The Feature is a “Dumpster Fire”

Welcome to Digitally Literate, issue #397. Your go-to source for insightful content on education, technology, and the digital landscape.

This week I posted the following:

• Experiential Learning and Its Synergy with Artificial Intelligence – Anna CohenMiller sent me a request to get my thoughts about coupling machine learning technologies with experiential learning. Here’s my first post.
• Experiential Learning and AI: Redefining Education Through Immersive Experiences – Here’s the second post in the series in which I dig a bit deeper.
• Harmony Over Heroism: Why the Republic Does Not Need Geniuses – This idea of “the republic has no need for geniuses” has been popping up in my notes for some time. I finally took time to write about it.
• Breaking Out of Our Own Biases: A Journey to Self Awareness – Recently turned 50 and spent a lot of time reflecting as I get to know myself.

🏔️ Who Comes Out On Tops?

A little over a week ago, Microsoft introduced Copilot+ PCs, what they listed as the fastest and most intelligent Windows PCs ever built, designed for AI tasks with all-day battery life and advanced AI models. From the outset, it looked like they were re-branding their line of Surface devices and Windows laptops by slapping an AI label on it.

Digging in a bit more deeply, I was intrigued by some of the new (to me) terminology from the event. Your computer uses a mix of a CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) to carry out the basic functions of your components and accelerate graphics and image processing. There’s a lot of other important pieces, but for machine learning (ML), the most important part seemed to be the GPU.

We’re beginning to see a new wave of electronics optimized for matrix operations, which are needed to compute artificial neural networks. These hardware accelerators for artificial intelligence have many names, but Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) seem to be a bit more prevalent.

Another term I’m starting to recognize is TOPS, which stands for “Trillion Operations per Second.” Among experts, this metric is not considered the optimal metric, but it captures a complex question in an easy-to-understand and comparable number: how many mathematical operations can my chip deliver in one second?

🔖 What Do You Recall?

Microsoft recently announced Copilot+ PCs will leverage powerful processors and multiple state-of-the-art AI models to unlock a new set of locally-run AI experiences. One key feature they highlighted is called “Recall,” which aims to solve the frustrating problem of trying to find information you’ve previously seen on your PC. Explore

Rather than manually searching through files, websites, and emails, Recall promises to give users access to virtually everything they’ve viewed or done on their computer, organized in an intuitive way that mimics human memory associations. Microsoft pitches this as a significant advantage over current methods, removing limitations around latency, cost, and even privacy concerns.

The value proposition is compelling – imagine having a photographic memory for your digital life, able to instantly resurface past information using whatever contextual cues you can recall. Instead of hunting through folder hierarchies, Copilot+ PCs will leverage AI to link data based on the unique relationships and experiences of each user.

From the outset, this local AI processing power seems to mark a shift from the cloud-based model, which Microsoft claims will enable more responsive, cost-effective and privacy-respecting experiences. In reality, it seems like this is a move by Microsoft to re-define the difference between cloud and local services, and get more of your data. Microsoft quickly rolled back their plans for Recall as it was quickly identified to be a major security disaster.

👁️‍🗨️ I Always Feel Like Someone is Watching Me

As AI capabilities accelerate, consumers will face key decisions around privacy, control and convenience. Copilot+ PCs represent an intriguing step towards AI augmenting our personal computing in a more intimate, localized way. It will be interesting to see how this new generation of “AI-everywhere” devices shapes digital experiences.

The distinction between true artificial intelligence and mere marketing buzzwords is becoming increasingly important. Many products claim to have “AI” capabilities, when in reality they are simply programmed to perform basic tasks or offer suggestions based on predetermined rules. However, we are rapidly approaching a era where machine learning models will be capable of genuinely studying our behavior, conversing with us, and collaborating in the creative process.

As this technology advances, consumers will face new decisions about the products they purchase and the level of AI integration they are comfortable with. Just as we currently evaluate the specifications of a new smartphone before upgrading, we will need to understand the capabilities and potential implications of these emerging AI components. Do we want devices that can learn our preferences and habits? That can engage in open-ended dialogue? That can autonomously generate content alongside us?

The line between convenient digital assistant and autonomous artificial intelligence is blurring. Navigating this new landscape will require diligence from both companies and consumers to separate substantive technological breakthroughs from empty marketing claims. We must think critically about the roles we want AI to play in our lives and products.

🪲 Are You the Bug or the Windshield?

Any foolish boy can stamp on a beetle, but all the professors in the world cannot make a beetle.

Arthur Schopenhauer

Thanks for reading Digitally Literate. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions. Contact me at hello@digitallyliterate.net or connect on social media.

Cover photo credits.