The 3rd device
We need the 3rd device. That's a message we hear from startups and from well established companies. A device which will compliment our phone and laptop. A device which will do something amazing which we won't be able to live without.
You might remember attempts by Apple, Facebook, and Google to create a device which would either provide a virtual or augmented experience. There were attempts by Humane to build an Ai Pin (long gone) and by Rabbit's R1 to try to build digital companions.
The latest - highly popularized - entrant is OpenAI with the multibillion (stock-fueled) acquisition of io, a company started by Jony Ive, formerly of Apple. The stated goal? '... to develop a range of hardware products that use artificial general intelligence' and to create '... a product that uses A.I. to create a computing experience that is less socially disruptive than the iPhone.'
The challenge which each company has to overcome (or failed to do) is a) the interface, b) the new, exceptional functionality.
For us to interact with technology, we have hands with fingers - that's where the keyboard, touch pad, mouse or phone screen comes in. Hand waving is good to use during presentations where the prototype is not ready and we need to describe the amazing future. And it is of limited use when writing the Recurrent Pattern issue.
We have our voice to tell the computer what we want. Unlike a keyboard with a predefined number of keys, our voice comes with different pronunciations, accents (not pronounced 'accidents') and the ambiguity of spoken words. Eyes are mostly used for receiving information or, if you are Stephen Hawking, for writing.
After that we have ears to listen for any sound. We can also include bone conduction headphones in that category.
Both smell and taste provide various levels of sensation, but the speed and bandwidth limits the use to a narrow range of applications.
Either we have to touch the device, or we talk to it, or it passively listens to us. Any response comes back with voice or image. For seamless integration with the human body, it can be inserted in front of our eyes or into our ears.
Yes, we have brain implants coming up, but they are in very early stages of development and not even close to deployment for general use.
These are the hardware options.
Now, what would this 3rd device do?
Apple's Vision Pro - '... blends digital content with your physical space.' and '... you can work, watch, relive memories and connect in ways never before possible.'
Ai Pin - camera for taking pictures, laser to display information on your hand, records your conversation.
Rabbit's R1- speak & ask, identify objects, magic camera, translation, memory recall, timer, voice recording, and more.
While Apple's device wants to transport you to its own Apple world where you can watch Apple TV and watch photos stored in iCloud, Ai Pin and R1 are taking applications already on your phone and putting them on another device.
Judging by the number of people walking around with their phones in their hands, I don't think they need another device.
What about our latest entrant - OpenAI with Jony Ive?
Is it a distraction from a failing strategy or the missing piece of deploying AI to the world?
Thanks to the latest trademark dispute lawsuit and some leaked documents we are learning what the new device is not going to be. It is not going to be glasses or something you are going to wear and it won't be a phone.
The lawsuit suggests that at one time, consideration was given to an earpiece. And if so what would this earpiece connect to? An iPhone? The one dilemma which all the hardware vendors had to resolve is connectivity to the network in order to be useful. And don't forget the battery. What the beautiful pictures of Apple's Vision Pro didn't show is the cable running to your pocket carrying a car battery.
Now, whatever the device will look like, the question remains - What is going to do? '... less socially disruptive than the iPhone?' One can fully expect that it will somehow connect to ChatGPT. And then? Listen to you and all your surroundings? Answer questions in real time in a conversational tone? A shrink on the go? Maybe it will tell you what to answer to the police officer when you don’t know how many drinks you had.
But what we know from Mr. Altman is that it will be a device which will ship 'faster than any company has ever shipped 100 million of something new before.'
We use technology to create great, new experiences. Given the constraints and past attempts to create something which will increase the valuation of OpenAI to $1 trillion, the bar is very high for Messrs. Altman and Ive.
The recurrent pattern? I am always excited to imagine what the future will bring us. And whatever the technology will be, it should support your inner Stephen Hawking in discovering the universe we live in.