Most of the discussions on AI here have been focused on “Generative AI” and its role in being able to be trained on (almost always illegally obtained) human-generated content and, subsequently, being able to spit out content which is derived from that training data (AKA “AI slop” due to the generally poor quality of the results, especially when responding to questions).
In another thread I pointed out that there’s more than one type of AI and that, discussions about AI in general and it’s potential for real-world harm to humans (whether individually or as a race) are not really talking about someone generating derivative music from their Mom’s basement using Suno, or getting misled by ChatGPT.
I’ve already mentioned AI killer drones. This popped up in my feed today, and covers an area of AI that’s already causing real-world harms, but which the ultra-rich “tech-bros” are using their influence and connections (and donations) to get rolled-out without any real oversight or consequences (and, usually, using tax-payer funds):
It also talks about ways this technology can be disrupted. All interesting and though-provoking stuff.
Benn, who presents this, is entertaining, researches well and, despite the subject title, not at all sensationalising the subject; you may think this is all very exaggerated and “tin-foil-hat” stuff, but it’s not. It’s here, now, and is causing real-harm. It’s just that the press doesn’t like to report on it.
I should point out this is not just about AI: it’s about surveillance and data mining of individuals at the tax-payers expense, to support the greed of a handful of people.
But the AI allows humans to devolve the legwork of analysing, categorising, and decision making about other humans to machines; decisions like who should have their insurance premiums increased, be rejected for medical insurance…
…or even have their car pulled over and have their wife and kids forced to leave the car and lie face down on tarmac at gunpoint.
There’s a geeky part in the middle of the video, but you can skip that.
Cheers,
Keith
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