AI and AGI

 I am so tired of screens.  I am so tired of the constant barrage of new technology.  I am so tired of interacting with machines which are more tedious to deal with than the dumbest human.  

Just unplug, turn off, refuse to play.  That's certainly the kneejerk reaction.  That could be done ten years ago, but now?  Probably not possible.  One needs an electron sword to cut through the voice activated code to simply make an appointment, talk to your bank, your subscription holders, or any government agency.  Want a phone number to talk to a human?   That's possible only when dealing with the smallest and most local of companies.  

Our new electronic tool, Artificial Intelligence, [knicknamed "AI"] while currently in its infancy, is beginning to shape what information we can find on queries to the all powerful computers we carry around, and hold on our laps.  Enter a question in your Chrome search bar, and you are instantly spun off to AI Gemini (AKA 'deepmind") which is Google/Chrome's AI tool.  Googling is becoming an archaic term.

You can recognize this new tool by the Google colors in a diamond shape.  Gemini is being marketed as your personal AI assistant.  If it useful?  Yes.  Very.  However, you have to retrain your thinking and become more sophisticated in thinking what electronic usage can do.  The first use is probably the most dangerous.  Gemini summarizes the info about a question from multiple websites and presents the information in written form.  Here's an example:  Query - What is an archaic term in English for eating?  

Gemini (AI) answer:  Several archaic terms for eating exist, including "victual," "sup," "dine," "gormandize," and "swallow." These words were commonly used in the past but are less frequent in modern English. (Then, there's a breakdown of the meanings of each word.   

Here's what's happening with users.  The questioners look no further than the Gemini summary.  Instead of scrolling through a list of websites, they simply accept the AI summary.  Did you notice the 'mistake' in the summary.  Dine is currently used in modern English.  It's basic definition is 'to eat'.  AI is not infallible.  Remember, this tool is just starting to be explored in real time by real people.  Who're going to be the explorers?  The answer will not surprise you:  PRETEENS and TEENS.  

If my assumption is true, then public school systems will have to radically change.  From my own personal experience, I can tell you radical change doesn't happen in those systems.  There's a prevailing fear of technology especially as regards to reading/writing/fact gathering.  Teachers are beginning to get the inkling they can be replaced in the future by AGI. 

What's AGI?   Artificial Generative Intelligence - that's the machine intelligence which can LEARN based on its accumulated data.  Are AGI's going to take over the world and make humans redundant?  Yes, but only in certain situations.  However, not in the sci-fi, fantasy way you think.  

Here are some ideas on what AI and increasingly AGI will be used for.  Teachers being trained learn "Bloom's Taxonomy" - think of that as levels of thinking, and lessons are supposed to take this taxonomy into account.  Here's what Bloom's looks like today without taking into consideration AI or AGI.

The three bottom categories are characterized as lower level thinking - especially the bottom two.  Now, think about 'remember' (these are facts).  Think about 'understand' (put facts into context).  What does AI do?  Regurgitate facts and summarize context.  How is most school taught?  Visually which relies on memorization and context.   Can you see the problem?  In shorthand, if you can look it up, you don't need to memorize it. 

Most school systems are still teaching memorization and context through high school!  No wonder older kids are bored witless especially in classes they don't see the need for or which don't expand their evaluation, judgment or creativity skills.  Are teachers embracing AI/AGI?  Absolutely not.  They consider these tools as advanced cheating skills instead of advancing technology user skills.  

Now, think about everyone who enters data into a system.  Within a short amount of time, this job in its many facets will be taken over by AI/AGI.  Think data entry clerks, beginning coders, manufacturing (robots), some lawyers, some stock market analysts, fast food workers, etc.  If you punch it into a keyboard or cash register, AI/AGI has its sights on those jobs.  Goldman/Sacs thinks about 9% of jobs done by humans will be replaced within the next 20-25 years.  And, this list includes teachers who refuse to adapt.  

I've been saying for years that we are in the midst of an Electronic Revolution.  It's counterpart in the past was the Industrial Revolution.  The Industrial Revolution changed where we lived, what we lived in, what we wore, how and what we ate, where we traveled, and what tools we used during our lifetimes.  The IR began about 1760 and ended about 1914. That's over a period of about 150 years.  

Now, compare it to the Electronic Revolution.  Most historians suggest the true beginning was the invention of the microprocessor in 1971.  Now, 55 years later, look where we are.  And, if you consider the revolutionary tool the iphone, it was invented less than 25 years ago (2007 - iphone 1).  [Aside:  notice that iphone is not capitalized. Capitalization  rules are being changed every time we text.] 

Notice the difference in the rate of change - The Electronic Revolution is progressing three times faster than the Industrial Revolution.  The old saying, "You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube" pretty much says it all.   If you think you can be a luddite (a person against new or modern technologies), think again.  Just because you're old, or you haven't bothered to try to 'keep up' even on the most superficial level won't do anything except isolate you from the main stream of society in developed countries.  People who insist on trying to turn back the clock just wind up with a broken clock. 

Welcome to the Electronic Age coupled with the Nouveau Gilded Age.  I'm explore that historical concept in my next blog entry.

P.S.  This blog was written utilizing AI technology.  

PPS. Age is not an excuse anymore to tune out, turn on, and drop out.