It’s 2025. The rapid advancements in Gen AI, the emergence of DeepSeek's cost-effective AI models, the development of Groq's specialized AI hardware - all these technologies are coming at us so quickly that it’s easy to get swept up in all the possibilities without fully understanding our reality. It’s important to take a step back, recognize what’s really happening, and reevaluate our assumptions so we can move forward with clarity.
Sometimes, when we try to explain something in simple terms to someone unfamiliar with it, we realize how much we’ve taken for granted. Suddenly, our assumptions are laid bare before us, and gaps in our understanding become clear.
So - what if we approached explaining computers this way? What if we had to describe how they work, and why we use them the way we do to someone who’s never seen one before - like, maybe, an alien? What would we discover about technology that we hadn’t noticed before?
In this imaginary conversation, we'll find out what we might be overlooking about computers and discover our faulty assumptions when we try to explain them from a totally fresh perspective.
Alien: Wow, these “computers” seem pretty amazing. You humans spend copious amounts of time using them. You said they help with everything from managing projects to creating art and running businesses. How do they actually work?
Human: Yeah, they’re pretty incredible. You can think of computers as having four core components. The CPU is like the brain, handling all the instructions and processing information. Then there’s the memory - kind of like short term memory temporarily holding the data it's actively using - and storage, where all the data is kept for the long term. Software is really where all the magic happens - these are programs, tools or applications (apps) that give the computer instructions on what to do with the data. And finally, the Operating System is the manager that makes everything work together. It’s really cool!
Alien: Cool beans. That sounds like a really precise system. It must help you get things done quickly with all the information across all these apps and tools, right?
Human: Yup. The CPU makes it super fast, and the operating system keeps everything running smoothly. The apps tell the computer how to process the data, whether it’s writing a document, creating a roadmap, designing assets, organizing tasks, or sending emails. It’s like having a powerful assistant at your disposal all the time.
Alien: That’s so cool. So, when you work on something, does the computer just know everything it needs to do? Does it understand how all the apps you’re using connect with each other?
Human: Well, no, not exactly. The apps are powerful, but they work independently. Each one manages its own function - like handling a calendar, processing emails, organizing tasks, or editing documents. The computer, though, runs these operations so efficiently. For example, the new M4 Max chip is insanely fast! It makes everything run like a breeze - whether I'm working on a project or editing a video. But yeah, it doesn’t really understand how they fit into the bigger picture. You’re the one who has to connect the dots between everything.
Alien: Oh, I see. So, the computer can do a lot of tasks, but it doesn’t understand how everything fits together?
Human: Right, it can process the information in each app - so, if you’re working on a document, the computer will display the text, save the file, and handle all that. The document is in an app and is just one piece. The computer doesn’t automatically know that this document is related to a meeting you had, or an email you just sent, or a ticket in a project management tool. It’s just following instructions to do its job.
Alien: Ok, so it’s fast and precise, but it still relies on you to figure out how things are connected?
Human: Yeah, pretty much. We have to manually link everything together. If I’m working on a project, I’ll have files, tasks, emails, instant messages, and meetings in different apps, and the computer doesn’t really help me see how they’re related. Each app handles its own thing, but they don’t talk to each other or recognize that they’re part of the same project.
Alien: But you said you use AI to help with tasks, like thinking through problems or organizing information. Don’t AI tools help the computer understand how everything fits together?
Human: Oh, AI tools - they’re so freakin’ cool! AI, especially LLMs like GPT, can process huge amounts of information and respond based on the context you give them. We’re the ones that “prompt” our AI applications. We can ask questions, and the AI can analyze our documents or emails to help guide our decisions and even generate new content based on what we’ve worked on. It’s pretty powerful.
Alien: So the AI understands what you’re working on, and it helps you organize your tasks or provide answers based on your input?
Human: Yes, it can even suggest actions, help brainstorm ideas, re-write entire documents, analyze data, or even design images. It’s like having a super-smart, multi-talented assistant. And some AI tools are even integrated with things like your calendar or project management apps so they can help with scheduling or task management.
Alien: Cool! So if the AI can connect your calendar, tasks, and emails, doesn’t it automatically help the computer understand how everything fits together?
Human: Well, no, not really. Even though the AI can help with specific tasks, it’s still an application in and of itself, so it requires that we provide the context for each one. For example, I need to tell it what I’m working on, what my priorities are, or how the information from an email relates to a document. The AI doesn’t inherently know how the work in one app connects to another app unless I guide it. It’s still working with isolated pieces of data. I still need to prompt it.
Alien: Wait, so the AI helps you, but it doesn’t actually “see” how your work connects across apps and tools.
Human: Right. Even though AI tools are pretty “smart,” they still work with isolated information. If I want the AI to help me with something, I need to give it the context from each app I’m using. It doesn’t understand the relationships between the tools on its own.
Alien: Hmm. That sounds a bit limiting. So, the computer processes information quickly, and the AI makes suggestions, generates content, and helps with tasks, but there’s still no understanding of how everything fits together. What's the point of having insanely fast processing speeds if the computer can't even make sense of the bigger picture?
It's like having a super-fast car, but if the roads are all disconnected and there's no map, you still can't get anywhere efficiently. More speed and more content without the bigger context seems like it would just lead to more chaos. So, why bother if you still have to manually link the information and context between apps?
Human: Yeah. I guess we are the ones still connecting the dots between apps. I mean, I think AI could eventually evolve on its own to handle that. Maybe it’ll figure out how to do that for us as it gets smarter.
Alien: That’s an interesting thought. But based on what you told me, if the apps are working independently, separated by the system, how could AI ever “evolve” on its own to make those connections? The AI exists within that same environment, so it’s still bound by the limitations of the entire system.
Human: Oh…right. The computer's environment is what keeps the apps separated in the first place. That's true - it's like all the tools are locked down in their own little boxes and the AI can’t break out of that. The system itself doesn’t allow for those connections to be made automatically.
Alien: Exactly. Even though the AI can be advanced, it seems like it’s still trapped in a system that doesn’t allow it to access the connections between your tasks, goals, and the different apps and tools you’re using. For AI to evolve into the proactive partner you talk about, it would need to understand context, but the operating system doesn’t give it the contextual awareness to do that. It's like the AI is missing a vital sense of how everything you’re doing fits together.
Human: Holy crap, you’re right! I always thought AI would be the solution - just give it more data, prompt it with more context, and it would be able to predict and act on its own. But if the system isn’t set up to share that context between apps, how can AI ever get there on its own? It would always be reactive, only able to work within the tiny silo that I give it.
Alien: Yeah. And it seems like it’s not just AI that’s held back by this limitation. The whole environment or system itself - the operating system - fails to provide the contextual awareness that’s needed for all these tools to communicate and work together seamlessly. The system doesn’t allow for one app to understand the data in another app. So, with or without AI, you humans are still stuck manually making connections between all the fragmented pieces.
Human: Dang, you’re right. This has nothing to do with how smart the AI is. It’s about the environment it’s in. The operating system is what’s keeping the apps separated from each other. And without that contextual awareness, the AI can’t even function to its full potential. How are we supposed to get to a future where AI is a true partner if the system itself doesn’t capture the contextual data in our heads or even allow for that data to flow freely between apps?
Alien: Yeah, buddy. It seems like the operating system is the key issue. AI might be smart, but it’s still limited by the lack of context that the operating system doesn’t access or act upon. And that’s what might be holding back both human progress and the potential of AI. You need the system itself to understand contextual data, so that humans and AI can work seamlessly together, without having to constantly link, connect, and prompt one another.
Human: [Mind blown]
Alien: Looks like your computers need a new system.
Human: Looks like they do.
Yes, the power of modern computers and AI is exciting, and it’s fascinating how these technologies help us manage tasks, create, and collaborate. But as the imaginary conversation between the Alien and Human unfolds, you can see that despite all the technological advancements, the systems we rely on are still fragmented. The apps and tools work in isolation, and while AI has potential, it’s constrained by the same limitations. The AI can’t connect the dots across our tasks and workflows because the operating system itself doesn’t capture nor facilitate this kind of contextual awareness.
The conversation reveals a key insight - for both AI to reach its full potential, and for us as humans to unlock our capacity, we need an environment that enables seamless connection and understanding between tools, data, and our work. It’s not just about smarter AI - it’s about creating a system that works holistically, supporting us individually, within teams, and alongside AI.
This is where Reframe steps in. We’re building a new type of native operating system - an Organized Work Environment (OWE) - that not only empowers AI to connect the dots, but also removes the limitations that hinder our progress and individuals and teams. By capturing and integrating contextual data across all our tools and workflows, Reframe makes it possible for us to unlock our full potential, working together seamlessly, collaborating intelligently with each other and with AI.
It’s about more than just better apps or faster AI. It’s about creating a system that amplifies human capacity and supports deep, meaningful work.
With Reframe, we’re paving the way for a future where technology isn’t just a tool, but a true extension of how we think, work and innovate.
Sign up to get early access and see how it works!