Thanks to social media, we already live dual lives and we’re en route to making it more real. New technology will soon let you be available at two different places simultaneously, but might also make you mentally lazy.
Ericsson predicts the rise of smart devices which will be aware – thus called “awareables”. 42% of the respondents believe that virtual assistants will soon be intelligent enough to perceive your mood much better than friends and family. This data will, in turn, be utilized in suggesting you suitable products to buy. 41% of respondents also felt that two smart assistants will battle it out if they have different opinions, which will surely be fascinating even if they are not as hilarious as epic rap battles.
Boring tasks like keeping track of bills, grocery refills, small breakdowns will be taken care of these smart assistants. Further, technologies like AR and VR will also allow users to learn elaborate skills through interactive methods.
These smart assistants will also allow users to be more aware of the carbon footprint (the impact of their lifestyle on the environment) by keeping track of their consumption. This will help bring down wastage of vital resources like water and electricity and in turn, reduce pollution.
However, these advancements will also have their perils and Ericsson warns that users might suffer from something called “mental obesity” – and no, your brain will not grow fatter (hopefully). The report suggests that as a byproduct of all the automation, the human brain might not be capable of making basic decisions very well and could become lazy.
Lastly, there’s the obvious fear of constantly being tracked by virtual assistants and there will be blanket terms and conditions, which smart assistants might force users to agree to.
