Geek Stuff category archive
Artificial? Yet. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Stultifying? At Psychology Today Blogs, Eric Solomon argues that AI “pushes anxious minds toward safety, shrinking curiosity and original thought” (emphasis added).
Follow the link for his reasoning.
Copywrongs 0
I have noted before in these electrons that, since my earliest days on Usenet and BBSs (that’s “bulletin board systems”–look it up), I have been amazed at how persons willingly believe stuff that they read on a computer screen, when they would not believe the same stuff if it happened before their eyes. Now, with the advent of AI chatbots, we’ve progressed to a point at which persons willingly believe stuff they hear from their computers when they wouldn’t believe the same stuff if it happened before their eyes.
Bloomberg’s Catherine Thorbecke thinks that, as AI spreads, it’s time for the companies that are manufabricating it to come clean about what they are using for their “training” data. She asks
The answer appears to be “yes” to all of the above. But we can’t know for sure because the companies building these systems refuse to say.
The secrecy is increasingly indefensible as AI systems creep into high-stakes environments like schools, hospitals, hiring tools and government services. The more decision-making and agency we hand over to machines, the more urgent it becomes to understand what’s going into them.
I commend the entire article to your attention.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
A trustworthy advisor? That bridge in Brooklyn is still on sale.
It’s All about the Algorithm, Facebook Frolics Dept. 0
A news report from Reuters leads to the question: Is “social” media the new tobacco, knowingly promoting addiction for profit?
One more time, “social” media isn’t.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Trustworthy? At Psychology Today Blogs, CUNY professor Azadeh Aalai reminds us that
(s)ome of the perils of AI include the spread of false information and the potential to manipulate.
And, speaking of the potential to manipulate . . . .
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Our new robotic overlords? Security maven Bruce Scneier points out that
Follow the link for his exploration of the implications of the infiltration.
Source for the Goose . . . 0
. . . but not source for the gander.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Trustworthy? Hardly.
At Psychology Today Blogs, Richard Gunderman reminds us that “(t)rust arises from relationships, not from digital probability functions.”
Recommended Listening 0
Harry Shearer’s interview with Gary Marcus about “the AI illusion and why it isn’t intelligence” on this week’s episode of Le Show.
And in more (quite disgusting) news involving AI.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Able to appreciate beauty? Neel Burton, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, points out the, per Kant, it can’t.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
A device that’s dumbing us down? At Psychology Today Blogs, Timothy Cook (no relation to Tim Apple) reminds persons who are letting AI do their brainwork for them that
Follow the link for his reasoning.
The Crypto Con 0
In the midst of a longer post, almost as an aside, Atrios gets to the heart of the crypto con in five words:
Facebook Frolics 0
Fraudulent (adjacent at the very least) frolics.
One more time, “social” media isn’t.
It’s not the public square, although it seems like it.
It’s a series of private squares and their rulers manipulate them as they wish.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Bubblelicious? Goldman Sachs is dubious.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
Worthy of trust? Security maven Bruce Schneier points out that
Follow the link for his reasoning.
Artificial? Yes. Intelligent? Not So Much. 0
An incubator of intellectual infantilism? At Psychology Today Blogs, John Nosta sounds a warning; follow the link for a detailed discussion of each point.
- AI creates a suspended, passive state like Eliot’s “etherized upon a table.”
- It offers fluency that feels like insight but leaves thought empty.
- We risk surrendering judgment as ease may replace genuine understanding.