My wife recently woke up from a nightmare where AI had taken over human bodies. The likely culprit was less dramatic: Google Photos kept nudging her to “AI” herself when she only wanted to look at pictures of our cats. That’s where a lot of people are with AI right now. Curious, tired, mildly creeped out, and increasingly annoyed when normal apps start acting like every action needs a software demo attached. I get the tension. AI spent the last couple of years trying very hard to become a product. The better trick may be learning when to disappear. The best AI gadget may not look like one That’s why the most interesting examples right now often don’t look like AI gadgets at all. They look like ordinary devices that picked up a few new habits without demanding a new ritual.…