Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand . . . . we’re back.

So, a new year begins. A year, which by some accounts, is cloaked in equal parts doubt and excitement. But fear not. We’re not focusing on doomsday predictions or resolutions or even looking back at 2011 best-of’s. No, we have some actual developments to look forward to in the coming 365 days. And today we’ll focus on one that is going to change the way we relate to technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence.

Genevieve Bell is an Anthropologist and Director of Interaction and Experience Research at Intel Labs. She thinks our relationship with interactive technology is a faulty, uneven, dependent relationship that if our tech devices attributes were ascribed to a human, we’d seriously consider breaking it off with them.

But things are improving. Our best current day example of this is the Siri application for the iPhone. Bell states that while Siri is a perfectly good step forward in the field of AI, she sees our patterns and behavior taking a more prominent role in AI development, leading this budding relationship, and as a result, there will be less “neediness” and insecurity on the part of our computerized partners (“would you like to delete this file? “re-enter your password”. “Are you sure you’d like to refresh this page? “you’re running out of space.”, “you’re low on battery power.”).

These developments are a ways off, but the integration of behavioral science and interactive technology opens a new use of for these functions: service.


Wait, a mobile device that knows what to do with the power is low? Sign us up.


Links to consider:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16367039