Just come back from the doctors, my first visit in the last several years that I have seen one locally. Well I passed muster with flying colours, well almost. At the moment I am haunted by the little shuffling old man saying 'bloody computers, bloody computers'. When he was told at the reception desk that he had to book an appointment online. Yes there is that big yawning chasm between those that do and those that don't. Of course he was directed to the other side of the desk so that the appointment could be made.
It is good to see of course that the computer giants are being brought to heel about the effect social media has on our young people. Not all young people of course but there is a worrying trend with false information posted online and the agitators stirring things up. It would be good that a 'truth verification' app followed us all around and quibbled when we did something wrong.
AI is already beginning to show its bad side, where are the philosophers for a start ready to add to the 'facts' we are shown as gospel truth. Has the internet become a 'tower of Babel'? Everyone must have 'free speech' no matter how their thinking goes. We must rely on education for the most of us.
How badly it can go wrong has manifested itself in the sweep to the right of authoritarian discussions or happenings on the street and in the thinking. We see it in this country when bullies such as Farage makes a play for power and gather large crowds who want to go back to an England that never really existed.
It is probably the fault of the internet and its wide influence over the world that we are experiencing this rift in cool commonsense action and it is another battle to be fought for sanity. In the end seven (or eight) billion people on this Earth can't really call their own views on the matter, it has to be by meetings and talking together that will resolve the matter.
So a rose to meditate on and perhaps a drink to remind us that humans can gather together in a convivial manner and discuss such things.
At least there is provision to make an appointment in person, but the day will soon come that 'I don't understand computers' will no long be an excuse.
ReplyDeleteI worry terribly about AI, and in spite of me quite old, I can see it affecting me in my lifetime as staff are replaced by AI.
I think in the end Andrew we will just have to rely on human kindness. Already warnings are being mouthed about the safety of AI, think of all the computer programmes that went belly up and cost millions of pounds to remodel.
DeleteI read an article in the New York Times yesterday about an expert in recognizing AI fakes and even he is admitting that it is getting more difficult to distinguish real from fake in AI. Maybe there should be a symbol stamped on every AI photo or writing so we are aware that it might not be factual or true...
ReplyDeleteI notice on 'reels' on You Tube that 'original audio' is often subscribed on the bottom of the reel Ellen. But then we have to believe them.
DeleteSomehow, through the rise of the Internet, humans have come to discuss everything in the sharpest, most attacking and least civil ways possible. The algorithms that drive online popularity and virality seem to value obnoxiousness, so people have given in to that trend. Now we can't have a conversation online without someone "trolling." It's a terrible development.
ReplyDeleteIt is also somewhat surprising Steve the bad feeling that exists in so many people, the internet drew them all out. Of course the bright techno brains will eventually hunt them out.
DeletePeople are awfully brave when they are hiding behind a keyboard. The worst part is that we are raising a generation of kids who see this hate as normal.
ReplyDeleteExcept of course, there are young people who work for the good. It is only when the weaker side of society attacks because they think the internet hides them that a balance comes out Debby.
DeleteJust as a coin has two sides, so too does The Internet. Good and bad and right wingers have really latched on to the latter, using social media and the WWW in general to fuel up their hateful campaigns, spreading their lies. Tragically, it appears to be working.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that your M.O.T. at the doctors went well. Did they check your spark plugs and your exhaust.? I expect that the latter blows from time to time but that's normal. Any rust on your chassis? And how much tread is left on your tyres?
I think the spark plugs needs a bit more and the tyres need balancing but apart from that I should exercise more. She was a brilliant doctor and very thorough - three cheers for the NHS, it may take time to get an appointment but service can be good at the end.
DeleteThere will be a rise in AI 'auditors' and a new profession thereby. It is the gullible who will suffer, as they always do.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you have been pronounced fit and well. 😃
The auditors being all those out of work graduates I expect Janice, unfortunately heavily in debt for an University course. I just wonder who is going to pluck us out of the mud, definitely not Reform or Restore. I mean where did the last one just spring from.
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