I got a chocolate milkshake tonight.
That may not sound interesting.
But I am interested to understand how my buying decision unfolded and if there is a better/easier way to make this happen.
Cause: I got up at 4:20 am and worked out.
Effect: My energy level was low tonight and I was looking for a fix.
Cause: I had a really good day at the office. I had some very effective meetings.
Effect: I wanted to reward myself.
Cause: I was home alone—the wife and kids were all doing something fun.
Effect: I didn’t need to buy a milkshake for my whole family.
Cause: It’s been a long time since I’ve had one.
Effect: I justified that I need one from time-to-time.
It wasn’t a single item that made me get in my car and drive to get a shake. It was a combination that, when bundled together, allowed me to make the purchase.
When we think about the vast amount of data that’s generated by each of us on a second-to-second basis, we must ask ourselves, “Why did I even need to make the decision to buy the milkshake at all?”
In emerging world of artificial intelligence (AI), I figure one day I’ll just get in my self-driving car and it will take me to my favorite milkshake establishment—without giving it any commands. When I get there, my order will be ready and waiting. Or better yet, my car will drive there by itself and pick my milkshake for me, or it will be delivered by drone.
The fact of the matter is that AI will be identifying our needs in advance of us even thinking about them.
Let’s break down my day again and look at the data (current and future):
Data: My watch will be able to identify my biometrics and determine my level of fatigue, my heart rate, my mood, and my blood-sugar level.
Data: My calendar is on-line and can determine if I’ll be home alone.
Data: My credit card statements are online and can tell the last time I has a milkshake.
AI will filter through the millions of data sets we produce each day to predict what we need next. It should understand our requirements, our wants, our needs, our desires. It should know if the batteries are low in my smoke detectors and order them automatically (the same goes for the toner in my printer!). It should know that my daughter loves dogs and hates cats so that when she sits at the computer, the desktop is a cute Labrador puppy.
It should know that I have a struggle with an employee at work and need to have a meaningful one-on-one offering tips on how to listen empathically.
It should know that I have a 15-minute window and would really like to read an article on how to launch a new product.
It should know that I’m trying to lose weight and so a milkshake is not what I should eat tonight and it should steer my car away… far, far away. {Stupid AI! I may hate it if I can’t ever have a milkshake again!}
You get the idea.