There is a lot of conversation about AI right now. There is a side of it I hate – the “computers will rise up and destroy us all.” We are nowhere near a sentient AI and I don’t know if it will ever happen. If/When it occurs, it might be something worth discussing.
There are legitimate concerns to address regarding AI making jobs obsolete, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We don’t need telephone operators anymore because technology grew away from that need. The Luddites aren’t exactly a movement we should admire. We should learn from them – and realize that when work is being replaced or reduced by machines and computers there are real people impacted with that loss. Those people need support in order to continue supporting themselves and their families.
And the conversations on AI and copyright- very real and series. I have MAJOR problems with Google, Microsoft, and the other AI companies thinking they can use copyright material without compensation. Artists (writers, visual media, etc.) don’t get enough recognition and pay as it is! Now you think you can steal it! RED RAGE LEVEL.
But I do have hope for AI. I think there are some ways it could be utilized to really help:
I have been doing weight watchers much of this year (with some success although nothing they’d probably put in a commercial). The worst and best part of the program is tracking my food. I think there is a place someday for AI to let me take a picture of my food and it calculate approximately my calories/points/etc. This is not currently intelligence which exists. I mean, even if it had to ask, “Looks like you are having either grits or polenta. Can you confirm which of these you used in this dish?” I mean seriously, how cool would that be?
Similarly, they are working on the whole “take a picture of your fridge and ask, ‘what can I make with this'” concept. I can’t wait for this to work. Apparently, it’s not great yet. Meal planning sucks. I think the two parts of cooking I hate most are the planning and the dishes. So, as this tech improves- YAY!
Moving from the kitchen – let’s take about bathrooms. No, I don’t mean tracking poop either. I’m not excited about that. I mean, I know they have been trying to use wastewater to track COVID. But that isn’t exciting. I would rather use AI to have it help me pick out hair products. My hair is drying out and getting split ends. What do I really need? Ok, this brand isn’t working – track this and give me better suggestions. Seriously, being able to offload that mental effort…. sounds awesome to me.
Oh! What if AI
Music. This might be what initially inspired this. I want AI to make my music experience better. “what mood are you in” is a start. Let’s be honest, we are seeing this. Slowly. I want more and better.
Dream by Day 