My father has been asking me and my siblings for help with his computer and other devices. Recently, I went over to help him connect bluetooth headphones to the TV. This type of assistance can be frustrating, especially if my parents struggle can’t understand the process, even with multiple explanation. But while helping him, it hit me that operating computers and modern technology is actually very cumbersome and can be a bit too complicated.

These thoughts lead to this thread–namely, ways to make using computers and other modern technology a lot easier. I started thinking about an either paid or non-profit type of service center where subscribers could receive these type of administrative services–a kind of “IT department” for individual citizens. I can go into this more later, but at some point it occurred to me: why couldn’t an AI (on a device) handle things like connecting a bluetooth headphones to a TV? Why do individuals have to go into settings at all? Does Alexa already do something like this? Or the various AI? I’m wary of LLMs, but I’m more amendable to an AI not connected to the internet and only designed to help with administrative functions on a device.

Off the top of my head, I think there are three primary types of solutions to the problem I’ve described. First, individuals can handle this, which is the status quo. Second, some technological solution like an AI. Third, a group of individuals providing these services. I’ll give some thoughts on that third option in the next section.