The AI boom: Will efficiency replace creativity and privacy?
If you've read my past articles, you may recall that I haven’t been particularly excited about the latest AI hype. It might seem like an unpopular opinion. Why wouldn’t someone be thrilled about a new technology that’s poised to change the world, transform markets, replace workers, and define the future?
Well, I do like new technologies and the possibilities they bring. Progress is essential. However, with the current AI hype, things feel a bit different.
Yes, it's happening so fast
Every month, there’s a new AI model - a supposed gamechanger. Almost every day, countless AI-powered apps and services emerge, each claiming to use groundbreaking technology that will revolutionize how we interact with the world.
It’s all happening so quickly that it's nearly impossible to keep up. From a financial standpoint, it’s fascinating, which is why some companies are scrambling to hire people who proclaim themselves as "AI evangelists."
I’ve previously written about the first generation of AI-powered devices, like the Rabbit r1 (nicely designed by Teenage Engineering) and the Humane AI pin, which involved Ken Kocienda. I wasn’t a huge fan of these devices then, and now, months later, it seems they’ve already fallen by the wayside. That’s how fast things are moving.
Where’s privacy?
As you know, I’m part of Countly, an established product analytics company that places a high value on privacy. Why do I mention it? Because society wise, there's been a shift in how we perceive privacy, and personally, I don’t like it. This shift began with social media, but today it has extended to AI companies. Most people seem perfectly fine with handing over all their information to these companies.
There's also a shift in how we view intellectual property and copyright. AI is essentially enabling us to plagiarize without feeling the guilt. Would this have been acceptable 10 years ago? Is it moral? Well, morals evolve over time.
Right now, we’re riding the AI wave. We're drawn to new products and experiences just because they have "AI" in their name. AI is still a novel concept.
It’s safe to say that our worldview, values, and cultural preferences are typically shaped during our formative years, and we hold onto them throughout most of our lives. For the current generation, those who are 20 to 25 years old-they feel that AI is their big thing. It’s their moment to shine, their opportunity to make an impact they didn’t see coming.
Some people believe AI will democratize society, but from my perspective, it’s doing the opposite. It’s giving more power to the big tech companies: Google, Apple, OpenAI, and others.
In a few years, the AI hype will fade. Something else will take AI’s place. AI will remain, but it will become an integrated part of products, no longer highlighted. It will become normal - no longer something that excites us or something that sells.
AI and the soul of design
In design, AI will allow more people to participate in the creative process. Some companies will be able to build products without needing designers. Is that a good thing? Time will tell. I suspect it will lower the bar for quality, much like what happened in the music industry with streaming platforms and tools that make it easy for anyone to be a musician. These innovations diluted the quality. Are any albums from this year likely to be considered classics in 10 or 15 years?
Many bands aren’t even releasing full albums anymore - it’s too much work when there’s an easier way to make money. Has quality suffered? Well, yes. It’s quantity over quality. Will the same thing happen with design? It’s already happening.
Design is becoming standardized. There are so many frameworks, automations, templates, and best practices that originality and bold ideas are often sidelined in favor of simply getting the job done by reusing the same patterns. Can that approach lead to innovation? You know my thoughts. It’s the efficiency trap all over again.
AI in design will be much faster than humans. Non-designers will input data into AI tools and then tweak the results. But personally, I don’t think that’s how you create the next generation of great products. It will be efficient, though, and it’s going to succeed. Some people will love it. Will I? Probably not, because I don’t see much space for passion in that process.
There will be another revolution
One day, there will be a reaction to this trend and it will gradually become stronger and stronger. Some companies will start to emphasize that their products are different, original, and imbued with a "human touch". The appeal of “more human, more personal, more original experiences and custom” will become a strong selling point.
We’ll see real customer support instead of chatbots. Some hotels will ditch iPads for human concierge services. Some car manufacturers will (hopefully) replace ugly, Tesla-style tablets with beautiful dashboards, featuring leather and carefully stitched seats instead of recycled plastic materials.
If such an opposing movement arises, I’d love to be part of it. In fact, I’ve already chosen my side.