AI doesn't always need to be more human

As technology advances, companies continue to push the boundaries with virtual assistants and conversational AI, striving in most cases to more closely approximate real-life person-to-person interactions. The implication is that "more human" is better. AI doesn't need to be more human to serve human needs. It's time for companies to stop obsessing over how closely their AI approximates real people and start focusing on the real strengths that this transformative technology can bring to consumers, businesses, and society. The desire to strive for more humanity within technology is understandable. As a species, we've long taken pleasure in the personification of animals and inanimate objects, whether it's chuckling when you see a dog wearing a tiny top hat or doodling a smiley face on a steamy bathroom mirror.