The Future of Consumer AI

The Future of Consumer AI
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October 2024

Consumer AI is about to change everything. Like the internet and mobile phones before it, AI will soon be a part of our everyday lives. But unlike those earlier shifts, AI isn’t just about new gadgets or software, it’s about changing how we think, create, and interact. So what’s coming next for consumer AI?

A lot of people still see AI as futuristic, but it’s already here. Tools like ChatGPT and AI assistants have become part of our routines. They’ve shown us what’s possible, but we’re still early. The real change won’t come from fancier AI models; it’ll come from making AI useful and engaging for everyone, just like smartphones did for technology[1].

Here’s the key to the future of consumer AI: the technology itself is becoming a commodity. It’s not about who can build the best AI models anymore; it’s about who can deliver the best user experience. That’s where the real opportunity lies.

One of the most exciting areas is creative AI. In the past, creating music, videos, or art required skills, tools, and time. Now, AI can generate professional-level content in minutes. This is a big deal, it’s removing barriers and letting anyone with an idea bring it to life.

Take Photoroom, for example. It uses AI to remove backgrounds and enhance images, turning a task that used to take hours into something you can do in seconds. This kind of democratization of creativity is one of the biggest trends right now, and we’re just getting started [2].

AI isn’t just for generating content. It’s going to make every interaction personal. We’re heading towards a future where AI knows your preferences, understands your context, and can predict what you need before you even ask. Personalization is the next frontier.

A good example is RIZZ, an AI-powered dating assistant. Instead of endless swiping, RIZZ focuses on meaningful conversations, tailored to your personality and preferences. This is where consumer AI is headed: less noise, more depth, and a focus on quality over quantity [3].

The real power of AI will come from how well it fits into our lives—not with flashy features, but by truly understanding and adapting to us. Startups that get this right will thrive by creating personalized, intuitive experiences that go beyond what’s possible today.

AI is also going to change how we work. Imagine an AI that not only takes notes during meetings but also organizes them, highlights key points, and reminds you of follow-ups. Tools like Granola are already moving in this direction, combining human input with AI insights to make work more efficient [4].

This is just one example of how AI will automate boring parts of our jobs, freeing us to focus on more meaningful work. The future isn’t about replacing people with AI; it’s about enhancing our abilities so we can do more, faster.

By 2024, the competition in AI won’t be about who has the best model, it’ll be about who has the best user experience. The models are getting easier and cheaper to build, thanks to open-source platforms like LLaMA and Mistral. The challenge now is turning those models into products people love to use [5].

Think about Instagram. They didn’t invent photo filters, they made them easy and fun. That’s what AI startups need to do: take powerful models and create seamless, engaging experiences that solve real problems. It’s not just about putting AI in a nice wrapper, it’s about designing products that feel natural and indispensable.

The next generation of AI apps won’t be about individual use. They’ll be collaborative. Imagine AI tools that let multiple people work together on creative projects in real-time, or apps that combine different AI models for a richer, more interactive experience. AI will become a tool for collaboration, not just a personal assistant [6].

Just like Uber used geolocation for more than maps, AI startups will need to combine models in new ways to unlock entirely new behaviors. The best AI products of tomorrow will let people work across different mediums: text, video, voice, in ways we can’t even fully predict yet.

We’re at the start of something big. As AI gets more accessible and cheaper, we’ll see a wave of strange, fun, and unexpected applications. Just like mobile technology gave us Snapchat and TikTok, AI will unlock possibilities we haven’t even imagined.

The companies that win will be the ones that see beyond today’s problems and create AI experiences people don’t just use, they love. And in doing so, they’ll change not only what we can do, but how we live.





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