We've been accepting all kinds of surveillance, all kinds of invasions of privacy and manipulation in exchange for convenience. It's time for us to ask, "Could we do with less convenience in exchange for regaining human autonomy?" That's a trade I made a number of years ago. I think it's the only option that we have for at least the next four years.
There are ads in San Francisco right now about how you should not employ any more humans. You can employ A.I. instead of humans. Who does that serve?
Our children are being lured into using ChatGPT for school. Does that benefit them? It doesn't prepare them for a future in which they're empowered. It prepares them for a future in which they are disempowered.
Even if you thought that artificial intelligence was useful, the industry starts by stealing all copyrighted information, as well as all the personal information that all of us have in cloud services. So, that's theft. The second problem, the really huge one, is what AI does to natural resources. Microsoft and Google's power consumption has gone up 30, 40, 50% over the last few years, simply to power artificial intelligence.
The same thing's going on with water. These processing plants-- both for the data and semiconductors-- are consuming vast amounts of water, and the public has had no voice in this. The companies have acted unilaterally; and they're literally talking now about restarting Three Mile Island or building floating nuclear plants.
The public really should have a voice in this.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
