Forget replacing humans, Apple wants AI to improve our memory

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Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Siri may soon remember every detail of your life.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

If Apple has its way in the field of artificial intelligence, robots and algorithms won’t just be used to replace you at work, they could help fix your brain too.

Apple executive and Siri co-creator, Tom Gruber, laid out a different vision for artificial intelligence today while speaking at the TED 2017 conference in Vancouver, Canada. During his remarks, Gruber told the crowd how he thinks AI could become more helpful than harmful.

Gruber wants to position AI so that it helps human memory so that we don’t forget anything. By recording every single detail of our lives, AI will soon help us remember everyone we’ve met as well as provide minute details about them like family history, preferred foods, favorite sports teams and more.

“I believe AI will make personal memory enhancement a reality. I think it’s inevitable,” Gruber said, according to reports from Business Insider and Axios. “I can’t say when or what form factors are involved, but I think it is inevitable

All of the data collected would have to be store in a ultra-secure location. Gruber also explained that users would get to choose what is collected and recalled. AI could also be used for other tasks like early cancer detection.

While the AI augmented memory technology could be a neat enhancement for many people, it would be life-changing to millions of people suffering from Alzheimers and dementia.

“It’s the difference between life of isolation and a life of dignity and connection,” said Gruber.

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