💡 Are we ready for the next computing paradigm?

The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.¹

This episode dives deep into the essence of ubiquitous computing, a concept pioneered by Mark Weiser, the visionary Chief Technologist at Xerox PARC. Weiser’s ideas paved the way for the devices that have become extensions of ourselves: smartphones, tablets, laptops, all designed to blend into the fabric of our daily routines.

But do we have the capability, knowledge and technology to push the idea of ubiquitous computing even further — to make our devices minimal, almost invisible? Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, former Apple executives and founders of Humane believe that we do. Last year, Humane revealed their first product, Ai Pin, to a wave of hype and scepticism. So I wanted to go deeper, and really understand what drives Bethany and Imran to believe the moment for invisible computing is here.

You’ll hear us discuss…

• The evolution of computing: Tracing the journey from bulky computers to the democratisation of this potent resource.

• The principles guiding the creation of technology that respects its users.

• Differentiating between ambient computing (exemplified by the AI Pin) and spatial computing (like the Apple Vision Pro).

• Insights into the ideas, software and hardware that make the Ai Pin.

• Trusting a world without apps: The implications of an app-free operating system for user trust and interaction.

• Compassionate computing: Understanding the ethos behind creating technology that understands and cares.

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Timestamps:

0:00 Preview and introduction

03:56 Evolution of computing

07:30 A Blackberry user joins Apple

11:40 What drives courageous and responsible design

18:50 Ideas, software and hardware behind the Ai Pin

21:37 Ambient computing vs spatial computing

25:04 AI-first platform

31:10 Trusting an OS with no apps

38:58 Compassionate computing

41:34 The team’s hopes for the Ai Pin

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Where to find Bethany and Imran:

Bethany’s LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-bongiorno

Imran’s LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/imran-chaudhri/

Humane website: https://humane.com

Where to find Azeem:

Website: https://www.azeemazhar.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azhar

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AzeemExponentially

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azeem

X: https://twitter.com/azeem

1. Mark Weiser in his paper The Computer for the 21st Century https://ics.uci.edu/~corps/phaseii/Weiser-Computer21stCentury-SciAm.pdf