Apr 30, 2023·edited Apr 30, 2023Liked by Rishad Tobaccowala
Thank you for another interesting & insightful article. As you have emphasized, AI has already been helping us in many ways and now it's trying to simulate creativity. Maybe the first motion pictures 150 years ago were also just as revolutionary and exciting. But will AI ever be able to design the next Webb telescope, or even inspire children to be more compassionate and caring to others?
I've known you way too long to take any of your future views lightly. This week's essay tapped my deepest anxieties. The gut punch came at the end: "I am convinced that AI is moving faster and deeper across more industries than we can imagine and it will impact everybody’s job in some way small or medium in 2023 and will begin to have a significant impact in 2024." --- The system we call Democracy is under a lot of stress. The foundation of Democracy is voters. The system counts votes with remarkable accuracy but, the manipulation of votes using misinformation BEFORE the voter reaches the ballot box is a dangerous sport. Historically, politicians had to tread carefully because voters have good instincts for recognizing bullshit. The voter's skill is already being overwhelmed in the modern era where "news" is a concept that needs quotes around it. This Sunday's essay brought home that the first presidential election where Generative AI is able to fool every voter about everything is next year's election. I thought maybe we would have a few years to think this through. Now, I doubt it. I know the skills of the best political strategists all too well - there is no possible way that these incredibly talented but shamelessly committed people are already exploring every tool described here today. God help us.
Thank you for another interesting & insightful article. As you have emphasized, AI has already been helping us in many ways and now it's trying to simulate creativity. Maybe the first motion pictures 150 years ago were also just as revolutionary and exciting. But will AI ever be able to design the next Webb telescope, or even inspire children to be more compassionate and caring to others?
I've known you way too long to take any of your future views lightly. This week's essay tapped my deepest anxieties. The gut punch came at the end: "I am convinced that AI is moving faster and deeper across more industries than we can imagine and it will impact everybody’s job in some way small or medium in 2023 and will begin to have a significant impact in 2024." --- The system we call Democracy is under a lot of stress. The foundation of Democracy is voters. The system counts votes with remarkable accuracy but, the manipulation of votes using misinformation BEFORE the voter reaches the ballot box is a dangerous sport. Historically, politicians had to tread carefully because voters have good instincts for recognizing bullshit. The voter's skill is already being overwhelmed in the modern era where "news" is a concept that needs quotes around it. This Sunday's essay brought home that the first presidential election where Generative AI is able to fool every voter about everything is next year's election. I thought maybe we would have a few years to think this through. Now, I doubt it. I know the skills of the best political strategists all too well - there is no possible way that these incredibly talented but shamelessly committed people are already exploring every tool described here today. God help us.
Mark your concerns are very well founded. The implications of this new tech in combination with social media will be profound.