Greetings from Las Vegas. CES 2025 officially starts tomorrow, but I've been here for a few days attending press conferences and scoping out the exhibit floor. As many of you know, I am a BBQ/smoker enthusiast. Last year, GE's indoor Smoker caught my attention. This year, it's the Brisk It Zelos 450 Smart Grill with Generative AI. Why does a smoker need Generative AI? It doesn't. Not in any way. That said…
As I walk around the CES show floor, I can literally smell the paint drying on the letters "AI" from booth to booth (as I wrote yesterday: CES 2025: AI, Everywhere, All At Once). The Brisk It grill takes this to another level and raises the philosophical question: When do humans benefit from AI?
The Brisk It 450 Smart Grill will not let you ruin your food. It will send you reminders and adjust the grill's settings to ensure that you get a perfect cook. This sounds great, and it is great... if the outcome is your goal. If you're looking for perfectly smoked brisket, AI (not generative AI, BTW) will do the trick.
However, if the journey is your destination, AI is not only not the answer, but exactly what you don't want. Smoking a brisket is a beloved process that requires time, attention, adult frosty beverages… long, exaggerated tales of past BBQ successes (and failures)... and a full day of wrapping, unwrapping, mopping, misting, firebox adjustments, love, and care. If the journey is your destination, AI is not going to help the process at all.
Just a small philosophical ponderance at the advent of CES 2025.
As always your thoughts and comments are both welcome and encouraged. Just reply to this email. -s
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About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.
