AI Pin's Guide to Douglas Adams
In which I experience yet another amazing use of the Humane AI Pin
To hear the 5-minute audio file that I uploaded today as my Morning Journal flash briefing for Alexa devices, please click on the play button:
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I am glad I waited until now to read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, published 45 years ago by Douglas Adams.
The novel is hilarious and feels as if it was written just the other day. But at 22 percent through the book, I still lose track of the characters and have trouble keeping all the various worlds and plot lines straight.
This weekend while reading on my Kindle, I had the idea to consult my AI Pin for help navigating Adams’s book. I tapped the pin, a square device magnetically attached to my shirt, and asked about two characters.
Me: In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy I’m not sure I understand what Frankie and Benjy the mice are up to. What is their part of the plot?
AI Pin: Frankie and Benjy are highly intelligent beings disguised as mice. They try to extract the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything from Arthur Dent's brain, as Earth was designed to find this question. Their role is crucial in the search for meaning in the universe.
Wow. I hadn’t been sure the pin could access the book at all, nevermind give a credible answer to my question. I asked for more.
Me: What does Arthur think of this?
AI Pin: Arthur is horrified and shocked by the idea of having his brain dissected by the mice. He finds the whole situation absurd and terrifying, as it adds to the surreal and chaotic experiences he has been through since the destruction of Earth.
Me: What does Ford Processor (sic) think of it?
AI Pin: Ford Prefect is strongly disapproving and alarmed when the mice propose to extract the Ultimate Question from Arthur's brain, realizing they intend to dissect it.
Me: Why does he care?
AI Pin: Ford cares because Arthur is his friend, and he doesn't want to see him harmed. The idea of dissecting Arthur's brain is horrifying and goes against Ford's sense of morality and loyalty.
My conversation with the pin continued for about 10 minutes. We talked about Zaphod Beeblebrox’s morality (“flexible and situational”), who is smarter, Zaphod or Ford Prefect (Ford “is more knowledgeable, practical, and resourceful, while Zaphod Beeblebrox is more reckless and impulsive”), and where I can listen to the radio broadcasts that led to Adams’s writing of the novel (BBC Radio 4).
It was as if I were reading the novel with Douglas Adams right beside me.
The genius of AI Pin as a “Book Buddy” depends a lot, I think, on the convenience of tapping the pin and immediately getting an intelligent reply—no friction. I could, of course, have reached for my iPhone, tapped it to light up the screen, then tapped on the ChatGPT icon, then tapped on the microphone icon, then…Nah, too much trouble.
But let’s be clear: AI Pin is expensive. It costs $699 and you have to pay a monthly fee of $24 to use it.
A cheaper alternative in the dedicated-AI-gadget category is the Rabbit R1. It sells for $199 and works with a WiFi connection. No monthly fee required.
The R1 comes in a cute, bright-orange color and has a screen that shows text and images related to its answers. You have to hold it in your hand and press a button to ask questions. It won’t attach to your clothing.
Every time I see AI technology show up in a new, creative service or device it increases my interest in NVIDIA.
Me: Should I buy NVIDIA stock today?
AI Pin: NVIDIA stock is currently trading at $126.65 with a positive outlook. Analysts suggest it has potential for growth, but it's always best to consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
Fair.
In a good example of getting what you pay for, the Rabbit R1 gave this hallucinatory response to the same question:
The current NVIDIA stock price is $123.54. The forecast for tomorrow is $125.79, and the price is expected to drop by -4.82% to $117.59 by July 4, 2024.
Maybe Frankie and Benjy are messing with us after all!
You brought back memories of my own mixed experience reading "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." Although it was a labor keeping track of all the characters and nuance, I'm glad I read it and found the "answer." I had a similar transcendent experience reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."