artificial-intelligence
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This essay is the fourth in a series that examines and explains the mechanics of AI, the challenges in discussing it with clarity, and the harms it presents. This concluding essay uses recent public communication from an AI researcher to examine in detail how the misuse of language contributes to fear and misunderstanding of AI.…
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This essay is the third in a series exploring issues around AI. The first is a high-level explainer of how AI works; the second about the challenges of accurately discussing AI given the linguistic challenges of describing software without anthropomorphizing. This essay explores the risks of AI, which ones are real, and which ones are self-serving…
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The prior article on AI I posted provides a very high-level look at the mathematics that drives the software in an attempt to demystify the workings with some basic technical detail. The present essay comes at the subject from a different direction, examining the concepts around math and language, and our (human) blind spots wrestling…
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This is the first of four essays attempting to demystify the basic workings of AI programs and explain what we should be concerned about and why. Hopefully we can cut through the sloppy media hype to help people focus on the real risks we face, not apocalyptic fantasies. Bottom line up front: the real problems…
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How worried should we be and why? This is a meandering essay about language, intelligence, and the claims of AI enthusiasts and catastrophists. Although I’m no expert, given how little we really know about human cognition relative to its infinite complexity, I am skeptical about both apocalyptic and utopian predictions AI and our future. What…
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The explosive growth of AI technology raises a host of concerns. Data centers hosting AI servers are projected to consume unsustainable amounts of electicity in the near future. At the same time, despite the wonderous achievements so far, critical questions about what society gains from this technology remain unanswered. Our challenge is addressing the issues…
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Staying ahead of current events is a constant challenge for Science Fiction writers. What seemed like gee-whiz future tech yesterday is now sitting on the kitchen counter. If you are not careful, the future you create may end up looking like a bad episode of the Jetsons. Thanks to a recent post by Cassie Kozyrkov (@decisionleader.bsky.social), we…
