Artificial Intelligence is increasingly at the forefront of digital innovation, its presence undeniable in every new tech product launched. At Cove, while we recognise AI's profound potential and its inevitable impact on society, we envision a new trajectory—avoiding the pitfalls of past tech cycles where the loud, the bright, and the all-consuming products won out. Our dream is for AI to seamlessly operate in the background, enhancing our lives silently while freeing us from the shackles of our devices. This vision shifts the role of AI from a central figure to a subtle facilitator, giving us more time to engage in life away from the digital grind.

The concept of AI enhancing digital third places might initially seem counterintuitive. After all, AI, by its very definition (and countless examples over the last few months) is inherently inauthentic—the byproduct of data and algorithms which are hardly the ingredients for authentic human experiences. Yet, there lies a fascinating potential for AI in the realm of authenticity, particularly in how we represent ourselves online.

Today's digital identities are often flat and static—defined by a single profile picture, a bio, and lists of likes and follows. These simplified identities fall short of capturing the multi-dimensional nature of who we are as individuals—regardless of what the ad companies may believe. In real life, our personalities are fluid and adaptable, changing subtly with different contexts and company. Each interaction is shaped by our past and, in turn, influences our future interactions.

We're interested in how AI can facilitate our interactions with third places - online and IRL - and free our time up for more human experiences. Keep an eye out for our experiments in this space.