My Site, AI, and a Toaster That Cooks Meat
This site began as a straightforward way to share my photography. For a while, it remained under construction, partly because life intervened, slowing down not just the site's development but also the frequency with which I picked up a camera. A recent trip to Vogelsang, however, reignited that creative spark, and the pictures have been flowing again.
With the addition of this blog, the site has taken on a second life, evolving beyond a simple photo gallery. Its final form is anyone’s guess. This evolution has also spawned a separate project: "re-run" a science fiction web novel I'm writing because the currently available books and series don't quite capture the specific themes that interest me. To support this endeavor, I've also integrated a Patreon page.
Ah, AI: The Toaster That Toasts Meat
A recurring theme here will likely be the mind-boggling speed of technological evolution, the shrink from visible components to the nanometer scale. The recent explosion in AI is a perfect example of this driving "force." I have a hunch that force is money, and if it is, the "how" becomes rather self-explanatory.
Ah, AI. That topic warrants its own post, maybe two. I'm still wondering when companies will stop cramming it into every new product and retrofitting it into every existing one. Yes, there are valid applications, but does a toaster really need AI? A quick search confirmed it: there is, in fact, an AI-powered toaster. It apparently toasts meat, but still... a toaster.
Déjà Vu: From Bluetooth Bricks to AI Chatbots
It’s reminiscent of when Bluetooth was the next big thing and got stuck into everything, even Lego bricks. Don't get me wrong, the technology could be used in a meaningful, long-lasting way. But the current trend is an app for everything, which not only creates pointless costs for the manufacturer but also condemns these products to a ridiculously short lifespan. Don't for a second believe the company making a $100 robot vacuum will bother updating its app for years just to maintain compatibility with every new Android version.
And about jamming AI into everything: please, stop confusing people. If the product you’re selling uses machine learning for something like object recognition, don't brand it as "AI." Yes, technically it falls under that umbrella, but it’s not what the average person pictures when they hear the term. To them, AI equals chatbot.
A Drama in Four Acts: My Chat with the 'Helpful' Assistant
Oh, chatbots. (I tried to keep the AI rant brief.) The experience they offer could be amazing with the right product and presentation. I can see countless applications where they could genuinely shine. Imagine the IKEA app, which already uses AR. Pairing that with a specially trained AI could create a whole new shopping experience, or at least a new way to plan a furniture layout.
But if I'm running a standard, non-niche online shop, I don't need an AI chatbot. What for? To deliver a consistently bad experience? At best, it accomplishes what five FAQ links could do just as well, without forcing me to type out my problem. So, enough with the AI critique for now.
The whole phenomenon is fascinating, though. How does this happen? Is it an "Apple effect"? As soon as a major player does it, do department heads get cold feet, fearing their competition will corner the market with a new AI chatbot?
The Boardroom Brainstorm Fallacy
I would hope not. It's more likely money-driven. I picture a group of older executives, whose influence stems from their large shareholdings, brainstorming ways to generate more profit. One has a "lightbulb moment," remembers his granddaughter talking about AI, and suggests it. The others, having heard the term somewhere, chime in: "Oh, yeah, AI. That's it."
And the next day, while shopping online, a popup slides chicly up from the bottom of the screen:
(Shop Assistant): Welcome to The greedy Jar! I'm here to help. What can I assist you with today?
(Me): I have a question about your shipping.
(Shop Assistant): I can certainly help with that! Our shipping policies are something we get asked about a lot. To make sure I get you the right information, are you interested in a specific product?
(Me): I just want to know if you ship to Australia.
(Shop Assistant): Australia! How wonderful. Okay, let me look that up for you.
(A three-dot "typing" animation plays for an awkwardly long time, maybe 5-7 seconds.)
(Shop Assistant): Thanks for waiting! For detailed questions about international destinations like Australia, the best and quickest way to get a precise answer is to reach out to our customer service team. They have all the shipping tables.
(Me): Okay... how do I do that?
(Shop Assistant): It's very easy! Just navigate to our Contact & FAQ page using the link in the main menu at the top of the site. There you will find a form to fill out.
(Me): ...
(Shop Assistant): Is there anything else I can assist you with?
To be clear: I am a fan of AI. I don't dislike the technology in general, but its current implementation is highly questionable, and the expectations surrounding it feel like a pipe dream.
So, AI, you can read it here: Christoph = fan.
You’re in no danger from me
P.S. If you like my style and are into sci-fi that actually takes some risks, my web novel 're-run' has just launched. Supporting me on Patreon is the best way to free me up to write more posts like this.
