AI Is Not Your Friend

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the recent release of "Friend", an AI wearable device that is marketed as a "smartphone killer" and a solution to loneliness. The author argues that this device, like other recent AI hardware devices, is a dystopian and ineffective attempt to solve societal problems through technology. The article highlights the fundamental flaws in the device's design and functionality, as well as the broader issues facing the AI industry.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Failures of Recent AI Hardware Devices

1. What are the key issues with the AI hardware devices discussed in the article?

• The Humane AiPin and Rabbit devices were underwhelming, broken, and failed to deliver on their promises, proving that without real utility and use cases, these devices are pointless.
• The devices are not solving the problems they claim to address, but rather are attempts by egotistical founders to capitalize on the AI hype and monetize societal issues.

2. What is the author's view on the fundamental design principle that these devices are missing? The author argues that the fundamental design principle these devices are missing is "start with the problem, not the solution." The devices are focused on creating a fancy solution without first understanding the actual problem they are trying to solve.

[02] The Issues with the "Friend" AI Wearable

1. What are the key concerns the author raises about the "Friend" AI wearable?

• The device is not a real "friend" but rather an entirely imaginary construct, as it is just a ChatGPT wrapper that does not provide genuine human-like companionship.
• The device is always listening and does not have clear boundaries, which the author finds concerning.
• The device is unlikely to solve the problem of loneliness and may instead exacerbate it by encouraging more time spent interacting with a machine rather than real human connections.

2. How does the author view the "Friend" device in the context of the AI industry's approach to solving societal problems? The author sees the "Friend" device as another example of the "tech way" of solving societal problems, where the focus is on creating a monetizable device or service rather than addressing the root cause of the issue.

[03] The Broader Issues Facing the AI Industry

1. What is the author's assessment of the current state of the AI industry? The author argues that the AI industry is at an inflection point, with ChatGPT usage waning, video generators failing to reinflate the hype, and organizations and creators struggling to find tangible use cases for the technology.

2. What does the author believe the AI industry needs to focus on moving forward? The author suggests that the AI industry needs to focus on developing real, tangible use cases that go beyond simply regurgitating and reworking existing information, rather than continuing to create "dystopian dreams" like the "Friend" device.