How AI Characters Are Changing Your Life – Excited or Petrified?

Originally posted on August 21, 2024, updated on August 29, 2024 to include new information

Ever feel like your toaster is judging you for burning your toast? Or that your fridge is silently mocking your midnight snack choices? Well, you might not be too far off. But it’s not just the typical AI, AI Characters are everywhere, and it’s not just in your sci-fi movies anymore. It’s in your home, your car, and even your pocket. Here’s why should you be more excited than scared, and a few reasons to keep an eye out for potential problems.

The Start of AI Characters – Your Silent Helper

Devices like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant can be considered pioneering forerunners for AI characters. These AI assistants have evolved from simple voice-activated tools into sophisticated entities that interact with users in a personable and intuitive manner. They are designed to understand and respond to natural language, anticipate user needs, and provide personalized assistance, making them feel more like characters with distinct personalities rather than just machines running algorithms. This transformation allows users to engage with technology in a more natural and engaging way, enhancing the overall user experience.

• Apple Intelligence: Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, which integrates advanced AI capabilities into their devices. Siri is a core part of this system, leveraging generative models and personal context to deliver helpful and relevant intelligence. Siri’s role as an AI assistant designed to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks.
  
• Amazon’s Alexa: By integrating with a wide array of smart devices and services, Alexa has not only simplified daily routines but also set a new standard for personalized, intuitive assistance. Alexa understands context, provides real-time information, and adapts to user preferences which has made Alexa an indispensable part of modern life, paving the way for the next generation of AI characters.
  
• Google Assistant: is designed to help users manage tasks, get answers, and control smart home devices. It combines generative AI with personalized assistance to provide a more intuitive and efficient user experience. Google Assistant leverages Google’s extensive ecosystem, including services like Gmail and Google Docs, to offer personalized help and manage daily tasks more effectively.

Creating Your Own AI Characters: A New Era of Interaction

Fast forward five years or less, and AI won’t just be your silent helper; it’ll be your best friend or at least someone to chat with in character.

You can now create your own personal AI Characters (similar to the cover photo of this post which was generated by Copilot) on platforms such as Janitor AI. It’s becoming more popular with people that want to create chatbot personas that can interact through role play. This goes beyond the typical customer service type of chatbot that companies use for their websites. Instead, the AI character is used as an immersive and interactive experience where it doesn’t just read or summarize a book for example, it’s creating a storyline with you on-the-fly! It’s on a whole other level of storytelling, it’s interactive storytelling.

Here’s how it works

After you create your character on a platform such as Janitor AI, the AI uses your details to become the character and simulate the behavior and responses. You can then chat with it or chat with other characters shared with the community.

Example of Interactive Storytelling with AI Characters

If a user creates a character giving it a name, personality and background, the AI will then simulate that character’s behavior and responses. So, if I created a character such as, “Captain Aria” this is how the chat would go…

Me: “Captain Aria, we’ve reached the edge of the galaxy. What should we do next?”

Captain Aria (AI): “Excellent work, crew. Our mission is to explore the uncharted territories. Prepare the ship for a deep space scan and keep an eye out for any anomalies.”

Me: “A strange signal is coming from a nearby planet. Should we investigate?”

Captain Aria (AI): “Absolutely. Set a course for the planet and prepare a landing party. This could be the discovery of a lifetime!”

I don’t think the storylines are going to win any awards anytime soon, at least not during this award season. But who knows, with enough time, effort and some really good character development, could these stories make their way into books, movies, etc…? Also, the conversation can be expanded to include multiple characters either from the community or ones that you created making it that more immersive. It becomes your own personal storyline. But beware, not every character is “G” rated. There are a fair share of “R” rated characters as well. I can only image what those storylines are like. I’ll just leave that one there…

Aside from Immersive Storytelling

Here’s what else you can expect from AI Characters in the next 5 years or so:

Imagine Siri not just setting reminders or requiring your input but will be booking your appointments and planning your vacations based on the data it collects.

Maybe a Doctor AI Character will help doctors diagnose diseases faster and more accurately, and even suggest personalized treatment plans.

Traffic jams? A thing of the past. A Traffic Coordinator AI Character will optimize traffic flow, reduce accidents, and even help you find parking spots.

This is one I think will be a game changer for some students, personalized learning experiences tailored to your strengths and weaknesses. No more one-size-fits-all education instead your learning experience is tailored to your learning strengths by an Educator AI Character while also helping you address your weaknesses. It can become a tutor, academic counselor, or help with all your educational needs based on the data it has collected from K-12 and beyond combined with the data it has access to globally.

The Hidden Downsides of AI Integration

So what’s the big deal? All those mundane, things we do without thinking or find time consuming can be done quickly so that we can go on to do more important things with our time. But wait, while AI Characters are set to revolutionize our lives, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Here are some potential downsides that might not be on your radar:

• Privacy Concerns: With AI collecting data on your habits and preferences, there’s a risk of your personal information being misused or hacked.
  
• Bias and Discrimination: AI systems can inadvertently perpetuate biases present in their training data, leading to unfair treatment in areas like hiring and law enforcement².
  
• Job Displacement: As AI Characters take over more tasks, there’s a real concern about job loss and the need for workers to reskill.
  
• Over-Reliance on Technology: Becoming too dependent on AI Characters could make us less capable of performing tasks independently and more vulnerable to system failures.
  
• Ethical Dilemmas: The use of AI Characters in decision-making processes raises ethical questions about accountability and transparency.

The Future Dilemma For the Younger Generations

Younger generations are signing up for apps like Janitor AI and other character-driven platforms, which means their data is being captured. But what happens in 5+ years or less when they want to apply for a job or they become a public figure where a somewhat clean reputation is expected? The role playing chats, character developments, and a everything that goes with it can all be accessed in the future. Imagine a potential employer, or partner, or anyone doing a background check on you sees your role-playing characters including all the related conversations! Umm, that might be worse than someone hacking your text messages.

Additional Resources on the potential impact of AI data captures

• Data Capture Today: These apps collect vast amounts of data, including conversations and interactions with AI characters.
  
• Future Job Applications: Employers increasingly use AI-driven background checks that can analyze social media activity and other online interactions.
  
• Potential Risks: Questionable AI characters and interactions could surface during background checks, potentially impacting job prospects.
  
• Privacy Concerns: The data collected today could be used in ways that users might not anticipate, raising significant privacy concern.

Why You Should Be Excited (And Not Terrified)

I get it. The idea of AI Characters taking over can be a bit daunting. Here are some key reasons why people should be optimistic about the potential of AI characters:

1. Enhanced Convenience and Efficiency
   • AI characters streamline everyday tasks, from setting reminders and managing schedules to controlling smart home devices and providing real-time information. This convenience allows users to focus on more important activities, improving overall productivity.
     
2. Personalized Experiences
   • AI characters can learn from user interactions to provide personalized assistance. They can remember preferences, suggest relevant content, and adapt to individual needs, creating a more tailored and enjoyable user experience.
     
3. Improved Accessibility
   • AI characters make technology more accessible to people with disabilities. Voice-activated assistants can help those with visual impairments navigate devices, while AI-driven tools can assist individuals with mobility challenges in controlling their environment.
     
4. Continuous Learning and Improvement
   • AI characters are constantly evolving, with updates and improvements enhancing their capabilities. This continuous development ensures that AI assistants become more accurate, efficient, and useful over time.
     
5. Support for Mental Health and Well-being
   • AI characters can provide support for mental health by offering reminders for medication, suggesting relaxation techniques, or simply being a conversational partner. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals who may feel isolated or need regular prompts to maintain their well-being.
     
6. Economic Opportunities
   • AI characters can drive economic growth by creating new job opportunities in AI development, maintenance, and related fields. Additionally, they can support education by providing personalized learning experiences and acting as tutors for students.
     
7. AI Characters in Education
   • AI characters are increasingly being used in education to provide personalized learning experiences and act as tutors for students. According to the World Economic Forum, AI has the potential to transform education by creating more personalized learning approaches and supporting teachers through automation of administrative tasks. This allows educators to spend more time on personalized interactions with students, enhancing the overall learning experience. Additionally, AI avatars and characters can engage students in interactive and tailored educational activities, improving engagement and academic outcomes.
     
8. Safety and Security
   • AI characters can indeed enhance safety and security by monitoring home environments, alerting users to potential hazards, and providing emergency assistance. According to IBM, AI capabilities can significantly improve cybersecurity defenses by analyzing large amounts of data in real-time to detect potential threats. Additionally, AI characters like Alexa Emergency Assist and Google Nest are equipped with features that can monitor home environments and provide alerts for potential hazards, contributing to a safer living environment.

Conclusion

So, the next time your fridge suggests a healthier snack or your car parks itself, remember: AI Characters are here to make your life easier, not harder. Embrace the change, but stay informed and cautious about the potential downsides. After all, even the best assistants need a little supervision and guidance when it comes to your personal choices.

Curious about how AI can make your life better? Start exploring today and share your experiences with us!

Recommended Reading:

For those interested in exploring the future of AI characters, here are three highly recommended books by experts in the field:

1. “Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” by Max Tegmark – This book explores the future of AI and its implications for humanity, including the development of AI characters and their integration into daily life.
   
2. “AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future” by Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan – This book presents a series of futuristic scenarios involving AI, including the role of AI characters in various aspects of life. Kai-Fu Lee, a leading AI expert, and Chen Qiufan, a science fiction writer, combine their expertise to offer a compelling vision of the future.
   
3. “Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies” by Nick Bostrom – Bostrom, a philosopher and AI theorist, delves into the future of AI, including the development of super intelligent AI characters and the ethical considerations surrounding them.

Recommended Podcasts About AI