You appear to have left out the the filmic AI that bears most closely to our true concerns. HAL, the character in 2001 A Space Odyssey. HAL was the human astronaut's partner who kept their environment in balance, who managed their technology, but when he sensed a concern for the mission, he was compelled to react. But then, human ingenuity prevailed.
I'm a social worker/normal person who enjoys art and reads the news. Here's my perspective on why AI is terrifying and should be slowed, for what it's worth.
From what I've read, the creators of this technology are pretty outspoken about envisioning a world where "work" is largely eliminated. I think most people in the real world are aware that while sometimes unpleasant, work is where many humans find meaning, purpose, motivation, connection, time away from home, etc. I'm not sure what these folks think will happen in a society without work. People will take up macrame? Wait, "we" probably want the robots to do that too. I'm guessing it's more likely we would see skyrocketing levels of addiction and suicide.
We've also seen, in these early stages, that AI is capable of creating art--music, prose, poetry, visual art. It's not great, but the creators of the tech ensure us it will get better. As if that is something, somehow, we should be wanting and looking forward to. Personally, I can't think of anything more depressing.
Then you have the many outspoken people who, unlike me, know what they're talking about, and are terrified of AI and are urging someone to step in. One guy said he's literally thinking of it all the time, it's that terrifying to him.
And somehow, it's also going to extend our lifespans significantly. It's like they want to create a terrible, nightmarish existence for everyone and then force us to live forever in it.
This stuff has literally kept me up all night and made me question whether it was the right decision to bring children into a world where this stuff exists.
I guess considering all of these factors that swirl around my head all the time, "productivity" doesn't make the list of factors I'm considering. I doubt it does for most people. You said something in the article about increased productivity enabling business owners to raise wages for workers. Does that sound like the world we live in? I've never heard of it happening.
So yeah....I guess let's make some movies where AI is shown in a different light. Because personally, as a normal person who enjoys humans, I have no idea why we would want this.
You’re right. Investments and engagement from a constructive and positive cultural view is much preferred. I think so, though, because it is not absence of investment I worry about. If AI becomes an exclusive thing of the military industry and the geopolitical “realists” types, then AI will always have to be framed in terms of what advantages it affords in some grand struggle against the Enemy.
There definitely will be a productivity boost but it will be more focused towards low skilled and novice employees as per the few studies I have seen (one example below), which will be a positive thing for economy, but I just hope that these individuals do not become too dependent on AI and not build the experience which comes from making mistakes or trying different options as if you get the answer first time, you do not know what other options are available or other options that won't work.
the conclusion of a recent study out of the National Bureau of Economic Research, which tracked the results of a staggered introduction of an AI-based conversational assistant using data from 5,179 customer support agents. The result is a 14% boost in issues resolved per hour. “AI assistance improves customer sentiment, reduces requests for managerial intervention, and improves employee retention.” the study’s authors, Erik Brynjolfsson, Danielle Li Lindsey, and R. Raymond, conclude.
Overall, the greatest impact was on novice and low-skilled workers, with minimal impact on experienced and highly skilled workers, the co-authors find. That’s because the AI model “disseminates the potentially tacit knowledge of more able workers and helps newer workers move down the experience curve. Analyzing the text of agent conversations, we find suggestive evidence that AI recommendations lead low-skill workers to communicate more like high-skill workers.”
You appear to have left out the the filmic AI that bears most closely to our true concerns. HAL, the character in 2001 A Space Odyssey. HAL was the human astronaut's partner who kept their environment in balance, who managed their technology, but when he sensed a concern for the mission, he was compelled to react. But then, human ingenuity prevailed.
I'm a social worker/normal person who enjoys art and reads the news. Here's my perspective on why AI is terrifying and should be slowed, for what it's worth.
From what I've read, the creators of this technology are pretty outspoken about envisioning a world where "work" is largely eliminated. I think most people in the real world are aware that while sometimes unpleasant, work is where many humans find meaning, purpose, motivation, connection, time away from home, etc. I'm not sure what these folks think will happen in a society without work. People will take up macrame? Wait, "we" probably want the robots to do that too. I'm guessing it's more likely we would see skyrocketing levels of addiction and suicide.
We've also seen, in these early stages, that AI is capable of creating art--music, prose, poetry, visual art. It's not great, but the creators of the tech ensure us it will get better. As if that is something, somehow, we should be wanting and looking forward to. Personally, I can't think of anything more depressing.
Then you have the many outspoken people who, unlike me, know what they're talking about, and are terrified of AI and are urging someone to step in. One guy said he's literally thinking of it all the time, it's that terrifying to him.
And somehow, it's also going to extend our lifespans significantly. It's like they want to create a terrible, nightmarish existence for everyone and then force us to live forever in it.
This stuff has literally kept me up all night and made me question whether it was the right decision to bring children into a world where this stuff exists.
I guess considering all of these factors that swirl around my head all the time, "productivity" doesn't make the list of factors I'm considering. I doubt it does for most people. You said something in the article about increased productivity enabling business owners to raise wages for workers. Does that sound like the world we live in? I've never heard of it happening.
So yeah....I guess let's make some movies where AI is shown in a different light. Because personally, as a normal person who enjoys humans, I have no idea why we would want this.
You’re right. Investments and engagement from a constructive and positive cultural view is much preferred. I think so, though, because it is not absence of investment I worry about. If AI becomes an exclusive thing of the military industry and the geopolitical “realists” types, then AI will always have to be framed in terms of what advantages it affords in some grand struggle against the Enemy.
There definitely will be a productivity boost but it will be more focused towards low skilled and novice employees as per the few studies I have seen (one example below), which will be a positive thing for economy, but I just hope that these individuals do not become too dependent on AI and not build the experience which comes from making mistakes or trying different options as if you get the answer first time, you do not know what other options are available or other options that won't work.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemckendrick/2023/04/25/yes-ai-increases-productivity-study-suggests/?sh=1519070b12c2
the conclusion of a recent study out of the National Bureau of Economic Research, which tracked the results of a staggered introduction of an AI-based conversational assistant using data from 5,179 customer support agents. The result is a 14% boost in issues resolved per hour. “AI assistance improves customer sentiment, reduces requests for managerial intervention, and improves employee retention.” the study’s authors, Erik Brynjolfsson, Danielle Li Lindsey, and R. Raymond, conclude.
Overall, the greatest impact was on novice and low-skilled workers, with minimal impact on experienced and highly skilled workers, the co-authors find. That’s because the AI model “disseminates the potentially tacit knowledge of more able workers and helps newer workers move down the experience curve. Analyzing the text of agent conversations, we find suggestive evidence that AI recommendations lead low-skill workers to communicate more like high-skill workers.”
Just for fun. Try reading the Bob's Saucer Repair series by Jerry Boyd.
A delightful positive take on AI.