The potential for AI personal assistants to become a regular part of people’s daily lives will be explored in a major new study at Aberystwyth University.

The research will explore the emergence of AI technologies designed to act as ever-ready personal assistants – what Meta’s Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has described as "personalised super-intelligence".

Unlike current generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Meta AI, these systems would not rely solely on information drawn from the open internet.

Instead, they would learn directly from an individual's digital footprint, including their social networks, travel habits, consumer behaviour, entertainment preferences and personal interests.

Advocates argue that personalised AI could help people manage increasingly complex lives, improve decision-making, streamline daily routines, strengthen relationships, and support personal and professional goals.

Critics, however, warn that personalised superintelligence could lead to over-dependence on AI and enable unprecedented influence over individual choices.

They also raise concerns about data privacy, bias, and the impact such systems could have on trust in both digital and real-world interactions.

The research is funded by the Leverhulme Trust.

Professor Mark Whitehead from the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University, who is leading the research, said: “Artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly from a tool we occasionally consult into a technology that could become deeply integrated into people’s everyday lives.

“Learning from our digital footprints, personalised super-intelligence could build a detailed understanding of our relationships, preferences, routines and behaviours.

“Its promise is that it may help people navigate increasingly complex worlds by understanding their habits and needs – perhaps even knowing us better than we know ourselves.

“However, a key question guiding our research is this: if we could travel back 20 years and anticipate the social consequences of social media, what warnings might we give?

“By asking similar questions about personalised AI today, we hope to help ensure these technologies are developed in ways that maximise benefits while minimising unforeseen harms.”

Companies such as Meta have suggested that wearable technologies, including smart glasses, could become a key platform for personalised AI. Such devices may eventually learn by continuously observing elements of the user's surroundings and daily experiences.

Combined with data from the individual’s online activity, these real-world insights could allow AI systems to interpret situations and assist in real time.

Professor Whitehead added: “Imagine walking down the street and recognising a face but not remembering who the person is.

“Personalised super-intelligence could instantly provide their name, remind you when you last saw them, identify shared interests and even suggest a conversation starter.

“However, while these capabilities could bring significant benefits, they also raise profound questions about privacy, autonomy, trust and the future of human interaction.”

The project will examine both the corporate practices underpinning these technologies and the experiences of people who have already developed close relationships with AI systems.

Alongside established concerns around surveillance and data privacy, the project will explore how AI companions may reshape memory, friendship, social skills, decision-making and the nature of trust.