What are the benefits of A.I.?

[Jasmine]

So today President Trump announced some kind of initiative to expand Artificial Intelligence in the U.S. Apparently, three large tech companies are aiming to invest $500 million toward A.I. centers across the country.

My question is, WHY?

Admittedly, I’m not really tech savvy. Still, I have mostly negative feelings toward A.I. I think it is making us lazier and stifling our own human ingenuity and creativity. Examples: Kids using A.I. to write term papers for them, people using A.I. to create songs using famous singers’ voices, etc.

I also see dangers in allowing A.I. to oversee our daily lives. I think things can spiral out of control.

Do any of you agree with me? Am I being too cynical in visualizing a “Terminator”-type scenario, or are my concerns valid?

Finally, what are the primary benefits of A.I.?

[GoCubsGo]

So today President Trump announced some kind of initiative to expand Artificial Intelligence in the U.S. Apparently, three large tech companies are aiming to invest $500 million toward A.I. centers across the country.

My question is, WHY?

Admittedly, I’m not really tech savvy. Still, I have mostly negative feelings toward A.I. I think it is making us lazier and stifling our own human ingenuity and creativity. Examples: Kids using A.I. to write term papers for them, people using A.I. to create songs using famous singers’ voices, etc.

I also see dangers in allowing A.I. to oversee our daily lives. I think things can spiral out of control.

Do any of you agree with me? Am I being too cynical in visualizing a “Terminator”-type scenario, or are my concerns valid?

Finally, what are the primary benefits of A.I.?

https://www.blueridgedebate.com/viewtopic.php?t=4997

[Jasmine]

Oops. Sorry about that!

[Vrede too]

Oops. Sorry about that!

No need to apologize, it's not like you've posted to that thread. I think GoCubsGo was just letting you know where to find our opinions of A.I.

Even worse, A.I. is putting hundreds of thousands of hot porno actors and filmmaking staff out of work.

As you can see from GoCubsGo's link I'm mostly leery of A.I. That said, I recently had occasion to ask an A.I. for info and got an immediate, on point, detailed and helpful answer.

Still, Judgement Day is nigh.

[O Really]

I don't think the fact that something could/can be used for bad purposes disqualifies it for use for good purposes. If you have a hammer, you can build a school or church, a home, or a piece of art - or you can break windows or smash heads. I think most people probably consider using AI to draft school assignments is a form of cheating, but even back when I was in school (and dinosaurs roamed), school papers were hardly original. We had to go to a library or other sources, read some stuff, copy some parts of it down, and assemble the parts into something that followed a correct format and included footnotes and bibliography. Then, with sources online and computers in place of typewriters, a similar process was followed but with much less time and manual work. AI continues that same line of development of sourcing, assembling, and summarizing that geezers used to do in libraries. AI can and does certainly foster ease of spreading false information and distributing harmful fake images, but that's the fault of the evil doer, not of the technology.

[Supsalemgr]

A good analogy. Kind of like the subject of guns.

[GoCubsGo]

Not so much, with the exception of sport shooting a guns purpose is to kill or maim.


A better metaphor would be the internet.

[O Really]

Not so much, with the exception of sport shooting a guns purpose is to kill or maim.


A better metaphor would be the internet.

Agreed, it's the same argument gun people like (guns don't kill, people do), but as you say, the purpose of the hammer is to build, and using it to kill is against its purpose. Using a gun to kill is exactly its purpose. But in any case, even if the original purpose of something is "good", if the "bad" uses become prevalent or far outweigh the "good", then it may be time to change direction. Kudzu was originally imported to slow erosion and provide cheapish food for livestock. Opps.

Could AI develop to the point it really could take over a la "HAL"? I dunno, but if it did, would it do a worse job than humans have?

[Supsalemgr]

Because of its possible reach and power, AI could be a bigger threat to the public good.

[GoCubsGo]

Because of its possible reach and power, AI could be a bigger threat to the public good.

Just like the internet.

[Supsalemgr]

The difference between the internet and AI is this as I see it. To be influenced by the internet one chooses to participate within it. With AI, it can invade one's private space.

[Vrede too]

The difference between the internet and AI is this as I see it. To be influenced by the internet one chooses to participate within it. With AI, it can invade one's private space.

Choosing to participate within the internet is not volunteering for all the bad things that can happen there.
Unless one is off the grid for generations there are all sorts of ways the internet can be used to impinge on privacy, even if one never logs on. AI didn't invent this.

IMO the difference between the internet and AI is that AI can take detrimental action independent of any human control or accountabiity, and can do so at lightning speed and across multiple sectors of the cyberverse simultaneously with irl consequences.

[GoCubsGo]

The difference between the internet and AI is this as I see it. To be influenced by the internet one chooses to participate within it. With AI, it can invade one's private space.

Not if you unplug from the internet.

[Vrede too]

The difference between the internet and AI is this as I see it. To be influenced by the internet one chooses to participate within it. With AI, it can invade one's private space.

Not if you unplug from the internet.

AI can:
Send the cops
Cancel your utilities
Empty your bank accounts
Expose your health records
Screw up your employment
Create imaginary assignations, etc
All while you are unplugged from the internet.

[GoCubsGo]

The difference between the internet and AI is this as I see it. To be influenced by the internet one chooses to participate within it. With AI, it can invade one's private space.

Not if you unplug from the internet.

AI can:
Send the cops
Cancel your utilities
Empty your bank accounts
Expose your health records
Screw up your employment
Create imaginary assignations, etc
All while you are unplugged from the internet.

If someone's out to git ya.

You think it would do it on it's own without someone targeting it?

[Vrede too]

AI can:
Send the cops
Cancel your utilities
Empty your bank accounts
Expose your health records
Screw up your employment
Create imaginary assignations, etc
All while you are unplugged from the internet.

If someone's out to git ya.

You think it would do it on it's own without someone targeting it?

Potentially, I think it could. Or, anyone could tell AI, "Git GoCubsGo," and let AI do the rest. Or, anyone could tell AI, "Git liberals," and let AI do the rest.

[Supsalemgr]

The difference between the internet and AI is this as I see it. To be influenced by the internet one chooses to participate within it. With AI, it can invade one's private space.

Not if you unplug from the internet.

Duh? That is a choice.

[Supsalemgr]

The difference between the internet and AI is this as I see it. To be influenced by the internet one chooses to participate within it. With AI, it can invade one's private space.

Choosing to participate within the internet is not volunteering for all the bad things that can happen there.
Unless one is off the grid for generations there are all sorts of ways the internet can be used to impinge on privacy, even if one never logs on. AI didn't invent this.

IMO the difference between the internet and AI is that AI can take detrimental action independent of any human control or accountabiity, and can do so at lightning speed and across multiple sectors of the cyberverse simultaneously with irl consequences.

I agree with your last paragraph.