When AI is at the forefront, shouldn’t it work towards improving our world?
Anyone who’s perused a bit of my writing likely realizes I’m not riding the AI bandwagon. I see its inevitability, and there’s not much we can do to change that fact. Essentially, it’s all about profit, and we can’t alter that either. In simple terms, companies like Google will keep producing AI-driven absurdities as long as it yields profit. They can express remorse afterwards.
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I could endlessly discuss how you’re being tricked by terms like “learning” and “intelligence,” when it’s really mere programming, but I’m worn out from writing it, and folks are weary of reading it. You’re either aboard the AI train or not.
Instead, I came across something from Google Gemini that truly impressed me.
I’m referring to the latest Gemini Gem, the Storybook. It’s a preconfigured routine that allows you to specify what to write and how to illustrate it, ultimately producing a 10-page children’s book. Nothing more, nothing less.
Why does this matter to me (and why should it matter to you)?
It’s something AI like Gemini was already capable of, but redesigning it neatly into its own user-friendly space makes it one of the most impressive offerings from Google in quite some time.
You might ask why a middle-aged, curmudgeonly man cares about creating children’s storybooks. Aside from having grandkids who adore this, I honestly don’t. It’s not the product itself, but rather the presentation and the benefit for children. Try it out if you haven’t already, and I think you’ll understand.
I’m not naive; I know someone thinks this will ultimately help Gemini generate profit, but that aspect doesn’t cross my mind. I’m focused on a young parent (or grandparent) sitting with a child and utilizing the tool to create a charming story that kids will adore and wish to share with their peers.
AI isn’t tailored for children; in fact, much of it can be quite detrimental, and perusing the latest tech updates reveals more than you might want to know about individuals using AI to take advantage of others, including kids. It’s unfortunate, but it’s human nature to exploit any new technology to make life harder for others. When the apes eventually succeed us, I hope they can perform better.
But I digress. Mostly, this reminds me of what the “old” Google would have done. Google, which sought to aid in curing cancer or use balloons to provide free internet to those in regions like Africa. The Google that recognized the need for a better world and had the resources to make it happen. Something we haven’t witnessed in recent times.
This probably won’t ignite a new Google renaissance where the company reverts to its “Don’t Be Evil” principles or anything of the sort. We will still witness Google pushing consumer-grade products on us in hopes that we’ll exchange money or our data for them, but a bright spot remains a bright spot, and I’ll take what I can find.
I want to see more of this
There are numerous ways the concept of creating something specialized and thus accessible can be integrated with AI. If it’s beneficial for the next generation, even better.
I want to see more of it. Develop an interface that allows Gemini to assist kids in learning to code, or help seniors manage their retirement benefits. Make it so you can click a link to access one platform, request it, and have it formatted automatically, rather than needing to perfectly phrase the input prompt.
I know how to query Gemini in the “right” way to achieve the results I desire. You might as well. However, most people do not. Those are the individuals Google needs to assist, not the tech enthusiasts who tinker with everything. If the shoe fits, and all that…
In my list of desires, this doesn’t rank as high in significance as world peace or eradicating poverty or anything similar. Honestly, it also feels like something we might expect from the “old” Apple (yes, Apple has evolved too) while Google concerned itself with token capacities and integers.
Regardless, I relish seeing it. Now, show me more like this.
