Hey, Siri
By the title alone, I’m guessing you already know what this blog is going to be about.
Yep, you’re right – the miracle of artificial intelligence and technology.
Some of us still remember when you had to actually look things up in an encyclopedia. If you wanted the phone number for a local business, you had to flip through the cumbersome yellow pages. And if you needed directions to a location, you either called to ask for directions or you used a map. Back in the days of yore when you wanted to know something you might even have had to visit a library and seek help from the information desk. (I now realize that I always wanted to use the word “yore” in a sentence, even though I’m not 100% certain what it means. But the more yore I use the more nostalgic I become.)
Okay. Enough about arcane words.
Now we have the choice of manually doing things ourselves or using technology. Do we get off the sofa to turn the lights on, change the channel, set an alarm – or do we ask Alexa to do it? Do we drive to the local library to look something up before it closes or ask Siri, who works 24/7?
I was first introduced to Siri years ago when I saw one of my sons speaking into his iPhone. I was shocked as Siri responded to his request and provided him the information he requested. It was as if he was holding the entire Alexandria Library in the palm of his hand (which is even better than the thirteen volume Encyclopedia Brittanica). And I imagine that Siri can access information from any country. Siri seems to be international. (In fact, I just asked her if she is. Her reply: “Sorry, I don’t understand.” Siri is always polite. So, following her lead, I thanked her.)
I hope you share my sense of amazement with modern technology. A decade ago, I was on a cruise ship in the ocean near Thailand. It was 2:00 am. I was on a conference call with folks in Denver, Los Angeles, and New York. If that isn’t a man-made miracle, I don’t know what is.
Does anybody even remember mimeograph machines? They were very popular when I held my first job. We’ve come a long way since then.
I believe we live in a miraculous place and time in the universe. Do you agree?
Hey, Siri.
Alan