Don Tapscott\u2019s new book (co-author Joseph Bradley) is You to the Power of Two: Redefining Human Potential in the Age of Identic AI.<\/p>\n
Only a few years ago, the world was captivated by generative artificial intelligence<\/a> \u2013 systems like ChatGPT that could write, summarize and create with startling fluency. That breakthrough was quickly followed by agentic AI, which extended those capabilities by giving AI initiative and the ability to act, manage tasks and pursue goals without constant prompting. AI agents are now permeating call centres, supply chains, financial systems, manufacturing and beyond. <\/p>\n Today we\u2019re on the threshold of a far more profound development for each of us: the rise of personal agents \u2013 intelligent companions that learn who we are, reflect our values and begin to operate as extensions of ourselves. <\/p>\n Call this identic AI. <\/p>\n These personal agents are far more than digital helpers. They will function as a consigliere, private doctor, cultural curator, mentor, librarian, editor, financial planner and, at times, counsellor. They will learn our habits, anticipate our needs, extend our capabilities and increasingly act on our behalf. If designed responsibly, these digital counterparts could help Canadians navigate a more complex world and lead richer, more purposeful lives.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Picture a morning a couple of years from now. Before you\u2019re fully awake, your AI has checked your health data, reviewed your schedule, flagged a traffic delay, surfaced a news item that you\u2019ll care about and drafted e-mails for you. It suggests a playlist and reminds you about your sister\u2019s birthday \u2013 with tailored gift ideas.<\/p>\n On your commute, it previews a conference it will attend for you, blocks a phishing attempt, preps you for a hard conversation and queues an article tied to your learning goals. It filters rather than floods. By the time you reach the office, it has adjusted your agenda, handled routine queries from colleagues, optimized a workflow to solve a problem and renegotiated a rate with your bank. Later, it checks your spending against long-term goals, recommends a diet tweak, flags a new mole on your skin and connects you with someone who shares your interests. <\/p>\n This sounds futuristic but the building blocks already exist. Within two to three years, these agents will be as common as smartphones, and far more powerful. <\/p>\n To understand identic AI, we need to trace the evolution of digital identity. Over the past 40 years, our digital selves have moved through three phases.<\/p>\n Everything you need to know about the AI bubble<\/a><\/p>\n The first was digital identification \u2013 the usernames, passwords and government credentials that prove who we are. These digital keys let us log in, cross a border or access our bank account.<\/p>\n The second was digital identity, comprised of the vast body of data we generate as we live and work online. Every purchase, location ping, digital photograph, streamed song, test result, text message and social post forms a growing archive of our lives. This virtual version of you may already know more about you than you do. It remembers your exact location on June 4 last year. It knows what time you went to bed, what you bought, what you liked online, what your doctor prescribed and which articles you read but never finished. It is a complete behavioural mirror. <\/p>\n Now we are entering the third phase: Our digital identity is getting an IQ, gaining reasoning, memory, creativity, initiative and maybe even agency. It won\u2019t just store your life. It will help you run it. It won\u2019t just record your choices. It will recommend, anticipate and eventually negotiate on your behalf. This is why we call it identic AI. It\u2019s a smart, cognitive extension of our digital selves that amplifies our capabilities.<\/p>\n The implications for daily life are enormous. Education could transform as every learner gains a personalized tutor that understands their strengths, weaknesses and curiosity. Health care will shift from crisis response to continuous monitoring and prevention, identifying risks long before symptoms appear. Our communities could become more connected as agents match people based on values and interests, help navigate government services and support those experiencing loneliness. <\/p>\n