AI as Agent
The AI does things for you
- Chatbot interface
- "Hey AI, do this for me"
- Explicit commands
- Demands focused attention
- AI has agency, you supervise
- Opaque decision-making
AI as Material
AI is embedded in the environment
- Ambient intelligence
- Space responds naturally
- Implicit sensing
- Works at the periphery
- You have agency, AI supports
- Transparent, predictable
Same scenario, different approaches
Scenario
You walk into a meeting room
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AI as Agent
"I see you have a meeting scheduled. Would you like me to dim the lights, start the projector, and pull up your slides?"
AI as Material
Lights gradually dim as you place your laptop on the table. The projector warms up. No conversation needed.
Weiser's Test
Which approach disappears?
Drag the slider to explore the spectrum