Not so long ago, technology was only responding to our commands. We clicked, tapped, typed, and waited. Couple of science fiction ideas later, and our smart devices are practically reading our minds.
Remember when Joanna Maciejewska said ‘I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do laundry and dishes’? Well, it turned out AI can’t write about the darkest and most passionate scenes, it can’t use bad words, and it can’t give you an individual style so many writers are proud of. But it’s working overtime, so who knows what you can find tomorrow. As for laundry and dishes–well, we would all like that. Is there any machine to fold it once it’s dry?
Your smart fridge is anticipating when you might be hungry and is always there to give you a lunch suggestion based on the products you have inside. Have you read about the fridge that has your dietary requirements, is connected to the store to order what’s best for you, and to the microwave to make sure it’s cooked in the right amount? It might be a sci-fi motif from a novel, but these features are coming to the present fast. Example closer to everyone would be a smartwatch. This particular product will remind you when it’s time to exercise, will alert you how high your pulse is, and how many calories have you spent. Not to mention you can check your mail and make a call, among other possibilities. The rise of cloud software providers has revolutionized the way businesses operate, offering scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. Whether you need a reliable e-mail delivery service or a way to share files with your co-workers, there's a good chance a lot of stuff will happen in the cloud.
What we all want is intuitive interaction. No more tech waiting to be told what to do–the time of smart products anticipating our needs is here.
Turning words into moving pictures
Let’s say you want to create a video that would raise awareness to your product. Maybe it’s a cowboy book. So you type ‘a cowboy rides into a neon-lit desert’ and the video gets played before your eyes. Just text to video free, in more than 140 languages, and it’s perfect for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. And it doesn't have to be one sentence–you can create an entire scenario to generate it into an AI video.
Can you imagine a full animated movie being created like this? We are moving fast toward this kind of reality. You could use it beyond entertainment needs or to make your dreams come true–this technology is going to change education, marketing, storytelling, and gaming forever.
You can bring your raw intentions to a product and it will turn them into sophisticated output. For instance, if you’re an educator, you can write in a few lines of a lesson plan and the level of your students, and in return you’ll get a dynamic animated explanation. Brands can create an entire campagne only minutes after getting an idea. Do you know how many people give up on influencing upon learning how much time editing demands? Well, with AI you don’t have to edit anymore, your vision will be perfectly made in no time.
Going a step ahead of prediction? You get adaptive products. They track your behavior and based on that they can tell what you would like, how, and when. If you like snappy, humorous explainer videos, your program might learn pretty fast to give you just that, without prior asking.
Smarter ways to say ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ and ‘maybe later’
As the devices get smarter, they tend to get nosier. That’s why user consent management is a new frontline feature in smart products design. You should know that obtaining consumers’ consent to collect and process personal info is a standard practice. But this consent needs to be gathered, documented, and managed in special ways to comply with regulations, guidelines, and the requirements of business partners companies rely on. However, this data is not just to collect the dust in some virtual storage. Companies are using it to tailor more personalized experiences, improve their smart products, and all based on target audiences and their performance.
Basically, smart systems are thought to understand nuanced, context-aware permission settings. For example, your fitness app can track your location while you jog, but back off when you’re just walking around the grocery store.
The next generation of consent engines are all about dynamic learning. They’re going to stay legally compliant and respectful, while adapting based on your behavior and preferences. Maybe you deny camera access to apps at night, and your device might get a feeling you don’t want to use the camera at night, so it will automatically disable that request in future scenarios.
The systems are also more transparent, and you might find yourself in the situation where a product is using a conversational interface to explain what data they collect and why. It’s so much better to have a dialogue than to be faced with 35-page privacy policies.
Consent management is extremely important in industries like education, healthcare, and finance. Here stakes are high, and trust is everything. If a smart program notices you’re not comfortable in sharing your data, it might design a smoother and more respectful experience and still remain functional.
Trucks, telematics, and the forecast of an industry
Let’s talk about something loud, big, and vital to almost everything we buy–trucks. Trucking industry has come a long way from just transporting goods from point A to point B. Now they have multiple tools to help them know where every truck is at the time being, is there a heavy traffic and will that lead to being late. This trucking industry forecast system also collects real-time data on driver’s behavior, vehicle condition, and weather patterns to optimize routes. Trucks can have maintenance checks before the problems do their worst. It’s all in being proactive. You may never again be unprepared when it comes to various situations in this industry.
You can also notice that logistic platforms are getting smarter. They use AI to forecast demand spikes, cross-border compliance issues, and fuel pricing changes. This can mean rerouting a fleet before a storm or adjusting delivery schedules based on warehouse capacity.
Next this industry is probably going to shift more toward electrification and autonomous fleets. Smart trucks could very soon communicate with smart roads and smart traffic lights in order to choreograph a smealeas path of delivery. What is the driver’s role in this, you ask, if there’s any? Well, we can only imagine how reluctant anyone would be to let a machine drive without any human to oversee it, so let’s stick to the human drivers for now. But they’re not going on the road alone–they might get an AI copilot to recommend the optimum course, time for a break, and adjust cabin conditions. And, depending on personal taste of their human, the program can even suggest suitable diners along the way.
Coffee that knows you better than your barista
Even your coffee machine wants to understand you, and based on how much we cry for help on Monday mornings, it might be the only valid comfort before the very first sip of coffee touches your soul.
New models don’t just make coffee–they learn, and they learn fast. After only a few weeks of observing your drink rituals, the machine could be quite confident in brewing you coffee at the precise moments, without you having to ask. A strong espresso on Monday mornings and a smooth latte on Sundays, right? They can sync with your calendar to prepare your drink just in time for a meeting. Did you know the coffee machine can pull data from your smar and adjust brewing intensity based on how much sleep yoju got? You wanna see how strong coffee can get when you don’t sleep?
This may seem like too much, but it’s part of a larger trend where products disappear in the background of your routines by predicting what we want before we ask.
Homes that learn, not just listen
Remember when you had a smart home where you needed to say every command out loud? Well, smart homes nowadays don’t wait for your command. That poor guy that came back from the dentist unable to utter a recognizable word to his door will never have to stay in the rain again. For those who are always wondering if the iron/stove/tap turned off or are the doors locked, no need to worry anymore–the house probably did it on its own. That bathroom you stumble into half-asleep? The lights already know to glow softly in ‘night mode.’ Or you can get your personal night cube that lights up every time you get up at night and leads the way to the bathroom.
Would you like a thermostat that can learn energy consumption patterns and sync with local utility companies to heat or cool more sustainably? Everything could be synced up, with you and the world around you.
The unexpected stars of the smart revolution
One of the more delightful consequences of this anticipatory tech wave is the rise of entirely new product categories. Smart luggage that detects if it's being opened by someone else mid-journey. Office chairs that monitor your posture and remind you to stretch. Mirrors that give skincare advice based on environmental conditions and your routine. Even diapers with sensors that alert caregivers when a change is needed.
You don’t have to read about it in sci-fi novels–you can live it and enjoy it.
Petra Rapaić is a B2B SaaS Content Writer. Her work appeared in the likes of Cm-alliance.com, Fundz.net, and Gfxmaker.com. On her free days she likes to write and read fantasy.