Technology is getting ever more powerful. We are embarking upon breakthroughs that were just Sci-Fi not too long ago.
The challenge with this is that we have the potential to move towards a utopian society, or one that resembles 1984. Which one we get is up to us.
We see a very interesting announcement by Facebook. A few weeks ago I posted about how Blackrock, a Wall Street firm, purchased Ancestry.com for $1 billion. This puts the DNA for millions in the hands of this company.
Now, picture Facebook, a company who is known to be a bit deceptive with the data it garners, knowing every nook of your home. If the company is able to pursue AI and robotics to the degree it desires, this will become a reality for many.
If Facebook’s AI research objectives are successful, it may not be long before home assistants take on a whole new range of capabilities. Last week the company announced new work focused on advancing what it calls “embodied AI”: basically, a smart robot that will be able to move around your house to help you remember things, find things, and maybe even do things.
Notice how this all sounds so wonderful. Who wouldn't want a personal AI assistant that knows everything about us while actually helping us in ways that makes our lives easier? After all, how much time is wasted looking for things that are placed around our home or office?
A personal robotic assistant from Facebook is just the ticket out of this doldrum. Life can become much easier for anyone.
While I am all for the advancements in technology and feel that maximum benefits should be extracted for each of us, I have a real problem with these mega-technology companies retaining control. Certainly, I would love to have a personal AI assistant that can handle all the affairs for me. With the advancement of this technology, it is likely that many decisions can be made by the software without me having to participate.
The drawback to all of this is if the data is being fed to Facebook, Google, or Amazon. It matters not the company, since they are all the same. They want to control, own, and manipulate the lives of all who use their products.
Here is where we see the need for blockchain and digital identities. Individuals need retain control of the technology in their lives. This will only be accomplished if we push back against the advancements made by the mega-technology companies.
A big part of the push towards decentralization includes blockchain. The idea of data being protected is at the core of blockchain, in the sense that no one entity owns it. If this can be coupled with an ID system that protects the privacy of each individual. Then, a technology such as a personal AI assistant bot will be of great interest to most.
However, with the way Facebook has shown itself, I do not find that the masses will be able to trust the company.
This is the battle that is taking place.
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