May the Force be with you

Why I’m leaning optimistic on AI

It’s always tempting to revert to binary choices.

And one that exists right now is AI optimist or AI pessimist.

When you take either of those positions it’s easy to begin to delete and distort information that’s coming your way.

In all the millions of data points coming at us. We find evidence for the things we already believe - thjngs that fit our model of reality.

the strongest points of view garner the most attention in the algorithms that serve content.

So we’re either probably seeing content that is extremely pro a futurist AI narrative. Or we’re seeing a very extreme negative one.

Both miss the nuance.

Both have widsom and insight.

Both have questionable assumptions.

And like anything. It’s tempting to pick a side.
But if you can even lean on a side a little more gently - occasionally stopping over to genuinely engage with the other there are benefits to be had.

Personally I’m leaning on the optimistic side.
And I say that fully with the possibility of my business being fully disrupted by the changes AI is bringing.

The AI revolution is happening

There are great leaps forward that make creativity and production more possible than ever.
Non engineers can create products without learning about coding.
Non artists can have their visions created without paying other artists to interpret for them.
Amateur musicians can turn their ideas for music into reality.

Of course there will be an increase in Ai slop and content that is low quality. But we will evolve to filter it out.
In the same way that it’s now possible for anyone to publish a book and sell it on Amazon. The good writing will still rise to the top in time and the bad will fall by the wayside.

The thing is there are less excuses than ever to create. To get your ideas out there in front of a niche community that you might not have found locally.

There are also still the same old barriers holding us back. The fear of failure, rejection or judgement.

While I’m optimistic. I think it’s wise to consider the AI challenges that we’re going to face.

The increasing opportunities for fraud, hacking and spreading of misinformation.

The potential for government to use AI surveillance to impact on civil liberties.

The gaps between those who have access to credits for tokens and those that don’t.

But fundamentally I believe that as AI becomes more mainstream - we will stop being as impressed with what it can do. And more aware of what it can’t do.

The Star Wars framework

One method I use to think about is the Star Wars method.

Soon it’s conceivable that will have our very own versions of the robot C3PO.
Whether or not physically in robotic human form or just comparable in our phones and smart speakers.

Luke Skywalker didn’t walk about constantly amazed by what C3PO could do. He just utilised the functionality where he could to assist in completing his mission.

Our job as humans

Robots are good for task completion. Not task imagining or bigger picture thinking. They don’t create beyond what they are instructed to. They follow patterns. They aren’t inspired.

Our job on this planet is clear.
Imagine and work peacefully for a better world. Establish justice and find a balance of freedom and safety, root out corruption.
Expand our horizons, educate our young, deal with the fragility of being human, help others build resilience and learn how to repair when things go wrong.

That’s our job as humans.

The robots like us have the potential to help or hinder.

Happy Star Wars Day!