In a recent discussion, Elizabeth Weil, founder and partner at Scribble Ventures, explored the evolving landscape of consumer artificial intelligence (AI) alongside her colleague Chi-Hua Chien. Read on to hear from both industry leaders about what’s new in the AI applications landscape. Further, they stressed the critical importance of creating innovation as well as stabilization in the sector’s future.
Weil started the conversation by sharing his thoughts on today’s consumer AI world. He characterized it as stuck in an “uncomfortable adolescent limbo.” She explained that while there are exciting developments, the market has yet to reach a point where these technologies can be seamlessly integrated into everyday life. Chien was on the same wavelength, underscoring a big change in the air. He thinks it’s similar to the mobile explosion of 2009-2010.
The conversation focused on the thrilling possibilities that personalized AI tools could unlock. Weil envisioned a future when the “always-on” tutor you cultivate with users becomes a trusted, friendly, helpful daily companion. She shared her hope that this targeted, highly personalized education will soon be available directly from our smartphones. While Weil was open on the idea that smartphones are too restricting in their scope for rethinking consumer AI products,
“We need a period of stabilization for lasting AI consumer products to flourish,” Weil emphasized, underscoring the importance of developing robust platforms before advancing further into innovative consumer applications. In reply, Chien admitted to being dazzled by some of the early AI use cases in media, video and audio in particular. All of those practices might not be survivable long-term.
Both Weil and Chien exhibited skepticism about the viability of several stealthy AI-powered social network startups emerging in the current market. Chien’s testimony expressed worries about the ways these platforms could unnecessarily restrict user engagement. He stated, “It turns social into a single-player game. I’m not sure that it works.” This note of caution underscores the lack of meaningful connections between users that these new technologies have struggled to create and cultivate.
Chien further elaborated on the limitations of smartphone interfaces, stating, “It’s unlikely that a device that you pick up 500 times a day but only sees 3% to 5% of what you see is going to be what ultimately introduces the use cases that take full advantage of AI’s capabilities.” This testimony points to a clear opportunity for more immersive, more integrative tools that would help us better tap AI’s potential.
Even with their caveats, both Weil and Chien can’t help but be buoyed by the future potential of all this AI technology. Taken together, their insights paint a picture of an emerging perspective across the industry. They understand that while current consumer AI applications might not have permanent stickiness, the space is full of potential for exploration and creativity.