The year that was....

Reflections on AI, 2024, and the Year Ahead: A Sarcastic Journey

Apologies in advance to my non-Somali friends who might find the attached video a linguistic puzzle. I gave my trusty AI tool the task of handling it, and its response was, shall we say, both factual and frustratingly detached.

Here’s how it went:

AI's Clinical Precision Mode activated and informed me, "The video has a duration of approximately 406 seconds (6 minutes and 46 seconds). It includes an audio track, which can be processed for transcription. Would you like me to transcribe the audio or summarize the key content from it?"

I eagerly replied, "Yes, please."

Its next attempt was no less robotic, stating:

"Your uploaded PowerPoint file appears to begin with a reflective theme about the year 2024 and hopes for improvement in 2025. It includes the phrase, 'May 2025 be better than 2024,' and a mention of 'Ilaahayoo noo naxariiso' (translated as 'Oh God, have mercy on us'). Let me know if you'd like to expand, revise, or create content based on this theme."

Yes, AI, you're very observant. Thank you for confirming what I already knew.

When I asked for further elaboration, the tone became remarkably inspirational:

"The PowerPoint presentation appears to reflect on the past year (2024) and expresses hopes for a better year ahead in 2025. It includes reflective and motivational elements, calling for mercy and improvement. The tone suggests a forward-looking perspective, with an emphasis on gratitude and hope for progress. If you'd like, I can delve into specific slides or sections to provide a more detailed summary."

“Yes, please, go ahead.”

Cue the twist—AI then declared, "It seems that the necessary module for transcribing the audio isn't available in this environment. However, you can use online tools like Otter.ai, Sonix, or Descript to transcribe the video quickly. Alternatively, I can suggest an approach or guide you through the transcription process if you'd like to handle it locally."

Oh, the irony. Here was AI—the supposed knight in shining armor of efficiency—suggesting I use a different AI to get the job done. How very "meta."

Suggestions poured in: Otter.ai, Sonix, Descript, YouTube captions—you name it. Each option more labor-intensive than the last. It was as if AI was nudging me to reconsider my blind trust in its capabilities. But this is not the point of my tirade.

The point I want to make is simple: AI isn’t about to impact our lives—it already has. It's woven into how we think, write, and process information. In 2025, I plan to dive deeper into AI, cryptocurrency, and other technical trends, though hopefully with fewer sarcastic detours.

Now, back to this week's post. As the title suggests, it’s about the year that was and my thoughts on the year ahead. In the video, I covered key issues from 2024 and highlighted what I see as major challenges for 2025.

So, whether through AI tools or our own good sense, let’s tackle the year ahead with both optimism and a dash of caution. And perhaps, just perhaps, with fewer 406-second videos to decode.

….

What you just read above is Ai enabled conversation. Comments, feedback as always welcome. Happy holidays…