Finns make AI feel – Apple makes AI more

Today, there are two things that I find worthy of sharing:

1) Finns and AI

2) Apple and AI

Leading the Charge in Emotional Intelligence—By Accident?

Leave it to the Finns, known more for their love of silence than chit-chat, to engineer a breakthrough in emotional intelligence! According to Jussi Jokinen, an Associate Professor of Cognitive Science who probably spends more time with computers than at cocktail parties, a new model has been cooked up in the quiet corners of Jyväskylä that could teach computers to actually care about how we feel. (a fun fact: the murder mystery I am writing happens to take place partly in that same drowsy town).

Imagine a world where your laptop sighs with you when those spreadsheets crash or your smartphone plays soothing tunes when it senses a rant brewing. Jokinen and his team are on it, delving into the mysteries of human emotions like joy, irritation, and the ever-popular rage, to ensure our digital buddies can one day respond to our emotional rollercoasters.

This isn't just about making machines sensitive—it's about making them sensible. Jokinen's brainchild uses mathematical psychology (because regular psychology is just too mainstream for Finns) to predict when you're on the brink of hurling your coffee at the screen.

The goal? To help computers intervene with a digital nudge or a calming pixel or two before things get out of hand.

And the fun doesn't stop here—the next steps for these Nordic brainiacs include figuring out how to turn that frown upside down, potentially leading to computers that don't just understand when we're teetering on the edge but actually help pull us back. It's a bold move towards a future where our gadgets don't just compute—they empathise.

So, hats off to Finland—they accidentally pioneered the future of emotional AI simply because reading the room was never really their thing! Here is the link to the full article.

Apple Developer Conference starts tomorrow

As the Apple Developer Conference gears up to open its digital doors tomorrow, whispers in the tech winds hint at a particularly juicy collaboration that could set keyboards clacking worldwide.

Apple, ever the master of "not first, but foremost," is rumoured to have been cosying up with OpenAI. The prospect of Apple leveraging OpenAI's cutting-edge tech to sprinkle some AI magic across its ecosystem has piqued curiosity. With Apple's steadfast commitment to privacy and the kind of seamless hardware-software ballet that turns tech headaches into waltzes, it's tantalising to ponder the flavours of AI they've been cooking up.

Now, integrating AI into Apple’s tightly woven fabric is no small feat. It requires a deft touch, particularly with the company's notorious shield of privacy and user-first philosophy. How will this blend of Silicon Valley's finest influence your next iPhone or MacBook experience? Will Siri finally become the all-knowing assistant we've been teased with since her inception, or are we stepping towards something even more revolutionary? Tomorrow's big reveal promises to peel back the curtain on Apple’s latest operating system enhancements, and expectations are as high as ever.

One thing’s for certain: the caffeine will be strong and the hour early here in New Zealand. With a 5 AM start time for the keynote, it’s practically an invitation to watch the sunrise with Tim Cook and company. So, sleep will have to wait, as the potential of an Apple-OpenAI concoction is too intriguing to miss. Post-keynote, I'll be back with more detailed musings—assuming I’ve had enough tea to string coherent thoughts together. Stay tuned, and let's see if Apple truly lives up to its mantra of being the best, not just the first.

In case you want to watch it live like me, here is the link.

Have a wonderful week.

Ngā mihi

Jussi