I'm not always sure why customers feel they have to so adamantly protest against people who suggest some product feature which doesn't affect them in any way.
If the Petrel included AI, you could still just not use it. I imagine that if they put in noise alarms, you would be able to disable those, as well. I doubt that Shearwater adding those features would harm you at all.
Technical divers tend to be vehemently against AI, to the point that I wonder if they worry it's a feature that will bleed into their computers via some electron osmosis?
In fact, technical divers seem to sometimes be very outspoken about a whole host of features that they consider anathema, but which clearly aren't as bad as we think, for all the hundreds of thousands of recreational dives done safely, with great enjoyment and pleasure, conducted yearly in BC's, some with levers for the inflator, and integrated weights, with floppy fins, masks with purge valves and a snorkel on the side, with a dangling octo and SPG, a yoke valve and a beeping, AI computer.
Yes, recreational divers are just as capable as technical divers of just enjoying a dive. Experiencing the underwater world and emerging with a smile on their face. In fact, some emerge with more of a smile than us technical divers, due to their much lighter gear!
And, why is AI bad? Because it's a failure point? Lots of gear is a failure point, but sometimes the small added risk of a failure point (do you know anyone who died because their AI transmitter leaked? It's a HP port anyways which we all know have a very slow loss of gas compared to an LP risk. Yes, an inflator hose for your drysuit is more of a risk than an AI transmitter!) outweighs the huge risk of mental failure points.
Now, I don't use AI. I'm a very loyal Shearwater customer. It's the best computer on the market right now, hands down. But, I know several people who died because they ran out of gas. Some of the brightest, best minds in scuba diving have died because they ran out of gas. It's not a skills problem.
Cars are starting to come with technology to warn you about drivers on every side of you, as well as yourself. They tell you when someone is coming up fast on you, when you are coming up fast on someone else, and when there is a car in your blind spot as you change lanes. And, they tell you when you are acting drunk or drowsy.
Technology cannot, should not, and hopefully will not ever replace a competent driver or diver that is paying attention to their gauges and surroundings. But, we've seen very safe drivers who had a very small, very short mental lapse or tunnel vision, and caused a fatal accident. AI is one technology that, when implemented right, could help reduce those risks in diving.
And when we have it, if you don't want it, then just don't install it. But, to claim that an idea is bad because it got started in a "realm" of diving that you consider inferior, and to berate people who ask if there is a possibility of that technology being implemented in a very smart way by the best computer company in the industry, is just something I cannot understand.
TL;DR I think AI could be useful if implemented right. if anyone is going to make AI that works, and reduces diver risk of running out of air, it's Shearwater. I think it's great that someone asked the question.