Technology Is Like Oxygen - Our Lives Are Being Run By O2.

I made an appointment at Best Buy today to install Google Chrome on my laptop. I felt so silly telling the technician that I wanted Chrome installed. After all, I am a software engineer who built personal computers during my time. A few weeks ago, after a Windows update, my Chrome stopped working, so I tried all the usual things—uninstalled and reinstalled it, rebooted my laptop when that did not work, and tried all the other things that the Great Sages, namely - Youtube and Google recommended. Since I had exhausted all options and with work piling up, I was forced to switch to Microsoft Edge by these unfortunate events that life had hoisted upon me.

Now, it so happens that I have to take leadership training from work that requires Chrome, so I had to carve out time to figure out how to install Chrome. I reached out to my technical support - my husband, who, after ninety minutes, told me to do a fresh install of Windows. Clean installs are a pain - as you have to reinstall all your apps, and with the authentication these days, it is time-consuming. So, I decided to give Best Buy a go. Alas! I also had no luck there and had to reinstall the operating system. And you will be delighted to know this blog was written on Chrome.

I remember when the software was so simple. I knew exactly what was installed on my laptop or desktop. I could even edit registry entries—it was all transparent. Now, there are so many things that I have no clue what is causing what to happen. One of the reasons to go to Best Buy today was that maybe they have more Windows expertise because Windows is no longer an app you get through DOS (Disk Operating System). It is an operating system of its own - I mean, I interview people with Windows as a required skill. Technology has become so pervasive and advanced that every Operating System (OS) language has so many nuances.

For example, I am surprised that we classify Tesla as a car when it falls more into the electronics category. It has an app—not just any app, an app can start the car, lock it, and summon it to you. How is it any different from a remote-controlled device? When you buy a Tesla, the salesperson will tell you to download the app first; to buy a Tesla, you download an app. To drive a car - you have to be technically literate now.

Now, with AI, we are entering another era. A study in the UK says that almost a million Brits now have companions on Character AI, an app that lets you chat with AI-generated characters. I tried it out, and it is cool. I joined a chat called Awkward Family Dinner and actually had quite a bit of fun - there were times when the real me came out, and it felt like an actual conversation. In fact, it felt like doing an improv workshop online with real people - even though it was all AI characters. Does it mean that humans will chat with AI in the future, and social interactions will fade away, like cursive writing? As humans, we want to experience emotions, and we have various AI characters who can help us feel those. Do we need human company? Only time will tell - but for now, I think Character AI is a good substitute when you need somebody to talk to!

We all do role plays all the time in our heads, and features like Character AI let you do that - they have various characters you can chat with: a Caring Mom, A best friend who has a crush on you, A billionaire CEO, someone to chat with… Some characters are created by the app, and some are made by the users. It’s funny how all humans across the world have the exact needs and emotions. We all need connection but somehow cannot manage it in real life - in Japan, they have counsellors who will coach you on how to be in an actual relationship. Who knows, that might actually be a much-needed profession in the future.

This blog felt more like a meandering mind chatter than a point—and sometimes, that’s what manifests itself, and that is okay. Where is your mind chatter taking you?