your calendar more efficiently.

Educate Yourself

Stay informed about AI developments and their implications by reading articles, attending webinars, and participating in discussions about AI. Understanding the technology and its potential impact will help you make informed decisions about its use. As always, reach out to me if you have any questions.

Balance AI Use with Skill Development

While leveraging AI, ensure that you continue to develop your own skills. Use AI as a supplement rather than a replacement. For example, review and personalize AI-generated content to maintain your proficiency. Find online webinars that are geared towards AI trainings or demos that you can attend or review. There’s plenty of videos on YouTube, but be wise and discerning as your attention is more valuable than quality content on many of those channels.

Advocate for Ethical AI

Engage in conversations about AI ethics and advocate for practices that prioritize fairness, transparency, and accountability. Stay informed about how AI technologies are being developed and used, and support initiatives that align with your values. Whatever your industry or profession, there’s room (and economic incentive) for conversations about ethics in the realm of AI.

Prepare for the (YOUR) Future

Encourage yourself or your team to develop skills that complement AI technology. Promote critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Emphasize the importance of lifelong learning to adapt to the evolving job market. Critical thinkers will be the key decision makers in 2034 100x more than they are today in 2024.

Final Thoughts

Artificial Intelligence is a transformative force that’s reshaping our world in profound ways. By understanding and embracing AI, we can unlock new levels of efficiency, personalization, creativity, and innovation.

However, navigating this landscape with a balanced perspective is crucial, considering the costs and ethical implications. Be wise. Be kind. Be efficient. The future feels uncertain and this is technology that will literally transform humanity more than the internet, more than electromagnetism, more than automobiles… we are entering a new age in every facet of our lives both personally and professionally. I don’t want to scare you, but I do want you and your team to be prepared.

For those still on the fence, I encourage you to take the plunge and explore AI’s potential. Start small, experiment with different tools, and see how they can enhance your daily activities. AI isn’t just a passing trend; it’s a revolution that’s here to stay. By leveraging AI wisely, we can better prepare ourselves and our businesses for the future.

And as always… stay curious!

Book Review: John Longhurst’s Can Robots Love God and Be Saved?

As someone with a rich background in the cutting-edge side of marketing and technology (and education) and someone often referred to as a futurist but is fascinated with ethical and theological impacts and contexts, I found John Longhurst’s “Can Robots Love God and Be Saved?” (CMU Press 2024) to be a fascinating exploration of the convergence between cutting-edge technology, ethical considerations, and theological inquiry. This book speaks directly to my passions and professional experiences, offering a unique perspective on the future of faith in a rapidly evolving world where concepts such as artificial intelligence (and AGI) must be considered through both technological and theological lenses.

A seasoned religion reporter in Canada, John Longhurst tackles various topics that bridge faith and modern societal challenges. The book is structured into sections that address different aspects of faith in contemporary life, including mental health, societal obligations, and the intriguing possibilities of artificial intelligence within religious contexts. Those are constructed out of interviews and perspectives from Longhurt’s interviews with a wide variety of cast and characters.

Longhurst discusses the ongoing challenges many face with mental illness and the role faith communities play in providing support. This aligns with my work in consulting and education, emphasizing the need for understanding and empathy in addressing situations such as mental health issues, whether in the classroom or the broader community. He also delves into the discussion on Christians’ duty to pay taxes and support societal welfare, raising essential questions about the practical application of faith from various personas and perspectives. I found this particularly relevant when contemplating the intersection of personal beliefs and civic responsibility, echoing ethical marketing practices and corporate social responsibility principles.

Exploring the deep bonds between humans and their pets, Longhurst touches on the theological implications of animals in heaven. This can be a fascinating topic in environmental science discussions, highlighting the interconnectedness of all life forms and reflecting on how technology (like AI in pets) might change our relationships with animals. The book also delves into ethical concerns about government surveillance from a religious standpoint, providing an excellent case study for understanding the balance between security and privacy rights—a crucial consideration in both marketing and technology sectors where data privacy is paramount.

One of the most thought-provoking sections of the book delves into AI’s potential role in religious practices. Longhurst’s exploration of whether robots can participate in spiritual activities and even achieve salvation is a direct intersection of my interests in technology and ethics. It raises profound questions about the future of faith, challenging traditional theological boundaries and offering a glimpse into future innovations in religious practice.

Longhurst also examines how religious communities can address the loneliness epidemic, which I found particularly engaging. The sense of belonging and support provided by faith groups is mirrored in the need for community in education and the workplace. Technology, mainly social media and AI, can play a role in mitigating loneliness, but it also highlights the need for genuine human connections. That’s also one of my motivators for exploring when setting up a marketing strategy: How does this product/service/technology help establish more genuine human connectivity?

Additionally, the book ponders the existence of extraterrestrial life and its implications for religious beliefs. This speculative yet fascinating topic can engage students in critical thinking about humanity’s place in the universe, much like futuristic marketing strategies encourage us to envision new possibilities and innovations. This is a hot topic, with other books such as American Cosmos making many “must read” lists this year, along with general interest in extraterrestrial / non-human intelligence / Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP) / Non-Human Intelligence (NHI) very much in cultural conversations these days.

Longhurst’s exploration of AI and its potential spiritual implications is particularly compelling from a marketing and technology perspective. As someone who thrives on being at the cutting edge, this book fuels my imagination about the future intersections of technology and spirituality. The ethical questions raised about AI’s role in religious practices are reminiscent of the debates we have in marketing about the ethical use of AI and data analytics.

The work is a thought-provoking collection that challenges readers to consider the evolving role of faith amidst technological advancements. Longhurst’s ability to tackle complex and often controversial topics with nuance and empathy makes this book a valuable resource for educators, faith leaders, technologists, and marketers alike. It provides a rich tapestry of discussions that can be seamlessly integrated into lessons on environmental science, ethics, technology, and even literature in a succinct and “quick-read” fashion.

“Can Robots Love God and Be Saved?” is a compelling exploration of how faith intersects with some of the most pressing issues of our time. It is a fascinating read for anyone interested in understanding the future of spirituality in a world increasingly shaped by technology based on first-hand considerations rather than a purely academic or “one-sided” perspective. For those of us on the cutting edge, whether in marketing, technology, or education, this book offers a profound and thought-provoking look at the possibilities and challenges ahead.

Good read!

Artificial Intelligence That Predicts Anxiety

AI predicts anxiety | University of Cincinnati:

The system represents a “concierge prototype” of a tool that could be an app for medical professionals, hospitals or the military to identify those who have an urgent risk of anxiety.

AI Video Generators

OpenAI’s Sora is impressive but the amount of text-to-video AI generators we’re seeing released (especially from China) points to a very real moment that we all need to pause and reflect upon. The coming year (I would’ve said the coming 2-3 years back in March) is going to be fascinating, haunting, and challenging all at once…

Introducing Gen-3 Alpha: A New Frontier for Video Generation:

Gen-3 Alpha is the first of an upcoming series of models trained by Runway on a new infrastructure built for large-scale multimodal training. It is a major improvement in fidelity, consistency, and motion over Gen-2, and a step towards building General World Models.

Accelerationism: What Are We Doing to Ourselves?

Here’s your word for today as Apple’s WWDC looks to include an announcement of a major partnership with OpenAI (the folks behind ChatGPT) to make Siri much closer to an artificial intelligence (or “Apple Intelligence” as the marketing goes) assistant.

Accelerationism.

It’s a term that’s been used in the tech world for years, but the mindset (mind virus?) has really reached new levels in the post-ChatGPT 4 era that we now live in before what feels like an imminent release of something even more powerful in the coming months or years.

Here’s an article from 2017 about the term accelerationism and accelerationists:

Accelerationism: how a fringe philosophy predicted the future we live in – The Guardian:

Accelerationists argue that technology, particularly computer technology, and capitalism, particularly the most aggressive, global variety, should be massively sped up and intensified – either because this is the best way forward for humanity, or because there is no alternative. Accelerationists favour automation. They favour the further merging of the digital and the human. They often favour the deregulation of business, and drastically scaled-back government. They believe that people should stop deluding themselves that economic and technological progress can be controlled. They often believe that social and political upheaval has a value in itself.

With my mind heavy on what the Apple / OpenAI partnership might look like before WWDC starts in just a few minutes (it feels like this could be an important moment for historical events), Ted Gioia made this thought-provoking post on the realization that we are doing to ourselves what Dr. Calhoun did to his poor mice (unknowingly) in the 1960’s famous Universe 25 experiment.

It’s worth your time to read this and ponder our own current situation.

Is Silicon Valley Building Universe 25? – by Ted Gioia:

Even today, Dr. Calhoun’s bold experiment—known as Universe 25—demands our attention. In fact, we need to study Universe 25 far more carefully today, because zealous tech accelerationists—that’s now a word, by the way—aim to create something comparable for human beings.What would you do if AI took care of all your needs?

After being in the classroom for the last three years of “post-Covid” education and seeing how many young people are absolutely struggling with mental health (and how little schools of any sort, from public to private such as the ones where I taught, are doing to help them), it’s shocking that we’ll send stocks soaring on big tech news today that will make our swipes and screen time increase and lead us further down the primrose path of a future of disconnected violence and mental health disaster.

OpenAI’s Lens on the Near Future

Newton has the best take I’ve read (and I’ve read a lot) on the ongoing OpenAI / Sam Altman situation… worth your time:

OpenAI’s alignment problem – by Casey Newton – Platformer:

At the same time, though, it’s worth asking whether we would still be so down on OpenAI’s board had Altman been focused solely on the company and its mission. There’s a world where an Altman, content to do one job and do it well, could have managed his board’s concerns while still building OpenAI into the juggernaut that until Friday it seemed destined to be.

That outcome seems preferable to the world we now find ourselves in, where AI safety folks have been made to look like laughingstocks, tech giants are building superintelligence with a profit motive, and social media flattens and polarizes the debate into warring fandoms. OpenAI’s board got almost everything wrong, but they were right to worry about the terms on which we build the future, and I suspect it will now be a long time before anyone else in this industry attempts anything other than the path of least resistance.

AI Assistants and Education in 5 Years According to Gates

I do agree with his take on what education will look like for the vast majority of young and old people with access to the web in the coming decade. Needless to say, AI is going to be a big driver of what it means to learn and how most humans experience that process in more authentic ways than currently available…

AI is about to completely change how you use computers | Bill Gates:

In the next five years, this will change completely. You won’t have to use different apps for different tasks. You’ll simply tell your device, in everyday language, what you want to do. And depending on how much information you choose to share with it, the software will be able to respond personally because it will have a rich understanding of your life. In the near future, anyone who’s online will be able to have a personal assistant powered by artificial intelligence that’s far beyond today’s technology.

Inside a Genius Mind: Leonardo’s Notebooks

Amazing web app here (bottom link to direct Google Experiment) focused on major themes in Leonardo’s notebooks and connecting them with machine learning. I’m a huge fan of notebooks, and I use the example of Leonardo keeping his thoughts in them all the time with my own students.

If you’re like me and really into Leonardo’s “notebooking” practices and history, I highly suggest you check out the videos Adam Savage has done on his Tested YouTube channel. Wonderful and inspiring videos. May we all find something that moves us in such a way!

Leonardo da Vinci: Inside a genius mind post:

From the stages of his life to dispelling myths, and examining his masterpieces up close, everyone can delve into Leonardo’s mind as we’ve brought together for the first time 1,300 pages from his collections of volumes and notebooks. The codices, brimming sketches, ideas, and observations, offer a window into the boundless imagination of one of history’s greatest polymaths. With the aid of Machine Learning and the curatorial expertise of Professor Martin Kemp, the accompanying experiment also called “Inside a Genius Mind” unravels these intriguing and sometimes mysterious materials.

Full experiment here!

What Happens to the Web Now?

Artificial Intelligence might usher in something like a return to curated web experiences. This article is presented in a very “anti-AI” posture, but it also raises the idea that what happens to the web after AI completely saturates online content (and discovery through search and googling, etc.) is a realization that humans are pretty good at curating stuff for other humans.

Hence, making a Spotify playlist for someone special is still just as engaging as when we used cassette tapes in the 80s and 90s to do the same.

My personal wish is that we all go back to the notion of personal blogging or at least small and niche online communities with things like guestbooks (go sign mine… just set up today!) and Blogrolls to point us in interesting directions rather than relying on TikTok’s algorithms…

AI is killing the old web, and the new web struggles to be born – The Verge:

This is the same complaint identified by Stack Overflow’s mods: that AI-generated misinformation is insidious because it’s often invisible. It’s fluent but not grounded in real-world experience, and so it takes time and expertise to unpick. If machine-generated content supplants human authorship, it would be hard — impossible, even — to fully map the damage. And yes, people are plentiful sources of misinformation, too, but if AI systems also choke out the platforms where human expertise currently thrives, then there will be less opportunity to remedy our collective errors.

It’s a Different Sort of Revolution

I don’t think we’re prepared to understand how AI (especially more advanced generative AIs) will impact what we currently consider career jobs… especially for those with advanced degrees.

This represents a stark difference in past societal shifts when physical labor-focused employment and careers were impacted…

Biggest Losers of AI Boom Are Knowledge Workers, McKinsey Says – Bloomberg:

In that respect, it may be the opposite of significant technology upgrades of the past, which often came at the expense of occupations where workers had fewer educational qualifications and got paid less. Many were performing physical tasks — like the British textile workers who smashed up new cost-saving weaving machines, a movement that became known as the Luddites.

By contrast, the new shift “will challenge the attainment of multiyear degree credentials,” McKinsey said.

Ghost in the Machine

“If I didn’t know exactly what it was, which is this computer program we built recently, I’d think it was a 7-year-old, 8-year-old kid that happens to know physics,” said Lemoine, 41.

Source: Google engineer Blake Lemoine thinks its LaMDA AI has come to life – The Washington Post

Harrelson Agency and Google’s New Responsive Search Ads

At Harrelson Agency, we manage a number of Google Ads campaigns (formerly AdWords as of July 24, 2018) for clients. Simply put, there’s really no better way to drive web traffic to a site or a landing page regardless of your budget, size, or goal. Whether you’re selling stuff, raising awareness, or trying to get more people into the door of your business or church, there’s a clear return on investment for a well-run Google Ads campaign.

We’ve been writing, tweaking, and managing these ads for years. I often tell clients its part science and part art to make everything work correctly. That may change a little after today…

Consumers today are more curious, more demanding, and they expect to get things done faster because of mobile. As a result, they expect your ads to be helpful and personalized. Doing this isn’t easy, especially at scale. That’s why we’re introducing responsive search ads. Responsive search ads combine your creativity with the power of Google’s machine learning to help you deliver relevant, valuable ads.

Simply provide up to 15 headlines and 4 description lines, and Google will do the rest. By testing different combinations, Google learns which ad creative performs best for any search query. So people searching for the same thing might see different ads based on context.

Via Google Ads Blog

Google is rolling out its new “responsive search ads” from beta today, and it does have the potential to reshape a number of processes that marketers like us use for ad campaigns. I doubt that we’ll give up on the fun whiteboard sessions where we throw ideas into the open that produce the basis for most of our managed campaigns, and I’m sure I’ll still have those “shower moment” epiphanies where the perfect headline text pops into my mind as I’m applying shampoo, but I am excited about what this could mean for our clients.

There’s no doubt in my mind that a great deal of the processes we use to build websites or manage Ads campaigns on Google and Facebook or to create memorable billboard taglines or to even write strategic plan documents will be automated and “responsive” as Google says in the coming decade. That’s why I’m betting Harrelson Agency’s future on the future and making sure that I’m staying on top of everything AI and blockchain and machine learning and augmented reality that I can.

We’ve already seen the decimation of the website development industry at the hands of democratizing creative tools like Squarespace and Weebly and Wix (as much as I dislike their pedestrian designs…). We’ll continue to see the same in other areas of marketing and advertising.

It’s worth my time to think ahead both for my clients’ bottom lines as well as Harrelson Agency’s future.

Overwriting Monuments with AR

I do think augmented reality and voice-first computing (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant etc) will get us out behind computer screens and keyboards and into the “real” world. What “real” means is subjective, and that will only intensify in the coming decades as computing comes full circle to being something that we naturally do with our voices and thoughts and without the need for a keyboard and mouse.

Now we just need a good pair of AR glasses from Apple or Google or some startup we haven’t heard of yet that’s working hard in a garage to change the world…

Last year, Movers and Shakers assembled a team of coders, artists and designers who use augmented reality technology to do their work. Their goal was circumvent the city’s decision by replacing the statue and similar monuments with digital ones of other historical figures — namely, people of color and women. “I think we have an opportunity to harness the storytelling capabilities of this technology,” said Glenn Cantave, founder and lead organizer, when explaining the group’s motivations. “Who’s going to own our narrative?”

— Read on theoutline.com/post/5123/movers-and-shakers-digital-sculptures-new-york-city

I’m excited about Magic Leap’s Lightwear

We’ve been working on this tech since the 1830’s and we’re almost to the point of mass adoption and use cases…

Magic Leap today revealed a mixed reality headset that it believes reinvents the way people will interact with computers and reality. Unlike the opaque diver’s masks of virtual reality, which replace the real world with a virtual one, Magic Leap’s device, called Lightwear, resembles goggles, which you can see through as if wearing a special pair of glasses. The goggles are tethered to a powerful pocket-sized computer, called the Lightpack, and can inject life-like moving and reactive people, robots, spaceships, anything, into a person’s view of the real world.

via Lightwear: Introducing Magic Leap’s Mixed Reality Goggles – Rolling Stone

Voice Isn’t the Next Big Platform

This piece is originally from Dec 19, 2016, but interesting to revisit as we enter the home stretch of 2017 (and what a year it has been):

In 2017, we will start to see that change. After years of false starts, voice interface will finally creep into the mainstream as more people purchase voice-enabled speakers and other gadgets, and as the tech that powers voice starts to improve. By the following year, Gartner predicts that 30 percent of our interactions with technology will happen through conversations with smart machines.

via Voice Is the Next Big Platform, and Alexa Will Own It | WIRED

I have no doubt that we’ll all be using voice-driven computing on an ever increasing basis in the coming years. In our home, we have an Amazon Alexa, 4 Amazon Dots, and most rooms have Hue Smart Bulbs in the light fixtures (oh, and we have the Amazon Dash Wand in case we want to carry Alexa around with us…). I haven’t physically turned on a light in any of our rooms in months. That’s weird. It happened with the stealth of a technology that slowly but surely creeps into your life and rewires your brain the same way the first iPhone changed how I interact with the people I love. We even renamed all of our Alexa devices as “Computer” so that I can finally pretend I’m living on the Starship Enterprise. Once I have a holodeck, I’m never leaving the house.

And perhaps that’s the real trick to seeing this stealth revolution happen in front of our eyes and via our vocal cords… it’s not just voice-driving computing that is going to be the platform of the near future. In other words, voice won’t be the next big platform. There will be a combination of voice AND augmented reality AND artificial intelligence that will power how we communicate with ourselves, our homes, our environments, and the people we love (and perhaps don’t love). In twenty years, will my young son be typing onto a keyboard in the same way I’m doing to compose this post? In ten years, will my 10-year-old daughter be typing onto a keyboard to do her job or express herself?

I highly doubt both. Those computing processes will be driven by a relationship to a device representing an intelligence. Given that, as a species, we adapted to have relational interact with physical cues and vocal exchanges over the last 70 million years, I can’t imagine that a few decades of “typing” radically altered the way we prefer to communicate and exchange information. It’s the reason I’m not an advocate of teaching kids how to type (and I’m a ~90 wpm touch typist).

Voice combined with AI and AR (or whatever we end up calling it… “mixed reality” perhaps?) is the next big platform because these three will fuse into something the same way the web (as an experience) fused with personal computing to fuel the last big platform revolution.

I’m not sure Amazon will be the ultimate winner in the “next platform” wars that it is waging with Google (Google Assistant), Apple (Siri), Facebook (Messenger), and any number of messaging apps and startups that we haven’t heard of yet. However, our future platforms of choice will be very “human” in the same way we lovingly interact with the slab of metal and glass that we all carry around and do the majority of our computing on these days. It’s hard to imagine a world where computers are shrunk to the size of fibers in our clothing and become transparent characters that we interact with to perform whatever we’ll be performing, but the future does not involve a keyboard, a mouse, and a screen of light emitting diodes for most people (I hear you, gamers) and we’ll all see reality in even more differing ways than is currently possible as augmented reality quickly becomes mainstream in the same way that true mobile devices did after the iPhone.

Maybe I just watched too much Star Trek Next Generation.

Marsbot Is Your New Scarlett

But Marsbot is important for other reasons, too. She represents a different kind of bot than the ones you see in Facebook Messenger — one that’s proactive rather than passive. She’s not a chatbot, but an interruptive bot. Crowley says that most other bots are in the model of Aladdin’s lamp: you invoke them and the genie appears. Marsbot is more in the Jiminy Cricket mode, hanging over your shoulder and chiming in when needed.

Source: Marsbot Is Dreaming of You — Backchannel

I’ve been testing out Marsbot the last few days, and I’m seriously impressed. I’ve been using the Ozlo bot for my random food suggestions based on location, time, preferences etc… and I’ve been happy with Ozlo.

However, Marsbot has something unique going on… it’s not a bot that waits for you. Rather, it’s proactive. If you’ve seen Her, you know immediately what I’m talking about.

Plus, it’s based on Foursquare’s accumulated data over the years, which is immense. Plus, it works in your text messaging app (iMessage if on Apple) where you’re used to getting personal updates or messages rather than going into another app on your device.

Messaging bots are going to be big and change the way we do computing and think of computers.

Take notice, churches 🙂

Developed by Microsoft’s research division Tay is a…

Developed by Microsoft’s research division, Tay is a virtual friend with behaviors informed by the web chatter of some 18–24-year-olds and the repartee of a handful of improvisational comedians (Microsoft declined to name them). Her purpose, unlike AI-powered virtual assistants like Facebook’s M, is almost entirely to amuse. And Tay does do that: She is simultaneously entertaining, infuriating, manic, and irreverent.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/alexkantrowitz/microsoft-introduces-tay-an-ai-powered-chatbot-it-hopes-will#.ytYzABj6o