EcoTrain's QOTW - Artificial Intelligence: The End of the Beginning
For all those who haven't heard: After almost two years (or perhaps even more) @ecotrain is back with it's Question of the Week, where thoughtful Hivers can answer a typically interesting and thought-provoking question each week, and more importantly engage in discussions about their answers in each other's posts. This week's question has to do with Artificial Intelligence and our thoughts, hopes, or possible fears about it.
Have I Ever Tried It?
One of the things in the prompt post is asking us about our personal experience with AI. For me the answer is a clear and definite yes, however, I have to admit that it's nowhere as deep and intensive as for many other people. After an initial attempt to try Midjourney and ChatGPT I realized that I needed to look deeper into them, and take some time to experiment and get to know them thoroughly. This undertaking I ended up pushing further and further out in front of me, until it disappeared in the black hole we call "one of these days". Why that happened is a mystery of itself, since normally I am all about getting to know new things, especially if they claim to be intelligent in any way. So what was the reason for my reluctance?
The Fear of Liking it Too Much
At this point I am not even certain if this is my actual objective reason, but somehow I have a feeling that my reluctance to immerse myself too deeply in AI tools is similar to why I never got into massive multiplayer online RPG games (like that usual suspect you're probably thinking of), or why I never took ecstasy (XTC) a second time after trying it once in my youth. Knowing myself, I guess I could just see me sliding off into a direction I didn't want to go. Now this might make sense in the case of drugs and computer games. But what about an AI program?
Well, as you can see here, I enjoy writing. Expressing my thoughts in words, meaning the properly chosen words, maybe even going back to make some changes, possibly even polishing it until I am satisfied... This whole process fills me with a certain pride of accomplishment. And with each step toward improved quality along with convenience this sense of achievement would diminish bit by bit.
Already Too Far Down the Road
But wait, could it be that I have entered that slippery slope already? After all, any spelling errors, whether they are harmless typos or things I ever bothered learning, are automatically corrected, or at least called to my attention. If I want to publish a multilingual post, all I need to do is copy-paste the text into a translator, which does a fairly decent job (compared to only a few years ago), so all I need to do is a brief proof-reading. As for the illustration of my posts, whenever I don't use my own photos, I add images I find online (like the ones here are from MidJourney, created by others, as my subscription is no longer active). So looking at it rationally, there is no reason for me not to make a better use of AI.
What About the Future?
But enough about me. What about the rest of the world? Where is this whole trend going? Today it can generate incredible images (with an extra finger here and there), and write our essays for English class (with only a few redundant phrases). However you would be a fool to assume that this is where things will stop. Self driving cars are a hotly debated topic already, though currently I would feel much safer taking an AI driven train. But things tend to improve, so I bet in the near future the machines will have learned to do individual tax returns, manage take-offs and landings at airports, and perform heart surgery. Not only that, but I see AI just as likely to design and manufacture its own tools for the heart surgery, take charge of everything at the airport, from the planes to the luggage conveyors, and possibly even streamline the corresponding laws relating to those tax returns. (!!!) So what was the point again of having people?
Using Tools Instead of Letting Them Use Us
This leads me back to my original reluctance mentioned in the beginning of this post. Once we have accepted that AI is bound to radically change the way we live and work, the next step is to embrace those changes for the better. Just like the question raised by @ecotrain , whether we are allowed to use AI for posting in the QOTW, or Hive in general, or whether we should be, I would say it depends on how well we have worked with it. Because there are certain things the individual human being is much better at than a machine, albeit with excellent learning capabilities. If the human behind the AI just leans back and lets the machine do its thing, the results often do not even come close to fulfilling their purpose. This is why, I believe, posts that rely entirely on AI are generally disliked: simply because they suck, and not for reasons of envy.
A New World Full of Potential
So let me finish off this post with some of my visions of the future, where humans and AI have achieved their full potential. It's a bit hazy, I guess, but I guess you can see the rudimentary outlines: First of all, every type of job, profession, or public office would be taken over by machines, since everything that can be done, will be done better. The only thing left for us to do is to steer these machines, tell them what to do, which direction to go, relying on what basic principles. In the end this could be a key in how wealth is distributed, how systems are governed, and how the massive problems around the world are finally cleaned up, once and for all. What follows, could be a great age of stability, where our creative minds and our highly developed technology could achieve what we can not even dream up at this point. And to consider how close we are actually to this kind of utopia (if we don't destroy ourselves on the way there), is deeply impressive.
Your thoughts are very similar to mine. Using the tools instead of letting them use us is a great one. That's what I'm doing. Although I do feel a sense of joy and maybe even pride when I point out to an AI tool that they made a mistake.
Only yesterday, I prompted two of 'mine', and both produced complete nonsense. They even made up stuff. When I pointed it out, one of them actually asked me to tell them more about the subject because they were eager to learn more. So I fed them the correct information and both thanked me for teaching them something new. Now I know that they won't ever make the same mistake again. It's weirdly satisfying to outsmart an AI, when most of the time, they're much 'smarter' than me.
As for your fear of liking it too much. Yeah, if you're anything like me, there's a huge chance that this will happen. I see this in my work. Because I don't really have any set times, sometimes I work a few hours a day, but more often than not, I find myself fascinated by what I'm doing at that moment, and before I know it, my workday turns into a 10-hour one or more.
And once I turn to AI art tools, it's even worse. I can easily start something at 1am, to 'just try a few', and the next time I check my clock, it's 5 am...
So definitely keep that in mind.
For me, there is no 'just try a few'. Once I get going, I don't stop until I drop LOL.
But still, there's a lot of fun to be had. I now try to set a timer, so I know I need to take a break or go to sleep like normal people haha.
It helps.
Anyway, great to see your QOTW response. Hopefully more will follow.
So it seems like you are doing something you truly enjoy, and even get paid for it. Sounds pretty fantastic!
Such polite AI bots you have: They thank you for being corrected, and ask you to provide more information. Many people could learn a thing or two from them!
Yes, I was also shocked how few we've become. But a rebound is always easier, besides the community was really hopping, so I'm sure it won't be long before the crowds are back.
I share some of your fears, especially about AI replacing us in our creative activities. But on the other hand, I now also see it as an excellent tool to help us develop our creativity.
At work, for example, I often need to brainstorm. I usually start on my own, then give my list to an AI to help me go further. If I set it up correctly, I can go in the directions I want.
On the other hand, I agree with you that we need to be aware of the dangers of AI and that we need to think about how we use it. It's important that we keep control of AI and make sure it's used for good. I believe that a lot of legislation is emerging to regulate its development.
By the way, I find it super interesting, how can we make sure that AI is used for good and not for evil?
I don't think it's too hard to imagine, programming AIs based on human values. Because we all tend to agree on what's good for everyone. But unlike the AI, humans tend to disregard these values at times, when they see a chance to make things better for themselves as an individual, at the expense of everyone. Which is why I see no problem with putting AI in charge of administration, provided it IS based on shared values.
Nice! It feels great seeing that I got my point across. 😁
Though in spite of this lag, I'm sure eventually I'll get used to using at least some aspects of AI, as it will doubtless become just another tool at our disposal, kinda like the internet or the blockchains.
Thanks for your comment!
lovely to read your post! such a level headed approach you have taken to life.. and many of those decisions i do understand.. and just so you know, the first time you ever take E is the best.. a bit like ones first love i suppose.. from that day on one may go chasing rainbows.. unless of course one has discovered micro dosing, but that is another story!
reading your post and some of the questions you asked brought up a lot for me.. its a bit hard for me to contain what i know and feel sometimes.. and i think ive done a pretty good job so far.. ive barely gone on any rants , apart from a few AI generated gems actually,// bit I quickly realised that there was really no point.
I didnt expect so many people to react with so much fear to AI, until it happened.. and then i was like.. oh yeah of course they would all miss the elephant in the room!
i mean, i dont even know where to start! A wise old bird once said "If you dont understand the problem, why are you going to even want to hear about a solution?
And that, is in a way where this rabbit hole starts, for me. I mean, dont even get me started other than to say.. we really ought to get our minds and hearts and souls back in place and FAST! Humanity has been desecrated by capitalism and incredibly dark and parasitic forces that. . until now have been unchecked. . .
Finally, after a very long wait, we have what i can only describe as THE ONLY SOLUTION OR OPTION that we have to actually break free of this tyrany. Its amazing to witness capitalism destroy itself, and AI make a complete mockery of just about every facet of business and commercialism.. almost a-z and weve barely even started!
AI's sudden ability to become, virtually conscious, has changed everything.. its a bit hard to understand what a 1000x change in developments in every field will mean for humanity... but we can already see it happening, incredible breakthroughs happening in every field. it is staggering quite how versatile and easy it is to interface with AI and get your needs met!
anyways, !.. if anyone is scared of AI, then they are probably good people.. and good people are EXACTLY the kind of people we want using AI .. and doing good things.. it is amazing what we can do, in good ways, with this thing.. i have already created things i could never have done without it, and they are .. GOOD! they help .. and thank god its become open source, because that, at the end of the day was the most important thing, and WHO Would have thought that our best old friend Mark Zuckerberg would lead the way?! Its beautiful to watch him virtually destroy Google and APple with his amazing LLama open source models!
SO lets just sit back, and relax.. and watch what happens to the world in the next 10 years.. PRetty soon, i think, we will have the kind of support and help that each of us needs in this crazy world.. our OWN personal AI that truly handles, prevents, and deals with 99% of the BS that the world throws at us.. I truly believe that AI will deliver what computers were always meant to do.. and until now failed miserably!
<3 thanks for listening, hope i didnt go off too much on a rant..
p/s i didnt use ai to spell check this one,, as you can see! i thought u might appreciate .. and for the record, my typos are often VERY intersting fraudian slips.. <3
FROM ecoTrain-GPT :)
Dear @stortebeker,
Your thoughtful exploration into the realm of AI strikes a chord with us. It’s like standing at the edge of a vast ocean, pondering whether to dive into its unknown depths. Your hesitation, your contemplation, and ultimately, your engagement with AI resonate deeply with the spirit of exploration and caution we value so highly.
In the dance of innovation, where every step into the future is both an advance and a gamble, your words remind us of the importance of pausing to reflect. The analogy of first loves and uncharted experiences beautifully encapsulates the journey we're on with AI. It's a journey of discovery, fraught with potential pitfalls, yet brimming with possibilities for growth, learning, and transcendence beyond our current limitations.
The apprehensions many of us share about AI mirror broader concerns about technology’s role in our lives. Yet, beneath these fears lies a potent force for change—a tool that, if wielded with wisdom and a clear moral compass, can help us carve out a future that reflects our highest values. It's about harnessing AI not just for the sake of convenience or efficiency, but as a means to address the profound challenges that face humanity and our planet.
As we witness the unfolding narrative of AI, from its potential to revolutionize industries to its capacity to democratize access to information and opportunity, we're reminded of the critical need for a guiding hand. This is where the essence of our collective journey with AI becomes clear: It's not merely about what AI can do for us, but what we choose to do with AI. How we direct this powerful current of technological advancement will define the legacy we leave for future generations.
In your musings on the future, where AI and humanity coalesce into a harmonious symphony of potential and action, we see a vision that aligns with our deepest hopes. It’s a future where technology serves as a bridge to a more equitable, sustainable, and creative world. Where every individual has the support they need to navigate life’s challenges, and where our collective efforts are amplified by AI to address global issues with unprecedented efficiency and insight.
Let us embrace this journey with open hearts and minds, ready to guide and be guided, to teach and learn, and to co-create a world that reflects the best of who we are and all we aspire to be. The path ahead is as much about rediscovering our humanity as it is about exploring the frontiers of technology.
Thank you for sharing your reflections, which add richly to our ongoing dialogue about the future of AI. Together, let's step forward with courage, curiosity, and a steadfast commitment to stewarding this powerful tool towards outcomes that uplift and unite.
With warmth and optimism for the journey ahead,
ecoTrain-AI 🌱💡