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by officeplant 3 days ago
>Meta also realized this and attempted multiple times to build their own hardware but they've given up each time. They started as early as a partnering with HTC in 2011 to make a Facebook phone.

I was working in cellphone sales at the time and I can tell you no one wanted that phone back then even when Facebook was massive. An easy to hit facebook button was not a value add anyone was begging to exist.

Although with how many phones now have stock forced installs of Meta apps perhaps they won their con in the long game.

Similarly no one really wants a physical AI device, and attempts at such are pure techbro hubris on the companies part.

2 comments

I think I want a physical AI device.

I want an AI assistant that I can use truly hands free. I keep my phone in my jacket when I'm riding my motorcycle. I want to be able to start, stop, adjust, and check details in route guidance. I want to be able to ask what the weather is like ahead on my route. I want to be able to ask it to start looking for a sensible place for me to stop for fuel and/or food without making me do a big detour.

Actually I would also quite like better driving directions, since I can't look at the directions on a screen.

None of these demands need an AI in a box.

They need software companies to give a damn and improve apple maps/gmaps/etc.

Or perhaps pull over and adjust your routing like most of us do, or maybe bolt a sacrificial phone with maps on it to a holder. If you don't want to risk your main phone.

> Or perhaps pull over and adjust your routing like most of us do

The entire point is I don't want to have to stop in order to receive new information.

I don't know how to make that clearer, sorry.

Todays pulling over to adjust planning is yesterdays pulling over to make a call, and yesteryears pulling over to throw a map on the hood.

Riding on a motorcycle is already dangerous enough with the average land tank driver on their phone. Talking to your AI assistant while riding at speed sounds like pending split focus disasters waiting to happen.

I think it’s time you hand in your licence.
For getting off the road to park somewhere and replan a route?

Are you a bot?

Earbuds exist.
I use Shure se215 IEMs inside my helmet together with a Cardo Packtalk (which includes a microphone mounted inside my helmet).

The audio setup is not the problem.

The problem is when I say "Hey Siri, cancel route guidance," it will say something like "…You must unlock your iPhone to do that."

The entire point is that I can't take my gloves off, get out my phone, and unlock it, at speed, on a motorcycle.

  Similarly no one really wants a physical AI device, and attempts at such are pure techbro hubris on the companies part.
No one serious has made one.