Hi ,
You don't need AI to tell you when to drink a glass of water.
People have done just fine for the past few millennia by simply drinking whenever they feel thirsty.
And unless you're an elite athlete or suffer from a medical condition that makes that impossible, you probably will, too.
Yet, AI water bottles that do just that exist (I'm not joking).
They are feasible to create, but whether they are valuable to the world is another matter.
Here's the thing...
When trying to select AI projects to undertake, the golden rule is to always
choose projects are both technically feasible and valuable to the end user. If a potential project doesn't tick both these boxes, then you should walk away before you even begin - otherwise you are wasting your time.
There's a great quote from Jurassic Park that goes:
"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.”
Although this line refers to the ethics of scientific innovation, it can apply just as well to the value of such discoveries.
Since the launch of ChatGPT, everyone has wanted to jump on the AI bandwagon - and now every other electrical or software product seems to come "with added AI". But just because you can add AI, doesn't mean you should.
If the cost of adding AI exceeds its value, then it shouldn't be there, regardless of how feasible it is to include.
Admittedly, AI water bottles do sound like a fun (albeit expensive) toy. But if all people really want is a boring old bottle that holds liquids, then that's what you should deliver.
Talk again soon,
Dr Genevieve Hayes.
