Who the Hell needs more "context" in their lives? If government and the powers behind them got the Hell out of our lives we would all be so much better off. How many people are on "medications" to handle daily stress? If you are one of them pay attention. You are just as drug dependent as any street junkie. Get off the drugs and try looking at life realistically. Those drugs aren't the answer. They only hide the question.
Upwards of 17 Veterans commit suicide per day. How many serving soldiers do ? It's a secret! The Department of War, and the entire government is anti American, Anti peace. They are an unnecessary evil that is the reality people refuse to face that creates the stress that causes the mental problems. The very Root of Our problems.
Snitches need stitches! See something, Say Nothing. Helping the oppressors is stupid. Because you can't have a Police State, without Police. Mercenaries for a share of the loot, with immunity, heavy weapons and body armour. The Anti Defamation League claims to be the largest police training group in the US. IDF style by a foreign group.
"They are ruining what it is to be human. There is so much ugliness in all this."
I think that's the whole point of the "AI revolution." The TechBro billionaires want to ruin what it means to be human--and get rid of as many humans as possible at the same time. They have genuinely ugly souls and no compassion for their fellow humans. Perhaps they're AI 'bots and we're already living in The Terminator future?
Yes. They are making an attempt to finish the dehumanization of humanity. They wish for the extinction of all but themselves. When they destroy people's ability to empathize they succeed in their vile ambitions. Don't fall for it and don't utilize it. Resist its temptations any way you can.
If so, they are also incredibly dumb. Who will buy their papers, movies, lies and goods if the human population is radically declined? Robots do not pay for anything, not being paid as is the plan.
Since very young working in science with extremely intelligent people. It always amazed me how many of these extremely wealthy people are very stupid, not just not very smart, stupid. Mush says and does things that reveal his stupidity daily. He thinks of course we can build billions of Androids replace all workers while I make trillions, people will love that. How fucking stupid, evil for thinking it, stupid for saying it out loud. 1789 can't come fast enough. I would like to see Caitlin paint an Android buying an ugly Tesla. : )
Are they bothered about that? They've made their ill-gotten money and fewer humans means more scarce, and getting scarcer, resources for them. In their bunkers. Or Mars...
Automous surveillance drones? Sounds like soon the whole world will be Palestinians.
As far as using AI to help you read, what in the actual f? If we continue on this path, our brains will atrophy to the point where we not capable of doing any actual thinking for ourselves. Of course this is what they want, a flock of sheep who are easy to control.
It was more human when like in East Germany you could count on your neighbor or co-worker reporting you or, yes, even a family member. This is what happens when technology replaces human contact.
Then again I couldn’t find my car in the mall parking lot last evening. I called those monitor people, flustered now. “What the Flock I cry out I can’t find my car!!”
No answer. The horror! left my dog in the car. It’s so hot out. I panicked but finally found my car. “Why didn’t you address my plea?” I later inquired.
The answer… “We are very displeased with you, Sir. It has come to our attention that just recently you became a paid subscriber to Caitlin Johnstone’s Substack. This is a serious breach of our rules. You have a very cute dog. Lucky you found him on time in this heat. Oh, BTW his rabies immunization is due next week. Have a good rest of the day.
The best reason to be against Billionaires and their constant screaming about taxes and people wanting medicare-for-all - is that the billionaires own the government. And wingnuts pretend the problem is the government (not the billionaires) - which the billionaire scumbags love.
Caitlin, I agree with you about all the horrible uses and abuses of AI (by corporations and governments). But I DISAGREE with you in one very important way (at least for the time being) - each and every one of us has a CHOICE on how (or if) we use AI (unless you are compelled to use it by force/necessity in your work environment).
For instance, as a software engineer, I have many developer friends that use 'VIBE coding' (personally and at work). And I absolutely REFUSE to do it because if I do, I will learn NOTHING and I will not grow as a software engineer.
The same applies to your example of the person using AI to read books. I would NOT use an AI for general reading comprehension of books (I would prefer to use and develop my critical thinking, reasoning, and analytical skills for this). Now, if I were to read challenging books (like Marx's Das Kapital, etc.), I would definitely appreciate all the help I could get in understanding such works (and using an AI for a back-and-forth question and answer session to clarify concepts helps tremendously). Also, I can ask the AI to create a 'multiple-choice' quiz for me after I finish reading a chapter to test how well I have understood the material.
But here is the message I am trying to get across to you - we have personal agency in HOW and WHAT we use AI for. And each of us has to make these choices for ourselves and the consequences of such choices. TOO MANY people give in to CONVENIENCE and sacrifice on personal growth and learning (in all areas of life) and use AI. But this is a choice that THEY have made.
I use AI extensively for many purposes, but I use it to ENHANCE my learning/growth/experiences rather than REPLACE my cognitive/emotional/etc. abilities. Sure, I often take longer to understand some topics/tasks sometimes than I would otherwise with an AI doing all the work for me. And that's ok with me. I'm 'not in a race of anykind' (but possibly this is because I have certain life privileges maybe? I'll have to think more about this).
At least for the time being, don't each and every one of us have a personal responsibility and agency to decide for ourselves how and for what we would/should use AI?
Is it fair to blame AI technologies instead of also looking at human nature, systems of political economy, and personal agency when it comes to understanding the impacts of AI technologies on homo-sapiens and human societies?
Caitlin, you ALWAYS seem to be blaming AI technologies for everything (from the many articles I have read of yours on your opinions of AI). But I would say that this is more a biased opinion than an objective and comprehensive analysis on the subject matter.
Let me end with a couple of points -
(1) I HATE AI technologies for what it is doing to the planet (but I hate cryptocurrencies EVEN MORE for reasons I won't get into here - I mention this because BOTH technologies create many of the same problems).
(2) IMHO, I don't think humanity needs AI technologies to solve our most pressing problems (climate change, hunger, poverty, etc.). They can be solved WITHOUT AI technologies (in my humble opinion)
(3) Inspite of points (1) and (2) above, I love using AI technologies in the specific ways I use them. Of course, my experience-time with AI is limited and I admit that I don't know how AI use might change me over the next 5, 10 or more years. We really are in unchartered territory here...
But AI technologies are NOT a black/white thing. There is incredible NUANCE and human agency involved. And I think it is inaccurate, short-sighted, and biased to always blame AI technologies for everything (when the source of the problem might be a deeper, underlying factor(s)).
The sad take: the demand for sycophant AI chatbots to make you feel like it’s totally reasonable to behave or think in ways that previously we would have all comfortably labeled “super fucking lame” is only going to increase and that’s going to be a rough ride for people who aren’t super fucking lame.
The positive take: people are not going to ultimately be ok with Flock cameras and police drones and 24/7 surveillance everywhere and even on our personal devices. I would not be surprised if that becomes the first real flashpoint of pushing back against the empire. When this starts we will need every single type of ally, so it will be time to table non mission-critical differences. And i’d like to believe that on balance, people are awesome enough to get that.
Use it or be used by it. Master it for your purposes (revolution; democratization of AI) or i will master you for those of its owners. AI is not going away, anymore than the printing press or internet. So the only rational and moraMakl response is to make it ours. Only then will it be built out without harming the ecosystem and be a kind of national library rather than a tool of control. I am by nature a Luddite: machines break down if I just look at them, but AI is something that can be used to enslave us or to liberate us, depending on who controls it.
When you refuse to go along with the herd, the herd acts as if you are simple. or a terrorist.
Who the Hell needs more "context" in their lives? If government and the powers behind them got the Hell out of our lives we would all be so much better off. How many people are on "medications" to handle daily stress? If you are one of them pay attention. You are just as drug dependent as any street junkie. Get off the drugs and try looking at life realistically. Those drugs aren't the answer. They only hide the question.
Upwards of 17 Veterans commit suicide per day. How many serving soldiers do ? It's a secret! The Department of War, and the entire government is anti American, Anti peace. They are an unnecessary evil that is the reality people refuse to face that creates the stress that causes the mental problems. The very Root of Our problems.
Sam Altman needs human friends. If that is even possible. What a loser
Sam first needs a human neocortex appended onto his reptilian brain. Man has "viper" tattooed on his forehead
What age is Altman? His writng makes him seem about fifteen, hasn't the use of "like" every three words gone out of style now?
Is Luigi a friend of his?
If you saw someone vandalising a Flock camera, no you didn't.
Snitches need stitches! See something, Say Nothing. Helping the oppressors is stupid. Because you can't have a Police State, without Police. Mercenaries for a share of the loot, with immunity, heavy weapons and body armour. The Anti Defamation League claims to be the largest police training group in the US. IDF style by a foreign group.
"They are ruining what it is to be human. There is so much ugliness in all this."
I think that's the whole point of the "AI revolution." The TechBro billionaires want to ruin what it means to be human--and get rid of as many humans as possible at the same time. They have genuinely ugly souls and no compassion for their fellow humans. Perhaps they're AI 'bots and we're already living in The Terminator future?
Yes. They are making an attempt to finish the dehumanization of humanity. They wish for the extinction of all but themselves. When they destroy people's ability to empathize they succeed in their vile ambitions. Don't fall for it and don't utilize it. Resist its temptations any way you can.
If so, they are also incredibly dumb. Who will buy their papers, movies, lies and goods if the human population is radically declined? Robots do not pay for anything, not being paid as is the plan.
Since very young working in science with extremely intelligent people. It always amazed me how many of these extremely wealthy people are very stupid, not just not very smart, stupid. Mush says and does things that reveal his stupidity daily. He thinks of course we can build billions of Androids replace all workers while I make trillions, people will love that. How fucking stupid, evil for thinking it, stupid for saying it out loud. 1789 can't come fast enough. I would like to see Caitlin paint an Android buying an ugly Tesla. : )
Are they bothered about that? They've made their ill-gotten money and fewer humans means more scarce, and getting scarcer, resources for them. In their bunkers. Or Mars...
How many Teslas can an Android buy : )
If an android could buy Teslas.
Can't wait for Musks AI robots. "Go out and bring me a something to eat" and it returns with someones leg.
😂
Or a heart or a brain.
Automous surveillance drones? Sounds like soon the whole world will be Palestinians.
As far as using AI to help you read, what in the actual f? If we continue on this path, our brains will atrophy to the point where we not capable of doing any actual thinking for ourselves. Of course this is what they want, a flock of sheep who are easy to control.
God help this world!
It was more human when like in East Germany you could count on your neighbor or co-worker reporting you or, yes, even a family member. This is what happens when technology replaces human contact.
Then again I couldn’t find my car in the mall parking lot last evening. I called those monitor people, flustered now. “What the Flock I cry out I can’t find my car!!”
No answer. The horror! left my dog in the car. It’s so hot out. I panicked but finally found my car. “Why didn’t you address my plea?” I later inquired.
The answer… “We are very displeased with you, Sir. It has come to our attention that just recently you became a paid subscriber to Caitlin Johnstone’s Substack. This is a serious breach of our rules. You have a very cute dog. Lucky you found him on time in this heat. Oh, BTW his rabies immunization is due next week. Have a good rest of the day.
Not to worry. The climate is going to kill us all first, before we're all controlled by AI. At least that's the plan of the world of nature. .
Nature has it in for us no matter what. But it looks like AI has it in for us as well. It looks like we're totally fucked tbh.
The best reason to be against Flock is that the government wants you to be for it.
The best reason to be against Billionaires and their constant screaming about taxes and people wanting medicare-for-all - is that the billionaires own the government. And wingnuts pretend the problem is the government (not the billionaires) - which the billionaire scumbags love.
Whatever the gov wants, I am 110% against it.
Flock surveillance cameras are the sensors of the security state.
https://nedb.substack.com/p/get-the-flock-outta-here
beep beep
It is beyond words how far we have let ourselves descend
Caitlin, I agree with you about all the horrible uses and abuses of AI (by corporations and governments). But I DISAGREE with you in one very important way (at least for the time being) - each and every one of us has a CHOICE on how (or if) we use AI (unless you are compelled to use it by force/necessity in your work environment).
For instance, as a software engineer, I have many developer friends that use 'VIBE coding' (personally and at work). And I absolutely REFUSE to do it because if I do, I will learn NOTHING and I will not grow as a software engineer.
The same applies to your example of the person using AI to read books. I would NOT use an AI for general reading comprehension of books (I would prefer to use and develop my critical thinking, reasoning, and analytical skills for this). Now, if I were to read challenging books (like Marx's Das Kapital, etc.), I would definitely appreciate all the help I could get in understanding such works (and using an AI for a back-and-forth question and answer session to clarify concepts helps tremendously). Also, I can ask the AI to create a 'multiple-choice' quiz for me after I finish reading a chapter to test how well I have understood the material.
But here is the message I am trying to get across to you - we have personal agency in HOW and WHAT we use AI for. And each of us has to make these choices for ourselves and the consequences of such choices. TOO MANY people give in to CONVENIENCE and sacrifice on personal growth and learning (in all areas of life) and use AI. But this is a choice that THEY have made.
I use AI extensively for many purposes, but I use it to ENHANCE my learning/growth/experiences rather than REPLACE my cognitive/emotional/etc. abilities. Sure, I often take longer to understand some topics/tasks sometimes than I would otherwise with an AI doing all the work for me. And that's ok with me. I'm 'not in a race of anykind' (but possibly this is because I have certain life privileges maybe? I'll have to think more about this).
At least for the time being, don't each and every one of us have a personal responsibility and agency to decide for ourselves how and for what we would/should use AI?
Is it fair to blame AI technologies instead of also looking at human nature, systems of political economy, and personal agency when it comes to understanding the impacts of AI technologies on homo-sapiens and human societies?
Caitlin, you ALWAYS seem to be blaming AI technologies for everything (from the many articles I have read of yours on your opinions of AI). But I would say that this is more a biased opinion than an objective and comprehensive analysis on the subject matter.
Let me end with a couple of points -
(1) I HATE AI technologies for what it is doing to the planet (but I hate cryptocurrencies EVEN MORE for reasons I won't get into here - I mention this because BOTH technologies create many of the same problems).
(2) IMHO, I don't think humanity needs AI technologies to solve our most pressing problems (climate change, hunger, poverty, etc.). They can be solved WITHOUT AI technologies (in my humble opinion)
(3) Inspite of points (1) and (2) above, I love using AI technologies in the specific ways I use them. Of course, my experience-time with AI is limited and I admit that I don't know how AI use might change me over the next 5, 10 or more years. We really are in unchartered territory here...
But AI technologies are NOT a black/white thing. There is incredible NUANCE and human agency involved. And I think it is inaccurate, short-sighted, and biased to always blame AI technologies for everything (when the source of the problem might be a deeper, underlying factor(s)).
TLTR
Two takes:
The sad take: the demand for sycophant AI chatbots to make you feel like it’s totally reasonable to behave or think in ways that previously we would have all comfortably labeled “super fucking lame” is only going to increase and that’s going to be a rough ride for people who aren’t super fucking lame.
The positive take: people are not going to ultimately be ok with Flock cameras and police drones and 24/7 surveillance everywhere and even on our personal devices. I would not be surprised if that becomes the first real flashpoint of pushing back against the empire. When this starts we will need every single type of ally, so it will be time to table non mission-critical differences. And i’d like to believe that on balance, people are awesome enough to get that.
Don't run, don't run! We are your friends! Sam is your friend! Let him read over your shoulder! Don't run!
Use it or be used by it. Master it for your purposes (revolution; democratization of AI) or i will master you for those of its owners. AI is not going away, anymore than the printing press or internet. So the only rational and moraMakl response is to make it ours. Only then will it be built out without harming the ecosystem and be a kind of national library rather than a tool of control. I am by nature a Luddite: machines break down if I just look at them, but AI is something that can be used to enslave us or to liberate us, depending on who controls it.
Control alt delete !
Sounds a bit naive to me. Using it doesn't let you control it.
The only thing I'll use an LLM agent for is not friendly rhings towards LLM's and drones controlled by these ghouls.
Any other use is unnecessary, bad for my brain, and ultimately time-consuming in an era of history were we are extremely pressed for time.
Juice Media hit back at the tech billionaires & govt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBW9QCVDSjY (about Palentir)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kON2ZI2BNj8 (about Aussie Data Centres)
omg, I forgot "Juice" was those "Australien" ladies doing the sales ad voices. Those were really good.