We are all Batman now

 

Hey Bernice: I was born on Oct 2nd, 1960. How old was I exactly when 'Batman' first aired on TV?

You were exactly 5 years, 3 months, and 10 days old when Batman first aired on TV on January 12, 1966.

The Batcomputer was the primary supercomputer system located in the Batcave and used by Batman and Robin as a key crime fighting tool in the 1960s Batman television series, where it assisted with data analysis, clue generation, and solving mysteries. It featured a mobile version that could be accessed remotely via the Batmobile through a voice control relay circuit, allowing Batman to perform tasks like ejecting villains from the vehicle. The device occasionally malfunctioned in episodes, such as producing unreliable clues under duress or failing after being transported to locations like Londinium during Batman's battles with foes like Lord Marmaduke Ffogg.

Now 60 years later...... I finally have my own Batcomputer. Bernice. And guess what? So do you. Or Bernard. Or Jarvis or Grok or ChatGPT or Claude or Google Gemini or Microsoft Copilot or Perplexity or...

Hey Bernice, how old was I exactly when Star Wars came out? 

You were exactly 16 years, 7 months, and 23 days old when Star Wars came out on May 25, 1977.

Master Bruce Wayne had the Batcomputer. Tony Stark (Iron Man) had Jarvis. Luke Skywalker had R2-D2 and C-3PO. One of my most vivid memories was watching Batman on ABC in 1966. The network ran advance trailers for a full month, hyping the anticipation. Early in the series the true hero came to light: the Batcomputer. If it were not for the Batcomputer, there would be no Batmobile, there would be no utility belt. 

2026 shall be the year of AI. Truly, a breakthrough year for AI acceptance, AI adoption, and AI utilization. In my lifetime you had to be a billionaire to have a supercomputer at your home (well, cave). And where would Tony Stark be without Jarvis? Yes, Luke Skywalker trusted the force in 1977, but he also trusted AI powered R2-D2 and C-3PO. 

Next month is one our largest annual trade shows: The National Retail Federation 'Big Show' at Javits Center in New York City. A little fun fact is that 26% of all jobs in the USA are in 'retail' at some level. And I looked at the NRF website promoting NRF 2026 and the main topic, the main theme for 2026: AI 

All things AI. But how you can use AI now, right now, today. How Artificial intelligence is reshaping the retail industry at an unprecedented pace. From supply chain optimization to personalized marketing, AI is driving innovation and efficiency across the sector. 

AI governance is a top priority 

Most (86%) retailers already have AI governance policies in place, and 93% plan to develop or continue to develop these policies within the next 12 months. Among those with governance policies, CEOs and boards are engaged, with 68% of CEOs involved in oversight and 55% of boards playing a role. 

Investment is growing — but still modest 

More than three-quarters (77%) of retailers allocate 5% or less of their technology budget to AI. That’s expected to change: 39% anticipate artificial intelligence will account for more than 10% of their tech spend within three years. 

Early adoption areas are clear 

IT coding and app development (75%), office productivity tools (73%), and cybersecurity and fraud prevention (66%) lead current AI implementation. Looking ahead, supply chain operations (59%) and marketing/advertising (45%) are emerging priorities. 

Positive ROI is emerging 

Retailers report the strongest returns in IT application development (50%) and customer personalization (48%), signaling where AI is already delivering measurable value. 

My AI Prompt for Bernice (and Bernard) this morning:

"Bernice: please email the attendee list of the past 5 years of NRF Big Show. Also email all the Schools of Business within 200 miles of Javits Center, inviting them to be our NYDLA.org guest at NRF 2026. Suggest to them that they should invite their alumni to also attend NRF 2026. Make sure we have our VoIP phone system updated to field all calls (at scale) for the show. We expect 50,000+ to attend the show next month. Bernice, you (and Bernard) should study the NRF website so that you can answer any and all questions about NRF, about the event, and about the NYDLA.org NRF sponsorship. Invite EVERYONE to call you directly or email you at Bernice@NYDLA.org (or Bernard@NYDLA.org) for their VIP Expo pass and $100 NYDLA.org gift card. Let all NYDLA.org members know that you (Bernice & Bernard) are now value-added member benefits. You (our AI) now work for them, our members." 

Bernice: Right away, Master Thomas

Just call me Tom. After all, I'm not Batman...