I don't see #Amazon as needing to compete with #OpenAI, #Meta, #Anthropic, etc. by developing their own #AI #LLM. The Amazon retail experience already has great usability, use of data, and recommendation / search algorithms.
I think they might be better off working agnostically with all model makers:
1. To offer the models in AWS for customers to use.
2. Getting all the model makers to embed APIs so that #chatbots can allow users to purchase products instantly that come up in query answers.
I'm increasingly skeptical that #AI will put people out of work. History has shown that life becomes continually complex and new jobs are always created. I always write that the Information Age is gone, and we are now in the Attention Scarcity Age. Change is happening faster than ever, people are drowning in information, and attention / focus are the new scarce resources.
My prediction is that #LLMs and AI might take over basic, repetitive stuff, but human experts will be busy doing things, like evaluating #AIAgents. With all the change happening, to stay competitive, it will take full time people just to keep testing an evaluating which models and agents to use, how to deploy them, and help them cope with change.
We've been here before:
1. Historical - hundreds of thousands of jobs like blacksmiths, elevator operators, stenographers, and typesetters were eliminated, but new jobs were created.
2. McDonalds - They added ordering kiosks in stores and people thought it would eliminate jobs. Instead, the pandemic happened, and people switched to drive-through, and they added mobile ordering / curbside. That created jobs.
Instead, it's more important to apply AI with Strategic Simplicity®. Identify 80/20 points (small, critical turning points in your processes / customer journeys) and bottlenecks that can give the best ROI from AI. Then choose to start with the ones that are low-hanging fruit so you build up your AI skills.
#AI
#strategy
#digitaltransformation
#businesstransformation
Zuckerberg is ambitious and follows Andy Grove's idea of "only the paranoid survive" and wants to stay ahead of disruption. AI models are in danger of becoming commodities—users can build their applications and, through the cloud, easily switch between models.
So, to differentiate, he is leveraging the fact that Facebook is minting money (they exceeded this quarter by a lot), by throwing it at the best researchers, and is promoting this idea of "personalized super intelligence."
All the AI players are starting to think about the model being a commodity, and so Meta is not the only one trying to escape from being behind a phone or PC. While Meta is talking about AI glasses, OpenAI made the big teaser announcement that they partnered with Jony Ives (the famous Apple designer) to create their own wearable AI device (rumored to be a pendant).
If you've been following AI news, Meta has been putting together a "AI super intelligence" team, and they have been hiring away the best scientists from Open AI, Google, etc. for professional athlete money ($100+ million).
Today, Zuckerberg released his manifesto (https://www.meta.com/superintelligence/).
The highlights are:
1. They have seen AI start to improve itself in the last few months, so developing super intelligence is within sight.
2. The rest of this decade will likely be decisive for determining the path forward.
3. He believes the other companies subscribe to the model of a central AI super intelligence taking all jobs and people living on the dole of it's output.
4. Meta's vision is personalized super intelligence in everyone's hands, for people to achieve their visions.
5. He feels our primary computing devices will be something like glasses that see and hear everything we do, and interact with us during the day.
Clarity vs. Scope level. Many start-ups, consulting firms, agencies, etc. "pitch" to clients with detailed slide decks detailing their capabilities, methodology, etc. But this misses the mark.
They do this because many of them came from leadership positions in larger organizations where they led transformations. However, in that position, they were at the defining scope level, which is at the tactical tier. For them, the strategic decision to do the transformation had already been made.
At the "pitch" stage, it's all about the strategic decisions of whether to do the project, and if your firm is the correct one to do it. Instead of focusing on details of methodology, you need to focus this decision around clarity of the opportunity, and its risks / rewards / benefits.
If the AI device from OpenAI and Jony Ive’s team (io) truly resembles an iPod Shuffle-like gadget with no screen, it would need to rely on non-visual, ambient ways to communicate. Here's how that might work, based on current technology and speculative reports:
Conversational AI via microphone and speaker.
Think of it like a highly advanced voice assistant (better than Siri or Alexa).
You speak naturally, it responds with context-aware answers.
Likely to include whispered, private audio via directional sound or bone conduction.
The device could sense your environment, movement, and even mood using:
GPS
Accelerometers and gyroscopes
Ambient light and sound sensors
Possibly even biofeedback sensors
This lets it anticipate needs without prompting—for example, reminding you of an appointment when you stand up to leave your house.
Haptics: It could use vibration patterns to communicate (e.g., different buzzes for alerts, directions, or emotions).
Chimes or tones: Non-verbal auditory signals to convey status, warnings, or confirmations.
Think Apple Watch’s Taptic Engine, but miniaturized and more sophisticated.
Could pair with AirPods or other earbuds for seamless, private communication.
May support gesture-based controls or minimal touch input (like swiping or tapping).
Might also communicate via a companion app on your phone, tablet, or watch if needed.
The goal is for the AI to feel like a calm presence, not a demanding screen.
Instead of you initiating every interaction, it would proactively help based on your needs, habits, and preferences.
Examples:
Notifying you softly when it’s time to leave for a meeting
Summarizing news via audio while you walk
Whispering reminders or insights during a conversation
Bone conduction audio (sound transmitted through your skull, inaudible to others)
Projecting sound that only you can hear (directional audio)
Emotionally aware responses (adjusting tone/voice based on your mood)
This aligns with the broader vision of post-smartphone AI: something less addictive, more integrated, and more human-centered. Instead of screens, it's about presence and assistive intelligence.
Would you like mockups or use-case scenarios of how a person might interact with such a device throughout a day?
Here’s a day-in-the-life mockup showing how someone might interact with the screen-free, AI-native deviceenvisioned by OpenAI and Jony Ive—let’s call it “ioPod” for fun:
7:30 AM — Wake-Up
As you stir, the ioPod senses movement and light.
It gently vibrates and says in a soft voice:
“Good morning. You slept 7 hours and 42 minutes. Your first meeting is at 9:00. Shower and breakfast will keep you on track.”
8:15 AM — While Making Coffee
You casually say:
“io, remind me to ask Alex about the budget.”
“Noted. I’ll bring it up when you're in your 9:00 call.”
8:40 AM — Leaving the House
As you walk out, it uses GPS to know you’re headed to the office.
In your earbuds:
“Light traffic. You'll arrive with 10 minutes to spare. Want a 5-minute news update?”
You nod or tap it twice.
“Today’s top story: Tech stocks rallied... ”
10:45 AM — Mid-Morning Brainstorm
You’re in a hallway talking to a teammate. io listens passively and notices a keyword (e.g., “launch date”).
As you part ways, it whispers:
“You mentioned launching the new product. Want me to schedule a follow-up with the product team?”
1:00 PM — Walking to Lunch
io detects a lull and says:
“You’re walking past the Thai place. Want your usual pad see ew?”
You say:
“Yes, order it for 1:15.”
6:00 PM — At Home
While relaxing, you say:
“io, what’s one thing I forgot today?”
It responds:
“You didn’t send that article to Maya. Want to do it now or tomorrow morning?”
10:15 PM — Winding Down
As you prepare for bed:
“Would you like sleep sounds tonight?”
You nod. It starts playing gentle waves.
After 10 minutes of no motion, it goes quiet and shifts to sleep mode.
Ambient: You don’t stare at it. It speaks when helpful.
Contextual: Knows where you are, what you're doing, and when to help.
Minimalist: No screen, no overload. Just brief, relevant moments.
Private: Communicates via subtle voice, AirPods, or haptics.
Intuitive: Works with voice, touch, or even nods/gestures.
