AI Is Foundational Technology, Not a Standalone Product
By
ch_sm
Slow-proofed and worth the wait. Worth its weight in flour.
Summary
This article argues that AI is not a product or even a feature, but rather foundational technology that will be embedded into all products. It critiques the framing of AI as a standalone product category, using Apple's approach to AI integration as a case study. The piece draws on Steven Levy's Wired article about Apple needing a "killer AI product" and counters that Apple's historical strength lies in weaving technologies like AI into seamless user experiences rather than launching them as separate products. The author contends that treating AI as a product misunderstands its nature as infrastructure technology.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledTernus acknowledged that AI is 'an immense kind of inflection point,' but couched it as one of many leaps that Apple has navigated.
Each hit product — the Apple II, the Mac, iTunes, the iPod, the iPhone, iPad — represented a leap that Apple has navigated.
AI is not a product. It's not even a feature. It's just technology.
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