Ray Gillespie

Category: Technology

  • Should I Be Worried About AI Taking Over?

    The recent explosion of interest in AI was triggered almost entirely by the public release of ChatGPT. While industry insiders had been excited about this for a while, not much detail was known about it until its public release in November 2022. That all changed as soon as regular users got hold of it, and the hype has pretty consistently been building since then, but is it something to be worried about?

    To answer that question, we need to break down a few concepts. Firstly, what is AI? Unfortunately, it’s a term that has many meanings to many people, and changes with context. Broadly speaking though, I like to think of AI as any code that is designed to creatively solve problems. Is a calculator AI? I’d say not, and that’s because it’s missing any kind of creative element. Is a search engine AI? Probably, at least in some situations – if the search engine just provides a list of links based on a basic index, then maybe not. But if a search engine looks through user behaviour and produces an optimised list that has taken account of this behaviour then that would be AI to me. Finally, what about ChatGPT? Absolutely – ChatGPT is pretty much a textbook definition of AI.

    So we can think about what is and isn’t AI, but that’s not the whole picture. When people think of AI from science fiction books and movies, they typically think of a (usually malevolent) sentient, artificial being – sometimes in a synthetic body (e.g. a Terminator), sometimes just running within a computer system (e.g. HAL from 2001 A Space Odyssey). Is that the same as ChatGPT? Thankfully not. ChatGPT is a form of AI known as ‘generative AI’, whereas HAL/Skynet et al are ‘artificial general intelligence’ (AGI). What’s the difference? Well, pretty much everything.

    Generative AI is designed to do one thing really well – generate content. Whether it’s text-based, image-based or video-based, generative AI takes existing content (loads and loads of it), and looks for patterns in that content, and attempts to reproduce them. For example, if you tell a generative AI model (known as ‘training’) to look at 100,000,000 photos of a fox, it will start to ‘learn’ that a fox usually has a bushy tail, two eyes and red/orange fur. Eventually, it will have learned so much about images of foxes that it can attempt to create its own – the more learning its done, the better the end result will be (on average).

    This is different to AGI. An AGI model attempts to replicate the general knowledge and abilities of a human mind, as opposed to just one thing, and this is the real trick that we’ve yet to master. We can create AI that is able to beat the best chess players in the world, and we can create realistic-looking fake videos of politicians doing silly things, but if you asked ChatGPT to operate custom-built hardware in a car factory it wouldn’t even know where to begin. AGI would, in theory, be capable of learning from any situation, and would have a human-like ability to apply knowledge to areas it has no direct experience in.

    When people talk about the dangers of AI, what they are typically referring to is the existential threat of AGI – if we succeed in creating AGI on a level that is above our own intelligence, what happens if that AGI decides to be antagonistic towards humans? If AGI becomes widespread enough and self-sustaining, would we even be able to stop it?

    These are the big questions, but fortunately for now they appear to be a long way off. ChatGPT and other generative similar AI models have opened people’s eyes to the possibilities of generative AI, but thankfully we are likely a long way off true AGI (though some people in the industry claim its only a couple of years away). However, we have seen such rapid progress in AI recently that we do need to start having some difficult conversations, as ultimately (as long as we don’t wipe ourselves out in the meantime) it’s inevitable that we will eventually create AI models that surpass the capabilities of the human mind in every way.

    The biggest question for me, is what happens when we create an AI model designed solely to convince us that it’s a real conscious being – would we ever be able to tell that apart from a genuinely conscious being, and if not, how do we know it’s not real?

  • Adobe Throws in the Towel for Flash

    Poor old Flash has had a rough time lately, with criticism coming from all directions. In a long overdue move, Adobe has finally admitted that it’s probably time to move away from Flash. In a typically verbose blog post, Adobe shared its new strategy for web animation tools, announcing that they would be dropping the “Flash” name from their Creative Cloud suite. The animation software will now be called “Animate CC” instead of “Flash Professional CC.” Even more significantly, Adobe is now “encouraging content creators to build with new web standards,” which is as close as they’ve come to acknowledging that using Flash is not ideal for modern developers.

    While Flash hasn’t been all bad, it’s clear that its time has passed. Sure, Flash was notorious for draining battery life (a major issue in the age of smartphones), introducing security vulnerabilities, and unnecessarily increasing load times. But there were some fun moments, too. Flash gave us animation gems like Magical Trevor and Line Rider, which became iconic distractions for office workers around the world. Flash also helped usher in a new era of web development, moving away from static, table-based HTML websites to more dynamic, engaging web experiences.

    However, Flash is now living on borrowed time. The first major blow came with Apple’s decision not to support Flash on its iOS devices, a bold move that turned out to be a pivotal factor in Flash’s demise. As major websites and platforms started ditching Flash, the writing was on the wall. Now, with Adobe’s official announcement, even the last defenders of Flash have disappeared.

    So, to mark the end of an era, I thought I’d share a classic Flash animation, now available in glorious HTML5 on YouTube. RIP Flash, and thanks for the good times:

    Watch here

  • Water on Mars

    There’s a very cool and interesting article on The Verge discussing the implications of discovering liquid, flowing water on Mars. While many people—myself included—are excited about this discovery, the article highlights the massive obstacles that still need to be overcome before we can do anything with this knowledge. However, the exciting part is that these are relatively short-term, solvable problems, and they are likely the only things standing between us and what many consider to be one of the most important discoveries in history.

    What makes the discovery of liquid water on Mars so significant, compared to finding it 20 kilometers below the icecaps of Europa, is that there is a genuine possibility of accessing this water within the lifetime of many people alive today. Once we can test the water, assuming contamination can be avoided, we’ll face a major crossroads in our exploration of the Red Planet.

    Given how resilient life on Earth has proven to be—imagine surviving at the bottom of a boiling sulfuric volcano in pitch-black conditions—it’s highly plausible that some form of life could exist in Mars’ water. The results of this research could go one of two ways: we could either discover extraterrestrial life, or we might not. (There’s also the terrifying possibility of inconclusive results due to contamination, but let’s not think about that yet.)

    If no life is found, we continue our search elsewhere, but if we do discover life from another world, it would be an event that could upend history, religion, and human belief systems. Imagine how many of our questions about the universe would be altered in an instant. The discovery of alien life would dwarf questions like, “Did God create the world?” or “Did life start in a primordial soup?” These questions, while significant, would suddenly seem small in comparison.

    Ultimately, the discovery of liquid water on Mars has put humanity at the gateway of a discovery so monumental that it’s hard to put into words how significant it would be. It’s like the first time a curious primate picked up a branch and thought of using it as a club—he had no idea where this newfound ability would take him, but he knew something big was coming. That’s where humanity stands now. We may be on the cusp of a discovery beyond our imagination, and that uncertainty only fuels the drive to explore. Now we just need to wait—and hope it doesn’t take too long.

  • Features of a Great CMS

    In the office, we often find ourselves discussing technology, and this week the topic was content management systems (CMSs). One feature that came up as being particularly useful was the front-end admin bar, a feature in WordPress and other CMSs that allows administrators to access a limited selection of controls directly from the website’s front-end. When logged in, this admin bar appears above the page, and though non-logged-in users can’t see it, it’s a huge convenience for administrators.

    For smaller websites with just a few content pages, it’s relatively easy to go into the admin panel and select the page to edit. But for larger websites, especially those with dozens or hundreds of pages, finding the right page to edit can become cumbersome. No backend menu has yet matched the efficiency of a well-designed front-end mega menu for handling large numbers of pages. This is where the front-end admin bar really shines, allowing administrators to navigate and edit content directly from the page they are viewing.

    For anyone managing multiple websites with numerous pages, this feature can be a real time-saver. It got us talking about how this feature came about—whether someone recognised the value of front-end menus and then added the ability to edit pages directly, or if the editing capability came first and only later was the time-saving aspect realised. Either way, whoever introduced this feature deserves a thank you!

  • Split Screen Multitasking Coming to iPads, Delayed

    One of the most requested features for Apple’s iPads is split-screen multitasking, which would allow users to split the iPad’s screen in landscape orientation, running two different apps simultaneously in each section of the screen. This feature has been long rumored but never officially acknowledged by Apple. However, a recent tweet from New York Times reporter Brian Chen seems to suggest that it is finally on its way.

    Split-screen multitasking is already a key selling point for Microsoft’s Surface tablets, so if Apple introduces it to the iPad, it will challenge Microsoft to find new ways to differentiate its products from the competition. Although nothing has been confirmed, it’s expected that split-screen multitasking will be part of iOS 8 for the iPad Air. It’s unlikely to be available on older iPad models, at least not right away. Brian Chen’s tweet also suggests that this feature won’t be ready for the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which is scheduled for next week, so it remains unclear when it will be officially unveiled.

  • The Internet War Brewing in the US

    You may have heard of “net neutrality,” a concept that’s been around for years but hasn’t often made headlines in the UK. At its core, net neutrality is the principle that all internet data should be treated equally—meaning that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) cannot limit or prioritize access to specific websites or services. For example, under net neutrality, your ISP cannot restrict access to video streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video to favor their own or a partner’s service.

    At first glance, the absence of net neutrality might seem like a minor inconvenience, but the implications could go much deeper. Without protections, ISPs could not only throttle bandwidth for certain services but also enter into agreements that limit competition. For instance, political content from rivals could be suppressed, or startups might be priced out of the market by established companies willing to pay for faster or exclusive access. While these scenarios might feel distant now, the rapid pace of technological and societal change suggests they could become pressing issues sooner than we think.

    An interesting perspective compares the internet to utilities like water or electricity. As society grows increasingly dependent on the internet for essential services such as banking, paying bills, renewing car tax, or even accessing legal help, the internet is becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity. However, this shift risks excluding those without reliable internet access, pushing them further to society’s margins as physical alternatives continue to disappear.

    This is where the debate over net neutrality shifts from theoretical concerns about competition and fairness to a question of basic rights. Proponents argue that the internet has become so fundamental to modern life that it cannot be left in the hands of a few powerful ISPs. This concern was recently spotlighted in the U.S., where Comcast, the largest ISP, allegedly throttled Netflix traffic until Netflix agreed to pay for faster access through direct integration with Comcast’s network. Many see this as a sign of net neutrality’s decline.

    Does this deal mark the end of net neutrality? It’s a complex question with no clear answers yet. What is certain is that the outcome of these debates will have global implications, including in the UK. While some believe the battle for net neutrality has been lost, others argue the fight is just beginning. Either way, crucial decisions about the future of the internet will need to be made soon.

  • How Google is Changing the Web – For the Better

    If you’ve had any search engine optimization (SEO) work done in recent years, you’ve likely noticed a shift in both strategy and terminology. Once the go-to buzzword in online marketing, “SEO” is increasingly being overshadowed by “content marketing.” Alongside this, the phrase “content is king” has become a ubiquitous mantra, underscoring the rising importance of quality website content.

    What’s behind this shift? The driving force is Google, particularly its recent updates—Penguin, Panda, and, to a lesser extent, Hummingbird. These updates have prompted a significant rethink of SEO strategies. For some marketers, they’ve been a wake-up call, while for others relying on outdated tactics, they’ve spelled disaster. Essentially, Google has become smarter at detecting manipulative SEO practices and is now heavily prioritizing content quality as a key factor in search rankings. This shift aligns with Google’s broader goal of improving user experience by promoting websites that offer valuable, engaging content.

    Why does Google care about user experience on other websites? The straightforward answer is money. By ensuring users find helpful content through its search engine, Google maintains its dominance in the search market. Happy users are more likely to continue using Google, and some will click on sponsored ads along the way—earning Google revenue with every click.

    There are two key takeaways from this evolution. First, diversify your marketing strategy so you’re not overly reliant on Google for traffic. Second, prioritise your visitors over technical tricks. No matter what changes Google implements, focusing on delivering a great experience for your audience is a winning strategy from the outset.

  • Free to Play Apps are Officially Taking Over

    Everyone loves a free app, right? It seems so—according to a report by Flurry, “free-to-play” apps now generate more revenue than “premium” apps. The report highlights how the proportion of free apps on the iTunes Store has grown from 39% in January to 65% last month. Interestingly, despite their dominance, 90% of users don’t spend a penny on these apps. This figure is likely skewed by users who download free apps out of curiosity, only to delete them soon after if they don’t meet expectations.

    In hindsight, it’s not surprising that free-to-play apps have surpassed premium ones, but the bigger question remains: is this model sustainable, or could premium apps make a comeback? Having encountered several “free” apps that operate more like virtual coin-op machines, I’ve become wary of the model. Personally, I’d rather pay £2.99 upfront than get drawn into endless microtransactions that quickly add up to much more.

    The backlash against in-app purchases, often centered around stories of children racking up massive bills on their parents’ devices, underscores the irony: “free” apps can often cost more in the long run. As the market matures and more people recognize this, will the pendulum swing back toward premium apps? For now, as long as free-to-play remains so profitable, developers are unlikely to abandon the model. But if consumers grow increasingly disillusioned with the hidden costs, we might see premium apps make a resurgence.

  • Goodbye to Top Keywords?

    A cornerstone of SEO has long been analyzing keywords, with tools like Google Analytics providing insights into which keywords drive the most traffic. However, a few years ago, Google began restricting access to this data for users signed into their Google Accounts. This shift hit the SEO industry hard, as keyword reports started showing increasing amounts of “not provided” data instead of detailed insights. Now, Google has taken an even bigger step: it has completely removed keyword tracking from its search engine—unless you’re using Google Ads, which still provides full keyword data.

    Does this spell the end of keyword analysis? Probably not, but it does make it more challenging to understand how users are discovering your site. Success will require a shift in approach, leveraging alternative metrics and tools to fill in the gaps. For instance, while Google Analytics no longer provides this data, you can still track keyword rankings through external tools and use Google’s Keyword Planner to gauge the popularity of certain terms.

    In practice, much of the SEO landscape remains unchanged. Identifying keywords where you don’t rank is unaffected by this development, and there are still plenty of ways to gain actionable insights. Google’s move is a reminder to stay adaptable and to double down on proven strategies, like creating high-quality, engaging content. With some creative thinking and a commitment to the mantra “content is king,” there are still plenty of opportunities to achieve significant SEO and content marketing wins.

  • iOS 7 and iPhone 5S Due This Week

    Apple’s highly anticipated flagship smartphone, the iPhone 5S, is set to launch this Friday, accompanied by the release of iOS 7 just two days earlier on Wednesday. The standout features this time include the iPhone 5S’s new fingerprint reader and the completely revamped design of iOS 7.

    One of the recurring criticisms of Apple’s iPhone lineup has been the stagnation in its user interface (UI) design. For a company synonymous with innovation, Apple has been notably slow to adapt, especially in the face of fierce competition. The Windows Phone UI, for instance, has drawn praise for its striking visual appeal. While iOS 6 still holds up in terms of functionality, its design, largely unchanged since the original iPhone’s launch, now feels outdated compared to the fresher approaches seen in Windows Phone and Android. iOS 7 aims to address this with a bold redesign featuring a modern, flat UI. Though the overhaul is largely well-received, a few design choices—like the ‘Settings’ icon that resembles an extractor fan—have raised eyebrows. Nonetheless, the update represents a significant leap forward for Apple’s software aesthetics.

    The iPhone 5S also introduces a fingerprint reader, marking one of the most talked-about features of the device. Beyond this, the phone includes modest hardware upgrades and minor aesthetic refinements. But is the fingerprint reader enough to set the iPhone 5S apart in a competitive market? Only time will tell. While fingerprint technology isn’t new, Apple is betting on its implementation being seamless and reliable enough to drive widespread adoption. Historically, Apple’s strength hasn’t been in being first to market but in launching innovations when the time is right for mass appeal. If successful, the iPhone 5S could spark a trend of fingerprint-enabled smartphones. Early reports suggest this is likely, though whether the feature becomes a long-term staple remains to be seen.