Author: Asif Rehmani

AI in meetings is on the verge of a huge transformation. Right now, it’s mostly a passive tool—think of things like Read AI, Otter, or Firefly. They sit in the background, recording, transcribing, and summarizing what’s being said. But that’s just the beginning. It won’t be long before AI starts becoming an actual participant in meetings, not just something that waits for you to ask it for help.

At first, AI will be reactionary. You’ll ask it for a specific piece of data or insight, and it’ll deliver. Need a quick fact, a number, or a summary of past meetings? AI will chime in instantly. But the real shift will come when it stops waiting to be asked and starts contributing proactively. It might notice a gap in the discussion or spot inconsistencies in data and speak up. Imagine an AI saying, “Hey, the numbers on this slide don’t match last quarter’s report,” or “You might want to explore this option based on recent trends.”

In online meetings, this could get even more advanced. AI will not just analyze what’s being said but also what’s being shown. If someone shares a spreadsheet or a slide deck, the AI will process that in real time, adding relevant input without missing a beat. And it won’t stop there—it’ll be able to read the room, or rather, the screens. By analyzing facial expressions and tones of voice, it could gauge how people are reacting, who’s disengaged, or where there’s tension. That might sound a little unnerving, but it’s not hard to imagine an AI that can adjust its contributions to steer conversations in a more productive direction.

This kind of evolution isn’t limited to online meetings. In-person meetings will see the same shift. Cameras and sensors in the room will let AI “see” everything happening. It’ll watch participants’ body language, analyze how people interact, and even follow along with what’s being shared on a projector or screen. It’ll be just as involved in understanding and reacting as it would be online.

The potential is incredible but also kind of unsettling. On one hand, it could make meetings more efficient, pulling in insights, keeping people on track, and even noticing when something important is being overlooked. But there’s a lot to think about—like privacy concerns. How comfortable will people feel knowing their facial expressions and every move are being monitored? And what happens if the AI misreads the room or makes decisions based on flawed assumptions? There’s also the risk of becoming overly reliant on AI, losing some of that human touch and creativity that makes collaboration so powerful.

It’s an exciting and slightly scary future. AI isn’t just going to assist in meetings; it’s going to participate. Whether it’s reacting to questions or jumping in with ideas, it’ll be a real part of the conversation, online or offline. It’ll change how we collaborate, and while that opens up incredible possibilities, it also means we’ll need to approach it with care. This isn’t just about technology—it’s about how we integrate it into the way we connect and work together.

Whenever I visit a city like Venice, Rome, or San Francisco, I always face the same challenge: how do I make the most of the experience? I want to do more than just see the sights—I want to truly understand them. But to do that, I either need to hire a local guide or try to figure everything out on my own.

Don’t get me wrong, guides can be fantastic. A good one can make a place come alive, sharing fascinating stories and context. But they’re expensive, you have to work around their schedule, and—let’s be honest—some guides are better than others. On the flip side, exploring alone often leaves me feeling like I’m missing out on the bigger picture. What’s the story behind that building? What did it look like centuries ago? Why is it significant? Without a guide, I’m just guessing.

That’s why I’ve started thinking about what the future could look like. I believe we’re heading toward a world where none of this will be an issue.

Imagine This: AI-Powered Glasses

Picture this: You arrive at your destination and are handed a pair of sleek, AI-powered glasses. The moment you put them on, they greet you by name. They already know which language you speak and even your interests, because you’ve shared a bit of information with them in advance.

The experience feels completely tailored to you. As you start walking, the glasses guide you through the city, pointing out landmarks and telling you their stories through an earpiece in a warm, friendly voice. No stiff, generic explanations—this guide feels like a companion who really gets what you’re interested in.

A Tour That Brings History to Life

What makes these glasses truly incredible is the augmented reality (AR). When you look at a landmark, the glasses overlay information directly onto what you’re seeing. For example, imagine standing in front of the Colosseum. Through the glasses, you don’t just see its current state—you see what it looked like 2,000 years ago, bustling with life. You hear the roar of the crowd and see gladiators preparing for battle.

It’s not just sightseeing; it’s stepping into history.

Fully Personalized and Self-Paced

The best part? It’s all on your schedule. Want to linger at a spot for a while? Go for it. Need to move faster? No problem. The AI adapts to you. There’s no group to keep up with, no guide rushing you along, and no awkward pauses waiting for someone else to catch up.

Why I’m Excited

This idea excites me because it solves so many of the frustrations I’ve faced while traveling. It’s affordable, accessible, and incredibly immersive. I wouldn’t have to worry about hiring the “right” guide or feeling like I’m fumbling through a city on my own. Instead, I’d get a seamless, enriching experience that’s completely customized to me.

We’re not there yet, but I believe this future isn’t far off. The technology—augmented reality, AI, spatial audio—is already developing rapidly. In a few years, this kind of personalized tour could be the standard.

Until then, I’ll keep dreaming about how amazing it’s going to be to put on a pair of glasses and feel like the city is coming to life just for me. And when that day comes, I’ll be ready to experience the world in a way I’ve always dreamed of.

Ever wished you could talk to the people you admire? High-profile thinkers, industry experts, or even historical icons? The reality is that access to them is tough, sometimes impossible. But there’s still a way. If they’ve shared their knowledge through books, podcasts, or webinars, that’s an open door. You can dig into their material, pick their brain, and learn from their perspectives.

Now, there’s a new tool for this—custom GPTs. People are creating specialized GPT models based on well-known personalities, coded with their views and approaches. It’s a whole different level of access.

Take Naval Ravikant. I think he’s a brilliant mind—he dives deep into everything from business and spirituality to life in general. Having a direct conversation with him would be a game-changer, but since that’s not on the table, I use the Naval Ravikant GPT. I ask questions, explore his ideas, and get responses crafted around his unique perspective. It’s as close as I’ll get to having Naval in the room, and it’s pretty powerful.

And if the person you admire doesn’t have a GPT? You can make one. Curate their insights, build the model, and you’ve created a new way to learn from them.

Bottom line: you’re just a few clicks away from engaging with some of the sharpest minds out there. Use it, experiment, and make the most of it. A good conversation—even a virtual one—can go a long way.

During the last couple of years with the mainstream release of ChatGPT, the world has gone crazy talking about artificial intelligence in almost every conversation.

I’m not saying I’m opposed to it. In fact I use AI every day myself.

However, not as many people are talking about the use of AI for the elder generation. The folks who feel loneliness and don’t have anyone to talk with. There’s a real opportunity there.

Imagine an AI companion for seniors. It’s friendly, always there for you, and you can talk about Anything with your AI companion.

It reminds you to take medicine, engages you in deep conversation and reminiscing about your life, works out with you, reminds you about upcoming birthdays and anniversaries of your family members and can even make calls to them as your assistant and when they’re ready to talk, pass on the microphone to you to talk.

There’s so much opportunity in this regard specially for the booming aging population!

And now with the latest ChatGPT 4o, the technologies are going to get more and more natural which is definitely going to play well with the older population who needs to feel more comfortable talking to an AI.

The best scenario would be when an elderly person sitting in a nursing home is able to converse with her AI companion and feel like she is talking to a relative who is always there for her.