I have long felt that our current internet of things (IOT) has had a downside that those of us who embraced it early, didn't anticipate - the things we now call "social media" - are largely platforms that prevent people from having actual social connections. Sure, there are the meetups of the world, and you can use facebook to organize events, but a facebook feed is largely people sharing memes, facebook ads that litter the space, and people voicing their criticisms of each other or praise in some circumstances - but these are snapshots into someone's life - not a meaningful connection. Twitter, for the most part, is the definition of screaming into the universe and never changing anything. At the click of a button, you can find people who share your viewpoints, build information silos, and largely avoid knowing that there are people in the world with opinions who differ from you.
Many people like this - they enjoy always being right, feeling like they're doing the socially right or ethically right thing. But within that, people are largely losing empathy. They're losing the ability to understand the perspective of those who disagree with us. My teen recently asked if I thought he should only date someone who had the same political beliefs as him - this was a 100% serious question. I clearly stated that no - people's political beliefs change over time and that we can't define someone solely as their political beliefs but rather should look for the things we have in common and see if we're compatible on that deeper level of respect and common goals. Even when we are in disagreement in terms of goals, or the course of action is one that we feel is wrong, it's so important to remember that we each have unique experiences and that people can both be making decisions from a place of good intention, but want two different things. The internet has made us lose sight of this. It has actually created barriers that reduce our ability to communicate freely and to see each other as humans. (This is even more problematic when you consider how platforms censor speech that they don't agree with, forcing the users of the platform to shape their speech into a way that is acceptable enough to avoid censorship.)
Anyways - this is my very long winded way of saying that AI poses a threat to society as we know it. I know the people working in the industry largely see it as freeing humans up to spend more time doing the things that are important to them, but I think this removes a basic understanding of the economy, jobs, and general social connections. Are we willing to pay for a service that is being provided by AI? If not, how does the company who is largely using AI pay for it's hosting services and the few employees it actually does have on staff? I know people say this is why UBI is needed - BUT - if not enough people are paying taxes, there isn't going to be enough government funds for UBI. And what will motivate a minority of people to continue working and paying taxes if the majority of their peers are collecting UBI and not working?
Humans need purpose and connection to feel happy and enjoy life. I fear that modern life is removing both purpose and connection and that as people become less and less happy and dissatisfied, society will only suffer more with increased drug addiction, violence, and more.
So all this to say - I'm pretty against AI overall. And I would encourage anyone else in the Gen X age range/maybe older millenials as well, to really seriously look at social media, and see whether you truly have more meaningful connections - someone who will come and cook a meal for you if you're sick, or sit with you in the hospital, or come get you if your tire is flat. Or if it's just scrolling and clicks and a false sense of connection.
I hope the government acts sensibly when it comes to legislation, but the other piece of this is that I think every individual needs to engage in conversations with their peers about what friendship means to them, what connection looks like - what forms our communities and keeps them vibrant. These things are necessary if the kids who are growing up today are going to have a cohesive society to age into and I'm not sure that we have this in place right now.
Expecting or even hoping for some intelligent thinking from this current cabal of tools is nigh on to laughable.....name a single sensible, good for the country thought Trudeau and his french clique have had.........................thought so.
I worry most about the population of "starter job" workers who, displaced by AI, technology or just plain "unneededness" find themselves INCAPABLE of "starter+ jobs". No, I don't mean just incapable of re-training (which has been notably unsuccessful) but of new workers joining the workforce but lacking the inherent ability to do new "entry level" jobs that will require "entry+" skills.
All those telemarketers from India will be replaced by AI. All our bank tellers and customer service reps will be replaced with AI. Where it's going to get interesting is when all our therapists will be replaced by AI.
This is all stuff that has already begun to happen.
The advent of AI girlfriends is one thing, but I predict that there will be even more AI boyfriends.
It will be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, there will be a certain loss of human connection. But on the other hand, having to compete for another human's attention and care will improve our behaviour and make us more sensitive and responsive human beings,
I have long felt that our current internet of things (IOT) has had a downside that those of us who embraced it early, didn't anticipate - the things we now call "social media" - are largely platforms that prevent people from having actual social connections. Sure, there are the meetups of the world, and you can use facebook to organize events, but a facebook feed is largely people sharing memes, facebook ads that litter the space, and people voicing their criticisms of each other or praise in some circumstances - but these are snapshots into someone's life - not a meaningful connection. Twitter, for the most part, is the definition of screaming into the universe and never changing anything. At the click of a button, you can find people who share your viewpoints, build information silos, and largely avoid knowing that there are people in the world with opinions who differ from you.
Many people like this - they enjoy always being right, feeling like they're doing the socially right or ethically right thing. But within that, people are largely losing empathy. They're losing the ability to understand the perspective of those who disagree with us. My teen recently asked if I thought he should only date someone who had the same political beliefs as him - this was a 100% serious question. I clearly stated that no - people's political beliefs change over time and that we can't define someone solely as their political beliefs but rather should look for the things we have in common and see if we're compatible on that deeper level of respect and common goals. Even when we are in disagreement in terms of goals, or the course of action is one that we feel is wrong, it's so important to remember that we each have unique experiences and that people can both be making decisions from a place of good intention, but want two different things. The internet has made us lose sight of this. It has actually created barriers that reduce our ability to communicate freely and to see each other as humans. (This is even more problematic when you consider how platforms censor speech that they don't agree with, forcing the users of the platform to shape their speech into a way that is acceptable enough to avoid censorship.)
Anyways - this is my very long winded way of saying that AI poses a threat to society as we know it. I know the people working in the industry largely see it as freeing humans up to spend more time doing the things that are important to them, but I think this removes a basic understanding of the economy, jobs, and general social connections. Are we willing to pay for a service that is being provided by AI? If not, how does the company who is largely using AI pay for it's hosting services and the few employees it actually does have on staff? I know people say this is why UBI is needed - BUT - if not enough people are paying taxes, there isn't going to be enough government funds for UBI. And what will motivate a minority of people to continue working and paying taxes if the majority of their peers are collecting UBI and not working?
Humans need purpose and connection to feel happy and enjoy life. I fear that modern life is removing both purpose and connection and that as people become less and less happy and dissatisfied, society will only suffer more with increased drug addiction, violence, and more.
So all this to say - I'm pretty against AI overall. And I would encourage anyone else in the Gen X age range/maybe older millenials as well, to really seriously look at social media, and see whether you truly have more meaningful connections - someone who will come and cook a meal for you if you're sick, or sit with you in the hospital, or come get you if your tire is flat. Or if it's just scrolling and clicks and a false sense of connection.
I hope the government acts sensibly when it comes to legislation, but the other piece of this is that I think every individual needs to engage in conversations with their peers about what friendship means to them, what connection looks like - what forms our communities and keeps them vibrant. These things are necessary if the kids who are growing up today are going to have a cohesive society to age into and I'm not sure that we have this in place right now.
Expecting or even hoping for some intelligent thinking from this current cabal of tools is nigh on to laughable.....name a single sensible, good for the country thought Trudeau and his french clique have had.........................thought so.
Sensible…….Liberal………Legislation…….?
Dean, please go to the 56:38 time in this CPAC video and Christian Leuprecht will make your day over the next five minutes to 62:02
https://www.cpac.ca/episode?id=ae15922e-3a3a-4ac1-ace7-da29e9a811ed
Thx Tom!
I worry most about the population of "starter job" workers who, displaced by AI, technology or just plain "unneededness" find themselves INCAPABLE of "starter+ jobs". No, I don't mean just incapable of re-training (which has been notably unsuccessful) but of new workers joining the workforce but lacking the inherent ability to do new "entry level" jobs that will require "entry+" skills.
Are we staring at an increase in unemployables?
You overlooked the massive amounts of power that is and will be required by AI.
All those telemarketers from India will be replaced by AI. All our bank tellers and customer service reps will be replaced with AI. Where it's going to get interesting is when all our therapists will be replaced by AI.
This is all stuff that has already begun to happen.
This sounds like a win.
The advent of AI girlfriends is one thing, but I predict that there will be even more AI boyfriends.
It will be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, there will be a certain loss of human connection. But on the other hand, having to compete for another human's attention and care will improve our behaviour and make us more sensitive and responsive human beings,
I can agree with all your points on the dangers of AI except the bit about casting thousands of people out of work.
Don’t you think that’s a little ironic juxtaposed with “outdated thinking”. Try looking up “Luddite “.
They are clearly, clearly, NOT ready.
Soooooo........ did Menzies write this piece?
Just asking so that I can fit these arguments into my own paradigm.