this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2023
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Technology

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[–] storksforlegs@beehaw.org 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

What use are they to me? I never needed it before, why would I need it now? I can only see AI in browsers being used to learn from and monetize my activity.

(For real though, how could AI be used to enhance browsing?)

[–] madis@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

For real though, how could AI be used to enhance browsing?

Well, in the 90-00s search engines were taught to be used with keywords. Then Google started to make it work with sentences and speech as well. Now AI is supposedly* answering complex questions and getting organized data for you.

  • as long as the data is factual, which depends on your question, language model and availability of answers

I personally think it would be good if people had access to AI the same way search engines exist, but most AIs are still locked down to an account or payment, mainly for accountability and marketability purposes I'd say.

[–] storksforlegs@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Well better search results are always good.

But other than that, I guess I mean I still dont know what other reason I'd need AI for while browsing.

[–] maniel@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I never needed it before

Before the iPhone people didn't know they needed it, similar with Ford model T, someone asked Henry Ford if he had done some market research before Model T, he said people would want a stronger horse instead of a car

But yeah, no idea how AI would enhance web browsing

[–] rglullis 4 points 1 year ago

how AI would enhance web browsing

I'm not a fan of calling these LLM things "AI", but there are tons of things where this could make sense to help in decision-making. Example scenarios:

  • I want to plan a vacation but I don't have a exact plan or date. Instead of aimless browsing around or giving my data to a bunch of travel sites that will bombard me with "deals", I can set up an "AI agent" that will check the current prices, weather conditions and etc to find spontaneous trips.
  • I want to make a "DIY" project and some of the components are fixed by the design, but others can vary. An AI can give me suggestions for variations and find me the best prices for the materials required.
  • If I am looking at a product on Amazon, an AI can summarize the reviews in a way that I care about.
  • I can find a recipe that a like and ask an AI to make a vegan/gluten-free/kosher version of it

etc, etc, etc...

[–] storksforlegs@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

Well thats a very good point!

But when you're marketing a new feature most companies will explain the benefits and uses of a thing. For example if Ford was explaining how a car is superior hed provably give some concrete examples.

With AI infused tech products most companies seem content to just say "its now better because it has AI!!" - but without the selling points.