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Humans aren’t mentally ready for an AI-saturated ‘post-truth world’

wired.com

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Re: Humans aren’t mentally ready for an AI-saturated ‘post-truth world’

#481

Post by orange_fritter »

mahathu wrote: post #133
thumbuddy wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whew it's satire. Whew. I've literally seen posts on the internet that read like this sans the satire.

I've seen people on /r/singularity argue how LLMs are a better friend than actual friends or therapists because they are always available, non-judgemental and "listen better". EDIT: Here, for example: https://i.redd.it/7qxb1ohvhada1.png

Hehe are we sure even that isn't satire? "More human than human?"

It could be a White Zombie reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0E0ynyIUsg

Re: Humans aren’t mentally ready for an AI-saturated ‘post-truth world’

#482

Post by [deleted] »

scrubs wrote: post #180
civilitty wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m working on a startup that’s training LLMs to be authentic so they can simulate human affection and it’s actually working really well! The key is humanity’s ability to pattern match: we’re actually pretty terrible at it. Our brains are so keen on finding patterns that they often spot them where none exist. Remember the face on Mars? It was just a pile of rocks. The same principle applies here. As long as the AI so…

You wrote: "I’m working on a startup that’s training LLMs to be authentic so they can simulate human affection and it’s actually working really well!" I got news for you buddy: I and a hell of a lot of people know the difference between eating the menu (AI) and the meal (loved ones and dear friends). My lady is from south America, multi lingual, and has a better degree from a better school than I. Seriously, how are…

[deleted]

Re: Humans aren’t mentally ready for an AI-saturated ‘post-truth world’

#483

Post by gcanyon »

pastafarianism wrote: post #340
gcanyon wrote: post #331

A rough timeline of my list of "what will end humanity" candidates: 1990 -- nanotechnology 2005 -- rogue AI 2015 -- bio-weapons 2022 -- fake news/truth-indeterminability

the article is saying we're not ready for an ai information world, not that it will end humanity. also, all the candidates you've listed are valid we're just not there yet. some things change gradually until they change suddenly.

The years were when I concluded it was possible they would eventually end humanity, not the year I thought it would happen.

And regarding fake news/lack of truth determinability -- I'm not summarizing the article, I'm offering my own opinion. In the worst case, we could lose modern humanity if we reach a point where no one can determine the truth.

Re: Humans aren’t mentally ready for an AI-saturated ‘post-truth world’

#484

Post by vba616 »

synetic wrote: post #447
machina_ex_deus wrote: post #441

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are no right questions, only right answers. A question, by definition, isn't right or wrong. That's why it's a question, not an answer. The very first step to being an intelligent person is not being afraid to ask questions. The second step is trying to understand it even if you might reach the wrong result. Only if you passed those first two steps you even have the hope of answering the question correctly. And…

A child can’t prove 1+1 = 2 because a child doesn’t know enough mathematics to prove it. Doesn’t even understand the basics of mathematical logic or set theory. You know so little about what it means to prove 1+1=2 that you think proving this is easy. Your grasp on the limits of your mathematical knowledge is greatly lacking. There are no right questions, only right answers. A point that does not pertain to what I sa…

>A person not trained in virology or microbiology is absolutely unqualified to discern the difference between good information and bad information on the topic of vaccines.

It seems hard to argue with that...but what exactly is the meaning of saying people are "absolutely unqualified" to do something which they in fact do constantly and which there is no obvious alternative in order for society to function?

If we accept that non-experts are not qualified to determine what is good information, then doesn't it entirely undermine democratic control over society?

For that matter, doesn't it entirely undermine the concept of management in industry or government? Individual autonomy and rights too?

Again, I'm not saying you are wrong, or that I have a counterargument, just that the logical implications seem extremely radical, and I don't know of a plan for how society can function on such a basis.

Re: Humans aren’t mentally ready for an AI-saturated ‘post-truth world’

#485

Post by vba616 »

thumbuddy wrote: post #57
civilitty wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m working on a startup that’s training LLMs to be authentic so they can simulate human affection and it’s actually working really well! The key is humanity’s ability to pattern match: we’re actually pretty terrible at it. Our brains are so keen on finding patterns that they often spot them where none exist. Remember the face on Mars? It was just a pile of rocks. The same principle applies here. As long as the AI so…

Whew it's satire. Whew. I've literally seen posts on the internet that read like this sans the satire.

“Hi there! This is Eddie, your shipboard computer, and I’m feeling just great, guys, and I know I’m just going to get a bundle of kicks out of any program you care to run through me.”

Re: Humans aren’t mentally ready for an AI-saturated ‘post-truth world’

#487

Post by bimguy »

I think we have already been living in a post-truth world ever since laws started to erode any journalistic accountability for news and media corporations. At least it's like that in Australia, just watch any recent friendlyjordies (yt) investigation to understand how the laws protect even the most incredibly bias and un-factual news stories.

Sure, more people might be tricked with the prevalence of AI but those people usually can't read between the lines anyway.

Re: Humans aren’t mentally ready for an AI-saturated ‘post-truth world’

#488

Post by dr_dshiv »

pxc wrote: post #419
dr_dshiv wrote: post #398

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don’t have visual dreams? If I say “pink elephant,” you don’t one? Or better yet, if i say “Dumbo,” you don’t see the ears? You don’t hear songs in your head? If I write “I’ll be back” you don’t hear it now in a thick German accent? Inconceivable! (As they say)

For me, the aural examples you gave are much more vivid than the visual ones. Some people have one of those forms of imagination but not the other at all!

I guess i just doubt the complete absence. Maybe people have different expectations of what imaginations would be. When I “see” a pink elephant, it is extremely fragmentary. If it were output directly, it’d be a mess. Also, not all at the same time.

It might also be that there are differences in the amount of attention given to different kinds of imagination.

But the way the brain is structured, everything is firing all the time… or at least, that’s why it is so hard for me to conceive

Re: Humans aren’t mentally ready for an AI-saturated ‘post-truth world’

#489

Post by forgetfreeman »

synetic wrote: post #468
legendofbrando wrote: post #461

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All of these arguments center on how different now is from “past” versions of transformative technologies and ignore that to past versions of people a radio show that you could tune into that was broadcast nationally likely felt as transformative as a network that connects the globe. You can’t measure the difference in progress from a modern vantage point. Once upon a time large numbers of people thought we were acti…

Divisions in the Napoleonic wars were far more lethal than a Roman legion. A division today is many times more lethal than a Napoleonics division. A similar advancement has occurred within the realm of dissemination of propaganda but at a much shorter timeframe. In my opinion humanity is not prepared to deal with the social and psychological effects of this era of cheap, targeted, mass communication. I hope I am wron…

There's no evidence I'm aware of that supports the notion that we are capable, as a species, of weathering the social and psychological effects of the modern communications era and a growing body of evidence that suggest we aren't. Given human psychology around in-group dynamics it seems likely we never will be on anything other than evolutionary time scales.

Re: Humans aren’t mentally ready for an AI-saturated ‘post-truth world’

#490

Post by forgetfreeman »

carlosjobim wrote: post #369
forgetfreeman wrote: post #357

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is it any different? Are you serious? For the overwhelming majority of our time on this planet communications were limited to word of mouth over geographically limited areas. Now it is trivial for any form of bullshit to spread worldwide in minutes. The stakes have changed.

This change came already with the invention of radio. We have a century of radio and TV propaganda of the absolutely vilest kind behind us already. At least now there is an exchange with the instant communications, not only one-way.

You assume this bidirectional communication is a benefit. I'm not so convinced. This permits the formation of echo chambers and allows people to nominate literally anyone, regardless of their position or credentials, as an authority on literally any topic (see also: anti-vax moms). This represents an assault on society's ability to function at the most basic level, as it is increasingly difficult for individuals to agree on much of anything, as everyone's operating with a different set of information. Here's a thought experiment: you have a plumbing problem. A group of plumbers have examined the situation and are discussing how best to resolve the issue. In what way is this discussion meaningfully improved by adding a florist to the conversation?
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