Next steps; grip-relaxing bimbling, and avoiding the temptations

Watty1

A mix of shock, surprise and a sinking feeling at that comment about the PHD researcher. The idea that AI could kill us all off becomes less and less surprising as each week passes.

beanielou

Absolutely horrifying.

foxgloves

Yes, there are some very worrying news stories coming out about this whole subject & while I think there are some very specific benefits, the wider development of AI into every aspect of our lives isn't something people have had any say or input in. Imo it's a stage of technology way too far. A lot of the stuff we see every day is absolute slop (fake pics & stuff on social media, inaccurate information in summary boxes when looking up information) & it riles me to think that data centres are going to be such enormous users of energy & increasingly scarce water to provide stuff which is mostly utterly unnecessary. I feel differently of course about very targeted use of AI in medical diagnoses & surgery, but driverless cars? Are the general public clamouring for those? Awful customer helplines where it is practically impossible to get any interface with an actual person? People cheating to obtain qualifications, cheating in job applications/interviews, AI 'counsellors'. I despair for the human race! Maintaining our resilience is crucial.

beanielou

TBH I’m glad I’m the age I am but poor DS age group and younger.

foxgloves

Completely agree, @beanielou. It concerns me how inaccurate AI can be. I joined a FB foraging group & people often post with a photo of a supposedly edible plant they've found just to double check the ID which their AI app has provided. It is sometimes inaccurate to the point of the plant definitely NOT being something one would want to eat (unless well-stocked up with plenty of bog rolls!) Simple general knowledge searches I do (since taking up cryptic crosswords) often provide wrong & sometimes just plain batty information. It all needs to be read & interpreted with a critical eye.

Ah well, if it comes to doomsday, at least I will know what vegetation will feed us & which will will see us off! Except mushrooms….I don't take risks with those, apart from the field variety! Our generation could end up proper knowledgeable old crones! I think I shall need long white hair like Gandalf! (no beard though!!)

F

trix-a-belle

Oh yes i'm in one of those and despair Foxgloves, saw a post yesterday asking what a plant was as it had 'salad potential'…. it was ragwort! 😮

& some people are unable to identify even basic things such as acorns & horse chestnuts

teapot2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82136609#Comment_82136609

We're in the same group @trix-a-belle as I saw that post too. Am pleased that I know more than I realise about plant ID when I can name them from a photo without looking them up though I still have lots to learn of course. If critical thinking disappears we are in trouble.

trix-a-belle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82136885#Comment_82136885

haha, yes I use it as a bit of a guessing game as I don't feel confident enough to respond usually, 'name that plant' open comments to read from those more experienced & see if I got it right.

I think critical thinking has its foot well out the door sadly

Merlin's_Beard

While I think AI has specific uses that can be very accurate (pattern recognition, error checking, when it's been trained properly) the thought that it is replacing the creative human endeavour is horrifying. We need left field thinking and we need people chipping away at things and we need to sense check the information that is going into them to know the stuff that comes out often is garbage.

Suffolk_lass

Off on hols from today so maybe a bit of radio silence from here. Have fun, keep the moneysaving faith