AI and society

[flatbutt]

I'm sitting here trying to think of an advanced technology that hasn't been corrupted by humans. So, as always, it's not the tool but the user.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I'm sitting here trying to think of an advanced technology that hasn't been corrupted by humans. So, as always, it's not the tool but the user.

I think AI will be different. The tool and the user will trade places.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

I think AI will be different. The tool and the user will trade places.

That is a scary thought.

[berettafan]

What this all comes down to is a consolidation of money. It's really that simple. The resource the tech industry will demand in ever increasing quantities will be electricity. It takes an ass ton of that to run and cool the 'computes'. And as such money (aka power) will have been consolidated it will easily and effectively demand whatever concessions are necessary from Congress to get more than a fair share of energy.

The ONLY joy to be found in this is the narcissistic basement dwelling twits who are developing this stuff will be among the first to be discarded when it actually starts functioning.

[Crowbob]

Digital currency will consolidate the money quite nicely. And overnight.

[cstreit]

Moved it to "regular" OT for you.

AI is just a tool and like any tool will be used and abused. Part of the challenge is that in many cases its a black box. You get the outcome you're looking for, but aren't really sure how. ...and the "explainability" of how is really hard to ferret out. Early examples of machine learning showed us this. One of the first was teaching a program to play a block game. Before long it scored way more than any human could. ...but because it figured out how to exploit a glitch.

Skynet DID in fact create a viable answer to the task it was given - only we didn't like the way it was doing it.

Here's an interesting one that illustrates unintended approaches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu56xVlZ40M

In this case because its simple, we can see those unintended actions. In highly complex systems that actually have real world applications, we cannot.

[Roswell]

It is all fun and games at this point. Wait until the machine becomes sentient...then all bets are off

If you are not familiar with the advances that have happened in the last 12 months, look up OpenAI. Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, has several talks up on YouTube. They are interesting, to say the least.

[911 Rod]

It's good if you are looking for something to replace mankind.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by Roswell

It is all fun and games at this point. Wait until the machine becomes sentient...then all bets are off

If you are not familiar with the advances that have happened in the last 12 months, look up OpenAI. Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, has several talks up on YouTube. They are interesting, to say the least.

Anyone read the blind watchmaker?

There's a piece in there that states (and I'm paraphrasing - I read it a long time ago) you can't design something more intelligent than you are because you can't understand it.

In the case of AI that's pretty much how I feel. Until we understand how it works we're not going to be able to add intelligence.

[GH85Carrera]

Just like the internet fundamentally changed the business, and life as a whole for most of the world, AI will be another paradigm change for humanity. For good or bad has yet to be figured out.

I have dealt with many "customer service" people that had a distinct lack of intelligence. I suspect many fast food places will replace most front counter workers with AI. I suspect the actual cooks will be the only humans there.

[Roswell]

you can't design something more intelligent than you are because you can't understand it.

The machine is literally programming itself...

Are you familiar with the concept superintelligence in AI?

[Tobra]

Potentially good, will be the end of us

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Anyone read the blind watchmaker?

There's a piece in there that states (and I'm paraphrasing - I read it a long time ago) you can't design something more intelligent than you are because you can't understand it.

In the case of AI that's pretty much how I feel. Until we understand how it works we're not going to be able to add intelligence.

I disagree.

Man has invented many things without understanding how they work. Anything to do with gravity, for example.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Good. It’s progress. We are already benefiting in ways many don’t even realize.

Originally Posted by David Inc.

Not good or bad, but revolutionary

Reminds me of this story that came up recently on NPR. An AI was being used to generate potential compounds for pharmaceuticals, so of course it was designed to look for minimal toxicity. Then one of them told it to search for high toxicity compounds instead and it gifted him with brand new chemical weapons on par with VX.

https://www.wired.com/story/ai-dr-evil-drug-discovery/

Interesting, I'll have to check that out. It is probably a fictional story written by AI. LOL!

Originally Posted by dad911

Good and evil.

I think you're all correct depending upon point of view.

It has the potential to radically improve lives and civilization.

Like so many things, it just is, but the important bit is what man decides to do with it. (and it'll likely be used by men for great things AND terrible things).

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

I disagree.

Man has invented many things without understanding how they work. Anything to do with gravity, for example.

What have we invented that uses gravity - rather than taking advantage of the observed effects of same?

Understanding it would be allowing us to augment or nullify gravity and I'm not sure we're quite there yet.

[Tobra]

There are a lot of things we do not understand how they work. Many, many medications are like that.

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by cstreit

Moved it to "regular" OT for you.
{Snip}

Thank you.

[Chocaholic]

Check out The Orville. Isaac is a robot from Kalon. There’s a very interesting episode that explains how they were created by very advanced biological life forms that had to be extinguished when they were no longer useful.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by Tobra

There are a lot of things we do not understand how they work. Many, many medications are like that.

And yet they aren’t going to trade places with us - because they are more intelligent.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Tobra

There are a lot of things we do not understand how they work. Many, many medications are like that.

Yet we give psychoactive drugs to children and adolescents.

But I digress.