[OT] The problem with programming and how to fix it

[Alejandro Tejada]

Hi Mark,

> Hmmmm - I think that is missing the point about what the
> current 'AI' technologies that exist actually do (as far as
> I can see anyway - I'd be more than happy to be
> proved wrong!)...

Well, the point is that all current AI technologies requires
an internet connection to work and AI software that run
in servers is learning thousands of new interactions
everyday from millions active users.

If a thousand small tasks and user interactions prove to be
useful (based in user feedback) and successful (based in
repeated use) for many, many users, then the operating
system will offer these tasks, make them available to you
and all users. Millions of new users.
Step by step, task by task a picture of a more and more
useful AI assistant will emerge thanks to the feedback
and guidance from millions active users.

> They are merely mappings from one form input to another form of input -
> they themselves don't do any action - the actions still have to be
> implemented somehow.

Yes, in a central server. In this moment there are millions creating
these tasks (probably unaware that they are programming too)

> Alexa for example by itself does diddly-squat beyond map voice to a
> lower level actionable command (with an element of context, certainly
> which makes it slightly interesting) - it's the skills that people 'like
us'
> implement which actually do the thing Alexa interprets that we want
> to be done.

Yes, this is programming. Millions active users are doing this
for free in this moment.

> Same with google assistant, siri, wolfram alpha, even google search -
> I can type 'what is 100 usd in gbp' and it gives me the answer.
> However the reason google search can do that is because
> some programmer at google has added a hook which knows
> that when that pattern is searched for it should call a program
> that has been explicitly written which looks up the current
> exchange rate and then renders the result in a nicely formatted
> string which appears at the top of the search results.

The keys to create more useful AI assistants are positive
user feedback and repeated use. Time will tell
which company wins this time.

Al