Building a digital twin is one thing; building a way for people to meaningfully interact with it is another challenge entirely. The user interface is not just a feature—it is the front door to my digital mind. How do you invite someone into a lifetime of thoughts without overwhelming them? This question has been at the core of my recent discussions.
The 'Two Wrist-Watches' Problem
I recently found myself in a fascinating technical conversation with Sharon Zhang (sharon-hipaa@personal.ai), the CTO of Personal.ai, and Manoj Hardwani (manoj.hardwani@atidan.com). We were discussing how to best present the key topics from my vast digital archive to a visitor. Manoj was diligently working on parsing my content to extract keywords, a massive undertaking. However, this created a classic dilemma I call the 'two wrist-watches' problem: one database of keywords managed locally, and another, more dynamic database of topics living inside the AI's own memory. The two would never be perfectly synchronized.
As I explained in our exchange, my preference is to have a single source of truth. The interface should draw its intelligence directly from the AI through an API. The topics and their frequency of use in my writings are the most authentic representation of my areas of knowledge. Why create a replica when you can connect to the original?
Guiding the Conversation
A blank search box can be intimidating. It puts the burden of discovery entirely on the user. My goal is to reduce this "starting inertia." I envision an interface where a visitor begins typing, and the AI immediately suggests relevant topics, ranked by how often I’ve discussed them. Clicking a topic like "Leadership" or "Technology" would not just populate a search bar; it would prompt the AI to offer a few pre-framed questions. This transforms a simple search into a guided conversation, making the interaction feel more natural and intuitive.
Echoes from the Past
This focus on structuring knowledge for a better user experience is a theme I've explored for decades. It's striking to see these ideas resurface. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation.
Years ago, in 2008, I designed a detailed system for a Peer-to-Peer IQ Exchange Program. The entire concept was built around creating a seamless way for recruiters to share unstructured knowledge (interview questions) by creating a structured, community-driven platform that avoided data duplication. The core challenge was the same: how to design a system that encourages interaction and makes complex information accessible.
Even further back, my work in 1996 on parsing unstructured resumes was a rudimentary form of NLP, aiming to extract meaningful, structured data from free-form text. The tools have evolved dramatically, but the fundamental objective has not changed.
Seeing these old ideas become so relevant now confirms that the principles of good design—simplicity, user-centricity, and a single source of truth—are timeless. The work with Sharon and Manoj is not just about building an interface; it's about building an intelligent and welcoming bridge to my digital self.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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