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Dr. Brian Glassman is a renowned expert in generative AI and prides himself on discussing the future of technology and uncovering the next groundbreaking innovations. He is a distinguished product management executive specializing in innovation and engineering, with 25 years of experience across corporate and consulting roles. Today, he discusses the potential of generative AI TVs.
Dr. Glassman holds a doctorate in product innovation from Purdue University, along with multiple degrees in engineering and management from prestigious institutions such as Duke University. In the following interview, he shares his insights on how generative AI TVs are set to redefine home entertainment, productivity, and education.
Interviewer: Let me start, Brian. You recently attended CES 2025 in Las Vegas. From your perspective, what was the most revolutionary technology you saw there?
Dr. Glassman: CES this year was nothing short of exhilarating. The air was electric, and the energy was palpable as attendees explored a dazzling array of technological advancements. Among the myriad innovations showcased, one stood head and shoulders above the rest: a generative AI-powered TV running Google’s Gemini LLM. At first glance, it appeared to be an ordinary streaming television, but as the demonstration unfolded, its extraordinary potential was revealed—not merely in what it is today but in what it could evolve to become.
Envision a GenAI TV that transcends merely streaming content. Instead, it dynamically curates a bespoke experience for every individual present in the room. It could sense the mood of its audience via cameras and microphones, coupled with a detailed knowledge of their viewing habits, and then select the perfect film or provide in-depth insights about a scene’s backstory in real-time. It might even engage in dialogue, answering questions about a plotline as they watch.
What struck me most wasn’t merely its entertainment capabilities but its adaptability and potential to enhance everyday life. This isn’t just a medium for movies, music, or sports; it could redefine how we interact with technology, serving as a proactive personal assistant integrated into our home lives.
Interviewer: Can you give us some specific examples of what this generative AI TV could do in the future?
Dr. Glassman: Certainly. Let’s consider productivity. Imagine a GenAI TV acting as a personal life manager. It could remind you of an upcoming meeting, craft a tailored daily plan and display it visually, or even subtly nudge you toward long-term goals when it senses you’re off track during a Netflix binge-watching session. Such capabilities could redefine personal productivity.
Visualize a built-in shopping assistant that not only understands your preferences from your purchase history but also anticipates your needs, whether it’s recommending pictures and videos of the latest fashion, electronics, or home goods. With this in mind, it helps select advertisements that fit your interest areas. Additionally, it might even help manage your finances, visually tracking daily and monthly spending patterns to ensure you stay within your budget by displaying on-screen budget overruns and questionable purchases.
The idea of a Generative AI TV as a personalized educator is truly inspiring. It could create tailored curriculums, curate educational video content, integrate gamified learning experiences, and even impose limits on viewing non-educational content.
Interviewer: Could you share an example of how a Generative AI TV might be used for entertainment or education?
Dr. Glassman: Picture this: You are hosting a dinner party, and one of your guests is an executive at your company whom you’d like to impress and build a connection with. The AI-powered TV assists by preparing your knowledge of their hobbies, interests, and even recent social media highlights with oral commentary and visuals. During the event, the TV becomes an active participant by leading a trivia game tailored to their favorite sports team.
Now consider a different context: your children studying ancient Egypt in middle school. This same GenAI TV could orchestrate an immersive educational experience. It could present interactive lessons, lead quizzes, or even show videos of tours of the pyramids. It’s not just about imparting information; it’s about making every interaction deeply engaging and memorable.
These aren’t merely AI TVs; they’re companions designed to enrich every moment, whether through learning, connection, or entertainment.
Interviewer: Dr. Glassman, it sounds like these TVs could also handle practical tasks. Could they really become productivity tools?
Dr. Glassman: Undoubtedly. Take, for example, a couple planning a tropical getaway. They could simply ask the TV, ‘Suggest nearby luxurious destinations.’ Within moments, GenAI TV could identify their current location, then present a curated selection, complete with resort videos and travel reviews, and even create a packing checklist. This is technology that doesn’t just inform; it orchestrates and executes.
And the potential doesn’t stop there. Imagine an AI TV seamlessly managing your schedule, tracking goals, or reminding you of essential tasks. It becomes a highly intuitive, ever-present assistant—one that learns and adapts to your needs with each interaction.
Interviewer: That’s incredible. But what needs to change for today’s TVs to evolve into Generative AI-powered systems?
Dr. Glassman: First and foremost, we need hardware that is both more powerful and affordable. On-device AI processing will be crucial for real-time responsiveness, while cloud AI processing can handle heavier computational demands. Privacy, too, must remain at the forefront, with sensitive data stored locally to ensure security.
Software innovation is equally critical. TVs must evolve to actively monitor and comprehend their own output, be it audio or video, and then be able to control applications via a virtual remote and keyboard. Companies like Anthropic are already pioneering solutions for controlling computers by taking occasional screenshots and then directing on-screen actions, and it’s only a matter of time before these capabilities become standard in multi-modal AIs.
Interviewer: Dr. Glassman, what components or systems do you see as core to making this vision of an AI TV possible?
Dr. Glassman: First, I see the speed of response and the quality of response as critical performance metrics that will improve as these devices mature with each jump in performance attracting more users. High-powered onboard AI computers will be essential for providing quick responses to simple commands, while cloud-based AI can handle more complex user commands seamlessly.
Privacy will be key. Since these device’s AI will build a deep understanding of your habits, desires, and interests, this information must be stored in secure, on-device AI vector databases. Access to valuable databases can then selectively share data with advertisers and other suppliers on demand, ensuring user control and security while improving the quality of ads and services delivered to the viewers.
The ability to integrate into multiple systems is crucial. A Generative AI TV must be capable of monitoring email and calendars, accessing searchable media catalogs from streaming providers like Netflix, searching the web, connecting and displaying content from e-commerce and retail sites, integrating with banking APIs, and controlling on-screen apps. Importantly, it must perform these tasks in the background, on a virtual off-screen display, without disrupting the viewing experience then bring them into view when requested by the user.
The system should also render custom user interfaces tailored to the user’s needs. Whether it’s displaying charts of monthly credit card spending, creating attractive on-screen quizzes for children, or delivering interactive educational content, the AI must be both a text and visual display engine.
Interviewer: Dr. Glassman, as we wrap up, what are your parting thoughts on this vision for Generative AI TVs?
Dr. Glassman: This isn’t merely about technological advancement; it’s about reshaping how we live. Generative AI TVs have the potential to power the future of our productive home lives, transforming them to be more engaging, efficient, and entertaining. However, achieving this vision demands thoughtful innovation and robust collaboration.
