I watched IBM Think last week. As I listened to IBM CEO Arvind Krishna talk about how IBM is willing to configure hardware, software, and services for every customer, it struck me that the one thing we are not doing with AI is thinking it through. We are throwing AI at everything and not prioritizing where we need it to focus.
We had the same issue with nuclear energy early on. We could focus it on safe, low-cost energy generation or on destroying the planet. We initially focused on destroying the planet, followed by unsafe energy generation (Chernobyl, Three Mile Island).
A meme on social media says, “I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.”
Let’s explore this lack of thinking about AI use in the context of last week’s announcement at Computex of the impressive Intel Lunar Lake platform.
We’ll close with my Product of the Week, “Trustworthy,” which exemplifies a better direction for AI and will help us better prepare for the future problems that all our families might face.
The Think slogan goes back to Thomas Watson, Sr. In 1915, as a sales manager for NCR, he developed the saying after becoming frustrated that no one on his executive team seemed to have any ideas. He argued, “The trouble with every one of us is that we don’t think enough. We don’t get paid for working with our feet — we get paid for working with our heads.”
This lack of thinking is what we’re not addressing when it comes to AI.
Like any powerful tool, AI is neither good nor bad. Like nuclear technology, it depends on how the technology is used. Currently, there is a lot of focus on building ever more powerful AI weapons, some of which are pretty scary. This drone-delivered weaponized Chinese robotic dog could be a scene from “The Terminator,” and that is far from the only example.
When IBM started Watson, it was accidentally focused on winning game shows to demonstrate its capabilities. However, much of the initial work was on providing better and more timely medical advice.
While IBM’s inability to reliably access medical data and the potential liability of getting that wrong forced it to pivot away from this market, it did highlight that IBM was following the “Think” process because better medical care should be an exceedingly high, if not the highest, priority. It should come way before AI weapons systems.
Medical costs, particularly here in the U.S., are incredibly high, while medical quality is largely deficient, which seems like the worst of all worlds. AI could address the cost and the quality of medical services, but right now, that does not appear to be a top priority, giving way to the more troubling uses of AI.
I think rather than focusing on throwing AI at everything, we should have a priority list of things we want AI to do. Toward the top would be a far better digital assistant.
Your digital assistant will need to be with you while you work, and much of our initial AI use will be tied to making us more productive. However, we need to push up the quality requirements of this effort because, in the last head-to-head comparison, Microsoft Copilot ranked last. It is interesting to note that the current iteration of ChatGPT, which is the basis of Copilot, ranked second while Perplexity ranked first. We don’t only need AI with us; we need the information it provides to be accurate and useful, and right now, Copilot is falling short.
Copilot+, which includes Recall and Cocreator, was designed to work on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor, and initially, both AMD and Intel were bypassed. However, both companies have put in a ton of work to close this gap, and it looks like the next big AI chip drop will come from Intel and its high-end client processors code-named Lunar Lake.
Lunar Lake represents a massive effort from Intel and brings to market a level of capability we weren’t expecting until 2026. Still, it will also be more expensive, allowing Qualcomm to likely own mainstream notebooks until AMD’s more affordable alternative comes to market.
However, and this again goes to priorities, you’d think workstations and desktop PCs would have been prioritized because that is where professional creators still live, and even workstation laptops aren’t included in the initial Copilot+ efforts. The closest thing to a Copilot+ workstation is the Qualcomm Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows which people who want this AI functionality in a desktop are buying up.
Given that desktops and workstations don’t require the power of laptops and are used by developers, who are more Microsoft’s primary customers than end users, you’d think desktop and laptop workstations would be a priority. Nvidia prevailed on Microsoft to embrace their platform, and AMD is right there with them, but with a gaming focus.
Focusing on gaming is important because smart non-player characters (NPCs) could make an enormous difference in games, both as opponents and partners. Imagine, for instance, having a bonded pet like a dragon that could fight and protect you intelligently, let alone an in-game helper who could guide you through some of the more challenging puzzles (I hate puzzles in games).
Back to priorities: I think AI should first help us make better decisions and then focus on those things that take the pleasure out of life, like cleaning, doing the laundry, driving in traffic, checking our work (but not doing it for us), and helping us form better relationships or make relationships work.
In the end, AI could make the world a better place or one that was much, much worse. Personally, I’d prefer the former over the latter. I don’t need more difficulty in my life, but I could certainly use more help.
On the topic of where I think AI should be focused, it is helping us manage our personal and family life.
From maintaining documentation so that, should something happen to us, those left behind can more quickly and easily manage our estates and bills, to keeping track of critical records like mortgages, birth certificates, credit cards, retirement accounts, insurance, and passwords, the Trustworthy Family Operating System helps with the annoying tasks that can take the fun out of your personal life.
Trustworthy uses AI, but it is memoryless, as it doesn’t learn from customer data. It caught my attention because I’ve been dealing with a lot of this stuff lately and really could use some help like what Trustworthy provides. This video provides an overview.
Given my focus on AI for good, Trustworthy seemed like an ideal example of where we should focus AI. In this case, it better prepares us for disruptive events, recovering from natural disasters, death, getting ready for retirement or relocation, and just bringing a bit of control and peace of mind to our overly complex daily lives.
Trustworthy starts with a modest service for protecting financial information for $120 a year. It jumps up to $240 a year for families that also have business interests, then $590 with three hours of service to help you throughout the year and to initially get set up, and finally, $990 for those needing a lot of help, such as an aging relative who needs six hours of help to get decades of mess into order.
Data is encrypted. It uses multi-factor authentication (biometrics) to help ensure this critical information stays safe and uses tokens to obfuscate sensitive information further. It also regularly redacts sensitive information like driver’s license numbers to protect it from prying eyes.
I think Trustworthy is closer to where we need AI-focused: making our lives easier, eliminating stress, and keeping us safer rather than taking our jobs, eliminating our incomes, or powering deadly weapons. As a result, Trustworthy: The Family Operating System is my Product of the Week.
Rob Enderle has been an ECT News Network columnist since 2003. His areas of interest include AI, autonomous driving, drones, personal technology, emerging technology, regulation, litigation, M&E, and technology in politics. He has an MBA in human resources, marketing and computer science. He is also a certified management accountant. Enderle currently is president and principal analyst of the Enderle Group, a consultancy that serves the technology industry. He formerly served as a senior research fellow at Giga Information Group and Forrester. Email Rob.
Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.
Loading …
Essential – I rely heavily on tech for health and wellness.
Very – Tech plays a significant role in my routine.
Somewhat – I use it occasionally, but it’s not crucial.
Insignificant – I rarely or never use tech for health and wellness.
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/project-management.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/coordinatehq-takes-the-noise-out-of-project-management-systems-179163.html
CoordinateHQ Takes the Noise Out of Project Management Systems
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/filmmaker.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/openais-sora-elevenlabs-and-the-end-of-video-media-as-we-know-it-179032.html
OpenAI’s Sora, ElevenLabs, and the End of Video Media as We Know It
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/MediaTek-sign.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/does-mediatek-have-an-identity-crisis-179195.html
Does MediaTek Have an Identity Crisis?
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Apple-M4-chip-badge.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/apple-muscles-up-ipad-pro-with-m4-silicon-and-tandem-oled-display-179181.html
Apple Muscles Up iPad Pro With M4 Silicon and Tandem OLED Display
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/developers.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/website-impersonation-scams-surge-solutions-fall-short-study-179203.html
Website Impersonation Scams Surge, Solutions Fall Short: Study
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/weak-password.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/brute-force-password-cracking-takes-longer-but-celebration-may-be-premature-179146.html
Brute Force Password Cracking Takes Longer, But Celebration May Be Premature
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/developer-happy.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/post-open-licensing-could-offer-software-devs-funding-alternatives-177371.html
Post-Open Licensing Could Offer Software Devs Funding Alternatives
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/microsoft-redmond.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/microsoft-hits-hard-with-ai-but-is-the-pc-the-right-platform-179207.html
Microsoft Hits Hard With AI, but Is the PC the Right Platform?
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/network-engineers-code.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/more-linux-malware-means-more-linux-monitoring-177174.html
More Linux Malware Means More Linux Monitoring
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/Wi-Fi-7.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/next-generation-wi-fi-7-standard-expected-to-be-finalized-in-early-2024-178845.html
Next-Generation Wi-Fi 7 Standard Expected To Be Finalized in Early 2024
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/06/technical-controller.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/cat-phishing-living-off-the-land-fake-invoices-top-q1-cyberthreats-report-179198.html
Cat-Phishing, Living-Off-The-Land, Fake Invoices Top Q1 Cyberthreats: Report
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/AI-chip.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/will-ai-enabled-processors-spark-a-pc-supercycle-this-year-179151.html
Will AI-Enabled Processors Spark a PC Supercycle This Year?
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/SevaCare-Blood-Pressure-Monitor.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/sevacare-blood-pressure-monitor-offers-affordable-home-health-assurance-178951.html
SevaCare Blood Pressure Monitor Offers Affordable Home Health Assurance
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/smart-home-future.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/qualcomm-makes-the-smart-home-work-179142.html
Qualcomm Makes the Smart Home Work
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Noble-Numbat.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/upgrading-to-ubuntu-24-04-lts-noble-numbat-step-by-step-guide-177359.html
Upgrading to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Noble Numbat: Step-by-Step Guide
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/04/home-hacker.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/paranoia-in-the-home-1-in-3-americans-worried-about-their-smart-gadgets-being-hacked-178954.html
Paranoia in the Home: 1 in 3 Americans Worried About Their Smart Gadgets Being Hacked
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/policymakers.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/think-tank-issues-guidance-for-ai-policymakers-179205.html
Think Tank Issues Guidance for AI Policymakers
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/mobile-app-security.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/mobile-security-firms-fortify-defenses-as-app-attacks-accelerate-179003.html
Mobile Security Firms Fortify Defenses as App Attacks Accelerate
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/dating-app-smartphone.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/mozilla-waves-red-flag-over-data-hungry-dating-apps-179144.html
Mozilla Waves Red Flag Over Data Hungry Dating Apps
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Snapdragon-X-Elite.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/qualcomm-chip-closing-performance-gap-with-apple-m3-in-leaked-benchmarks-179039.html
Qualcomm Chip Closing Performance Gap With Apple M3 in Leaked Benchmarks
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/passkey.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/proton-adds-passkey-support-to-password-manager-knocks-big-tech-179110.html
Proton Adds Passkey Support to Password Manager, Knocks Big Tech
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Beatbot-AquaSense-Pro-pool-cleaner.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/beatbot-aquasense-pro-just-in-time-for-summer-the-ultimate-robot-pool-cleaner-179122.html
Beatbot AquaSense Pro: Just in Time for Summer, the Ultimate Robot Pool Cleaner
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Dysolve-Game-Lobby.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/ai-powered-software-offers-breakthrough-for-treating-dyslexia-178937.html
AI-Powered Software Offers Breakthrough for Treating Dyslexia
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/AI-search.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/ai-enhanced-searches-may-pose-threat-to-creators-publishers-179193.html
AI-Enhanced Searches May Pose Threat to Creators, Publishers
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/e-waste.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/disorganization-not-cost-fuels-the-it-e-waste-crisis-178570.html
Disorganization, Not Cost, Fuels the IT E-Waste Crisis
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/iPhone-15-Pro.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/pundit-predicts-apple-ai-will-be-bound-to-iphone-analysts-react-179132.html
Pundit Predicts Apple AI Will Be Bound to iPhone, Analysts React
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/law-enforcement-investigators.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/tech-coalition-launches-initiative-to-crackdown-on-nomadic-child-predators-178773.html
Tech Coalition Launches Initiative To Crackdown on Nomadic Child Predators
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/Project-Kuiiper.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/amazons-competitor-to-musks-starlink-takes-critical-step-toward-deployment-178873.html
Amazon’s Competitor to Musk’s Starlink Takes Critical Step Toward Deployment
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/AI-robot-in-business.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/how-to-leverage-gen-ai-without-losing-the-corporate-shirt-179123.html
How To Leverage Gen AI Without Losing the Corporate Shirt
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/CES-2024-Innovation-Showcase.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/10-products-from-ces-2024-that-set-the-innovation-bar-178966.html
10 Products From CES 2024 That Set the Innovation Bar
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/05/tech-race.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/google-i-o-did-microsoft-just-become-the-new-netscape-179199.html
Google I/O: Did Microsoft Just Become the New Netscape?
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/businessman-agreement.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/the-case-against-noncompete-agreements-179154.html
The Case Against Noncompete Agreements
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/auto-accident.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/new-dot-safety-rule-will-save-electric-car-drivers-lives-179166.html
New DOT Safety Rule Will Save Electric Car Drivers’ Lives
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Tim-Cook-Vision-Pro-selfie.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/vision-pro-revives-one-and-done-app-purchases-179012.html
Vision Pro Revives One-and-Done App Purchases
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Apple-Vision-Pro-unboxed.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/apple-vision-pro-impressions-one-week-later-179019.html
Apple Vision Pro Impressions: One Week Later
https://www.technewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/women-dont-play-emma-raz.jpg
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/women-dont-play-confronts-gender-disparity-in-the-tech-industry-178379.html
‘Women Don’t Play’ Confronts Gender Disparity in the Tech Industry
Copyright 1998-2024 ECT News Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Enter your Username and Password to sign in.
