Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems and affective technologies are making interaction with devices increasingly intuitive. A future is taking shape where our devices are coming to life and take on new functions as companions, confidants and friends. ‘Living’ technology will heighten our emotional attachment to our devices, and could even breed new forms of spiritual connection with technology.

Today, visual recognition systems like Kinect and virtual assistants like Siri already allow us to interact with devices via gestures and voice. As these technologies advance, interaction is becoming increasingly more intuitive. Devices are gaining a semantic understanding of speech beyond simple voice commands, allowing for more natural conversations. ‘Emotion sensing’ capabilities will enable devices to detect our emotions based on our facial expressions and tone of voice, making interactions richer and more affective. A new category of ‘living’ objects will emerge – intelligent devices that possess a sort of agency, and that interact with us in a way similar to the way we interact with living beings.

Since the cell phone is always with us, it is likely to be the first device that is ‘humanized’ via technology – a development that is already well underway today. It can be expected that in the future it will be common to have one — or several — virtual ‘friends’ living on our cell phones. These digital companions will converse with us, play games with us, or act as our private tutors, helping us to educate ourselves and learn new skills.

Artificial characters can be expected to inhabit our living spaces, too. First appearing on the TV screen, and as technology further progresses on video wallpaper, allowing us to interact with them via gestures and voice. British company Lomox has already created a first prototype of video wallpaper using OLED (organic LED) lighting. Sony has developed a prototype OLED display that is paper-thin and so flexible that it can be wrapped around a pencil while displaying video images. As OLEDs become cheaper, it’s not hard to imagine how this technology could transform living room walls into giant flat screens. This video gives an idea of how video wallpaper could revolutionize the TV and gaming experience.

Combined with AI technology, interactive wallpaper will make our homes come alive, turning them into habitable organisms that we can personalize based on our tastes and preferences. Whole new worlds populated with AI characters will be available to us in our living spaces. Our homes will become souled sanctuaries where we can feel secure and cared for in an increasingly individualized and detached society.

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