In a few years, apparently, computers will read our minds. We will command them with our thoughts. The only problem with that is that some among us would prefer that computers be smarter than us, not just as smart.
Amazon, Google, Apple, and many other cutting edge high-tech companies have already thought of that. They boast that their devices can “learn” about you, about your preferences, and you will not have to command the devices to do your bidding, they’ll just know.
But how do they know? And who taught them to learn?
According to Honeywell, they have made some important strides in teaching thermostats to learn and Nest, a widely touted start-up company, infringes on Honeywell patents with Nest’s “learning” thermostat (Twincities.com article is here).
The complaint is here. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson (D. Minn.).
Time will tell whether the two sides will be able to compromise on the huge future revenue that many think such smart technology will generate.