That's not the main reason behind AI.
Forgive me if I left you with the impression that the main reason for AI is for mankind to become slaves to the proverbial beast. In nowise do I suggest that this is the main reason. To put a keener edge on my communication I am suggesting that this may as well be the goal of AI because that is precisely where it is headed. Personally, I couldn't give a flying rip what the main reason behind doing anything is
IF the outcome is ultimately nefarious and malignant. I alluded to this in my prior post when I quipped the cliché about the road to hell. I am not completely opposed to AI (but I do wonder how much humanity would truly suffer without it) but I am opposed to the way it is being thrust upon society, the job market, our personal computers, our devices, our education, etc.etc. AI is everywhere and frankly, it commonly does a very poor job of things.
It matters not what the intention of a thing is if the outcome consistently spells disaster. In other words, it is what it is. Meh, I'll say it again: AI will be the demise of humanity. I don't need SciFi to tell me this. I have eyes. I still have a brain. Automation was an economic concern long before I was born and there is no disputing that it cost many people their jobs and livelihoods. We can boast that we survived automation (with a little help from WWI and WWII) but this particular invention is something other. This thing goes everywhere.
Is AI going everywhere because it's such a great deal? I rather have my reservations in that regard. AI is going everywhere because investors have sunk so much capital into it that it is too late too turn back, too late to pull out, too late to change back. There's just too much munny riding on AI. You know, the old 'too big to fail' makes it prevail, but it's a black hole. Metaphorically, the Aztec priests are cutting the hearts out of the worshipful masses until they run out of blood munny. The real question is WHO PAYS? Well, certainly not our illustrious AI geniuses, the high priests of silicon inspired sentience. No, their job is to keep on collecting and spewing out visions of Pi in the sky ad infinitum. This is the real reason why the cost of silicon for we, the plebs, has quadrupled in less than six months.
I found it alarming when I learned via
Links with Friends (a division of
Level One Techs) that a majority of Japanese students stated that they would not have graduated High School without AI. What is this telling us?
The plethora of reasons for AI is endless, but I think most would agree that the main reason it is thrust upon us with such vigor is the corporate bottom line. The requirement for help and manpower has always been present in any advanced culture. This is putting it mildly. The problem is economic. I would say that it can be realistically argued that the manpower is there but the sustainable income isn't. We need to be realistic. Automation was supposed to solve so many of our world problems, give us more time for recreation and our families, etc. We could live like kings. Three day work weeks blah, blah, blah. But that's not reality is it. Those who volunteered to be living sacrifices for the Aztec priesthood were also the advocates of euthanasia. Where are they now? Where are the priests? Promises, promises while the rich continue to get richer. Nope. I'm not buying it.
I agree that it's not all bad. Not yet.
We are the guinea pigs.
