Volume 10: Tech Priests and Shade Baths
Hey
How yas going? Thanks to those of you who responded to me last newsletter - I love reading your responses (it is fuel for me).
Here’s the vibe for this week.
Feels like a lot’s going on lately - in this newsletter we explore: are you finding peace? If you’re looking for a place to rest, Country’s got a good spot for you - right in the shade. I talk about AI (because EVERYONE is and it’s my mate who’s got the answers to your questions on the subject). And then I thought, well what’s something useful I can give you?
In blackfella ways - kaatidjiny is like “shared experience”, so I give you some of my kaatidjiny on the subject of moving the body and being one with nature (get out your crystals, Brenda.)
Finally, I’ve included a drawing I did a while back - I saw this great quote by Sherry Turkle. Don’t know who she is but the quote is about technology and it slaps.
AI should be used as a tool. AI is not at the level of what would considered “general” artificial intelligence. At the current level it can’t currently “think”. It’s very good with recognising weights of words. So, it’s good at stringing together sentences based on what it has ingested.
Why these companies are replacing people with AI, I have no idea, it’s stupid. Instead of replacing people it should be given to people like a tool. Yea, use it to write a small snippet of some code, create a recipe, have a “chat” with it. And yea, automate some task. Heavy emphasis on some.
Giving users AI to assist people with their business as usual tasks is a great idea. Like a bit of a better calendar you can write to. I use it to rewrite emails, as I have been told that my messages are too robotic.
The thing I hate with the the way that AI is being used (Note I didn’t say I hate AI, just how it’s used to the detriment of others), is that it is forced on people. There is a fucking TV that forced Microsoft Copilot onto it, with no way to remove it. If it was an opt in feature, “Hey, we have this, we think you’ll like it” that would be a much better outcome. My TV has no internet connection, and it just works. No I don’t need your devices harvesting and selling you my data. I already paid for the dammed thing. And the apps, apps for E_V_E_R_Y_T_H_I_N_G. Make a open standard app with an API so you can connect it. Seriously.
Now there is a RAM shortage incoming, and then a SSD shortage thanks to AI data centers. So now, my hobby, is getting even more expensive thanks to AI. It’s going to hurt consumers at the end. And when the AI bubble bursts, and it will, those prices are going to drop, hard. Those companies that invested heavily, will be fucked. And not to mention that most people who have been offered to use AI at work don’t use it, or those forced to use AI at work, must be hurting those forced and hurting the business dollar for those who don’t want to use it.
While I speak negatively about AI, it’s only for how it is being utilized right now. If it was used to help people, like for the elderly, talking to them and monitoring them, could help them still live an independent life if they prefer. Or the AI imaging system being used to check for cancer, and that was originally built for checking food.
AI is a tool and should be treated like a tool. Right now, it’s not (primarily by corporations). I do see a brighter future with AI in it, if it grows alongside us, not to replace us. And if one day, it becomes truly sentient, I hope it is beneficial for both and humanity doesn’t repeat it’s last mistakes
Dassit
Cheers again for the read, let me know your thoughts with this one (I enjoy reading replies). Hope everyone’s RAP committees are going strong (lol). If not, remember I do consulting.
Authentic You public coming up in March sold out (dardy). There’s a lot I’m still doing here and patience is my motto.
Acknowledge This! still going hard. Every couple a weeks on Zoom and also I will come back to your workplace but you gotta bug your managers. If you are a manager, then email the Captain (Kate) hello@moderncustodian.com.au
Oh, and also e-learning. It’s wild you gotta check it out.
Hope yous all have a purposeful week,
Boorda,
R