In a not too distant future we will have a sort of "augmented mind" that follows us everywhere, a subtle and constant voice that guides us through our daily routine. This reality, once limited to Spike Jonze films :-), is about to become concrete thanks to the advent of context-aware AI assistants, which exploit RAG (if you are interested in knowing what it is, there's this for you).
They will be omnipresent, influencing our decisions, our social interactions, and even our innermost thoughts. Very good. Very bad.
A new form of intelligence
The AI assistants of the future go beyond Siri and Alexa (esp the latter). These new models will be a second mind at our disposal: thanks to their contextual awareness, they will respond not only to what we say, but also to what we see and hear.
The introduction of large language models multimodal dimensions (Multi-Modal Large Language Models) has broken technical barriers, making the next AI assistants capable of perceiving the world through digital eyes and ears.
Eyes, or rather: glasses
Meta, to paraphrase Prince “the artist formerly known as Facebook,” is at the forefront of this technological race. The latest version of smart glasses made in partnership with Ray-Ban, configured to support advanced AI models, represents a significant step forward towards integrating these technologies into everyday life.
These devices, with built-in cameras and microphones, promise to offer contextual and continuous AI assistance. But will it also please all those who come across a "four-eyes" equipped with a camera?
Despite the obvious benefits, these AI assistants carry with them a significant risk: that of incredible manipulation. The idea of having a “second mind” that influences subtly our actions and opinions raise concerns related to privacy and personal autonomy. If on the one hand they can improve our daily lives, on the other they can become powerful tools in the hands of companies and governments to exert a very subtle, because highly personalized, conversational influence.
Augmented mind, the need for rules
This problem of AI manipulation requires urgent attention and aggressive regulation. Currently, there are still no adequate regulations that specifically address these risks. It is essential that lawmakers and regulators around the world begin to focus on the dangers of AI-powered conversational influence, particularly when delivered by contextual assistants.
The era of the “augmented mind” brings with it the responsibility to find a balance between the benefits offered by these advanced AI assistants and the protection of our privacy and autonomy. These tools have the potential to radically transform the way we live, work and interact with each other, but this must not come at the expense of our personal freedom and our ability to make independent choices.
The social and cultural impact of the augmented mind
The widespread adoption of these AI assistants will inevitably change social dynamics. These devices will literally act as "intermediaries" between us and the world. They may become a norm, with people expecting you to be constantly fed information about them in real time during a conversation. They could change the "etiquette" of our daily actions (and interactions).
It could create a digital divide between those who can afford an augmented mind and those who remain at the mercy of little, and difficult to access, information. Finally, it could whisper to us advertising even in thoughts. Or in dreams.
The future is here
With the imminent arrival of these consumer products on the market, we are approaching a small turning point in the history of modern societies. This technology offers us the chance to live in a world where AI assistants not only influence us, but actually expand our mental and social capabilities.
The “augmented mentality” is about to become an integral part of our daily reality, and I don't think we are ready. Collaboration between technology developers, legislators, ethics experts and the public is essential to formulate guidelines that protect the individual and promote responsible use not of AI, but of this "hybrid" between us and AI.
A new horizon
The researcher and engineer Louis Rosenberg, an expert in artificial intelligence, explains it succinctly in a book, “Our Next Reality”, which I find enlightening. We are at the dawn of an era in which artificial intelligence will no longer be just a tool, but a partner in our daily lives.
Like any great technological revolution, it will bring with it both incredible opportunities and significant challenges. It will be essential to carefully monitor the evolution of this technology. Above all, guide its development so that it enriches our human experience without overwhelming it.
We will make it? Posterity will judge. Or us in a while.
