Letters to America --- October 18, 2024
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To those who are concerned,
A relatively new area of interest that I have had the opportunity to look at briefly is this matter of A…I, Artificial Intelligence. Well, if I may make a bold and overly simplistic recommendation, I would suggest that you gather up all the Artificial Intelligence you can find, package it up and send it to Washington, DC . There seems to be a surprising lack of the organic kind. It would appear that Reason “has left the building.”
When it comes to AI, I would like to provide a warning that may already be of concern to some of you. Let us use history as our teacher. Black powder was invented accidentally by a Chinese cook when he mixed charcoal, saltpeter and sulfur. Boom! It was intended and first used for peaceful purposes like fireworks celebrations. It did not take long to “weaponize” it, as you say. AI is already being weaponized in defaming photography of celebrities and illegal voice reproduction. A picture may be worth a thousand words but at least the words aren’t the wrong face on the wrong body in the wrong situation or a recognized voice saying something that was never said by that person. Oh, what could be done in the course of the political contest with that capability. Indeed, frightening , is it not?
Will AI mean that the need for humans to “reason” will be replaced? Or will AI sanitize, marginalize, homogenize and otherwise neutralize all to its lowest common denominator? Or will people be able to harness its power for the benefit of mankind? Then all you have to worry about is who and how they will define what they call “benefit.” That will be a matter of trust, will it not? Trust in politicians and corporate individuals and trust in institutions has always been a risky business.
Until next time, I remain...
Your most humble and obedient servant,
JM
A relatively new area of interest that I have had the opportunity to look at briefly is this matter of A…I, Artificial Intelligence. Well, if I may make a bold and overly simplistic recommendation, I would suggest that you gather up all the Artificial Intelligence you can find, package it up and send it to Washington, DC . There seems to be a surprising lack of the organic kind. It would appear that Reason “has left the building.”
When it comes to AI, I would like to provide a warning that may already be of concern to some of you. Let us use history as our teacher. Black powder was invented accidentally by a Chinese cook when he mixed charcoal, saltpeter and sulfur. Boom! It was intended and first used for peaceful purposes like fireworks celebrations. It did not take long to “weaponize” it, as you say. AI is already being weaponized in defaming photography of celebrities and illegal voice reproduction. A picture may be worth a thousand words but at least the words aren’t the wrong face on the wrong body in the wrong situation or a recognized voice saying something that was never said by that person. Oh, what could be done in the course of the political contest with that capability. Indeed, frightening , is it not?
Will AI mean that the need for humans to “reason” will be replaced? Or will AI sanitize, marginalize, homogenize and otherwise neutralize all to its lowest common denominator? Or will people be able to harness its power for the benefit of mankind? Then all you have to worry about is who and how they will define what they call “benefit.” That will be a matter of trust, will it not? Trust in politicians and corporate individuals and trust in institutions has always been a risky business.
Until next time, I remain...
Your most humble and obedient servant,
JM