I’m not proud of this and I certainly don’t think I’m the only one who does this, but the first thing I do when I wake up is reach for my phone. Of course this is a rather new phenomenon, it wasn’t always like this. But even though knowing all the warnings against looking at my phone before bed, the light emanating from it and the doom scrolling affecting sleep, I still have my phone in bed or on the nightstand. So yes the first thing I do when I wake up is reach for it almost as a comforting touch.
I typically do a quick check of notifications and news to determine nothing too disastrous has happened overnight and it’s safe to get out of bed without the dread of an immediate crisis.
I then usually check my weather app. Having worked outside for many years this is a habit I still do to this day, and I’ve noticed a recent trend with my weather app. Along with giving the forecast for the day and if needed a weekly forecast along with the radar for the area, my weather app is now also giving advice.
At first I really didn’t even notice it, so I’m not sure when it started and I wonder how many people really do notice it as we’ve become so accustomed to glancing over many things on our phones and not really reading them. It was probably a couple of days before I really noticed and determined this advice was not a onetime thing.
What I find so fascinating about this is that the tone is more friendly, even motherly in a non-judgmental sort of way that true motherly advice could never be.
”Showers might spoil your plans and a rain jacket is a smart call when heading out”….was the advice with the daily forecast yesterday. If my mother had actually said that to me I probably would have rolled my eyes and ignored it.
”With no shadow and no glare, cloudy days have their perks”….hmm I thought I guess cloudy days do have some benefits. I surely never would have come to that conclusion any other time.
”No blue sky, but no reason to change your plans either”… well that’s a relief I thought as I still lay under the covers.
The advice seems to be given in a breezy, friendly tone as if a caring friend notices you always seem to be the one who forgets their sunglasses or umbrella.
I’m sure this is some type of AI generated advice creeping into our lives disguised as a non obtrusive feature. And I genuinely worry that our brains are slowly shutting down and dying with each query into our phones and computers. Will the next generation be capable of original thoughts without running it through an AI machine to verify. Our are own mothers being replaced as the most knowledgeable source of information?
I have a feeling this is just the beginning. First the AI machines give helpful but unasked for advice about weather ( after all we could simply look out the window or….gasp….go outside)
Soon the advice will become more pointed and judgmental and even personalized as all of life seems to be heading.
”I think I answered that last week, do we really need to go over this again”….is something that will soon be spewing forth from an AI agent or perhaps a simple query about a evening out will become a referendum about your current relationship and whether it’s really working for you.
No we all know this is just the beginning, the friendly advice now about weather soon becomes career advice, relationship advice, investment advice, parenting advice, and although we could each use a little guidance and mentoring it’s still probably a good idea to get that from trusted sources like parents or friends who actually know you and have your back.
And although I have been taking my phone to bed with me and tucking it under my pillow as I fall asleep to music or a baseball game I don’t consider that I have a relationship with it that feels like I want to trust it for life advice.
I hope the apps on my phone don’t all start giving advice….can you imagine if Facebook or Instagram start judging what you’re posting….
”You wore that to the theater and why are you squinting? Didn’t the weather app remind you to grab your sunglasses ?”
Soon our apps will be communicating with us verbally so it really will be like your mother is always with you, reminding you, scolding you and advising you…. “I told you she was no good for you and you really should have been a doctor like your cousin” ….
I can’t wait ….
Peace and love….
John
John's Blog 