This thing knows what you want. And knows how to get it. Like that guy you know.
Humans and never really figured out how to read each others minds. But our tech devices are getting closer to doing so. And that’s kind of creepy.
Google just released a light version of Android that will be used in wearable tech. Smart watches and the like. And it’s main feature will use Google Now which is like “Psychic Siri”. I have it on my phone and the darn thing seems to know where I’m going most of the time. Even when I’m not sure how it found out.
I know it collects data from my calendar and Gmail and such. It also uses the GPS to know what I’m near. Oftentimes it tells me stuff I don’t need to know. But then I haven’t really learned/trained it yet.
Right now it’s telling me my Disney stock is up. I have no idea how it knows I have Disney stock. I don’t check my stocks with any Google related product. I can only assume the street view car was hovering near my window as I checked in in Firefox.
What I’d really like it to do is answer hard questions. Like “Why is she mad at me this time?” That’s the really helpful stuff.
But smartwatches that tell you what time to leave to avoid traffic and keep track of how many calories you stuffed your face with today are just the beginning. The EmoSpark is an artificial intelligence cube that pays attention to your welfare and tries to keep you on an even keel.
“You look sad,” it will say. “Can I play one of your favorite songs to cheer you up?”
That’s creepy as shit.
The thing talks you, you talk to it, and you’ve got a little cube shaped pal that watches out for you. If it learns to cook and includes a hole for…. never mind… Look, the thing wants to be your friend. A super clingy friend that caters to your whims.
The thing is so smart that the company is actually using Isaac Asimov’s laws of robotics set out in 1942.
- A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
- A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Yep, we’re actually at the point where we have to start keeping the robots from attacking us now.
I still don’t know how LinkedIn knows who I know. Even people I didn’t remember I know. Shoes are being invented that dynamically react to make your feet more comfortable. Refrigerators will let you know when you’re out of some common foodstuff. And probably have it delivered before you even know it.
We may not even need those eventual humanoid robot servants we’ve always dreamed of. All the other devices will take care of everything we need themselves. Like psychic robots.
And that’s creepy as shit.
By the way… Don’t call them robots.