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Does ChatGPT make us dumber?

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Re: Does ChatGPT make us dumber?

#11

Post by leourbina »

sim7c00 wrote: post #8

Pointing at tech and blaming it for degrading the human condition is refusing to take responsibility of your own predicament. (not saying anyone here is doing it - it's a generalization!) People who get 'dumber' from technologies, like GPS mentioned by a commenter (nice example), but also auto-correct, intellisense and such helpertools, they choose themselves the path of least resistance, and least learning. Arguably…

I’d take a slightly different perspective. I’d like to think that these tools are in some ways “humanizing” - we can offload things that we’re not particularly good at (like memorization tasks) and instead we can use our capacities to do things that (at least for now) we humans are uniquely capable of doing. As an example: Back in the 90’s people knew many phone numbers by heart, nowadays I don’t think people know more than a handful, if that. Does that mean that “phone contacts” are making us dumber? Or perhaps we can use the time/effort/capacity to better use.

Re: Does ChatGPT make us dumber?

#12

Post by wdh505 »

eugenepl wrote: post #6

Using AI as a coach or mentor shapes your thinking process significantly because AI internal rules and censorship (which we don't even know) impact its answers, your outputs and, consequently,... your future O_o

Due to the high cost of therapy. I expect several people who use therapists for ideas about their situation would do well with sending a long form prompt to chat gpt and asking for therapeutic ideas. Certainly cheaper than 100-250 per session with a therapist that isn't making progress.

Re: Does ChatGPT make us dumber?

#13

Post by unshavedyak »

sim7c00 wrote: post #8

Pointing at tech and blaming it for degrading the human condition is refusing to take responsibility of your own predicament. (not saying anyone here is doing it - it's a generalization!) People who get 'dumber' from technologies, like GPS mentioned by a commenter (nice example), but also auto-correct, intellisense and such helpertools, they choose themselves the path of least resistance, and least learning. Arguably…

> Pointing at tech and blaming it for degrading the human condition is refusing to take responsibility of your own predicament. (not saying anyone here is doing it - it's a generalization!)

So i take issue with this, but i also don't necessarily argue that i'm right. This is similar in my mind to free speech on podiums, and where we sit in general on responsibility of collective health, etc.

I personally don't think we're much beyond monkeys. Some of us are fortunate and aren't tempted by addictive behaviors, substances, etc. However i suspect most of us are.

Of course there's some argument that no amount of addictive substance (drug or otherwise) absolves your personal responsibility to not consume it, but with enough resources and legal right-of-way, how can we expect the average person - aka humanity on average - to resist well funded corporations pushing so many angles of it? Would we not be ensuring our own damnation?

The reality is far less addictive and destructive than i described above, i'm not trying to be hyperbolic about the reality of the situation. Nonetheless i do feel like most consumer relationships for the last 40 years has been more adversarial than not, and companies have only grown more talented and funded towards this test of will. It leaves me unsure how to proceed, for humanity.

Re: Does ChatGPT make us dumber?

#14

Post by sim7c00 »

unshavedyak wrote: post #13
sim7c00 wrote: post #8

Pointing at tech and blaming it for degrading the human condition is refusing to take responsibility of your own predicament. (not saying anyone here is doing it - it's a generalization!) People who get 'dumber' from technologies, like GPS mentioned by a commenter (nice example), but also auto-correct, intellisense and such helpertools, they choose themselves the path of least resistance, and least learning. Arguably…

> Pointing at tech and blaming it for degrading the human condition is refusing to take responsibility of your own predicament. (not saying anyone here is doing it - it's a generalization!) So i take issue with this, but i also don't necessarily argue that i'm right. This is similar in my mind to free speech on podiums, and where we sit in general on responsibility of collective health, etc. I personally don't think…

Hey, I do agree and don't agree, for the same reasons perhaps. My words are a bit utopian I suppose, and I do realize things aren't black and white. People need to have the wits about them to know what impact stuff has on them as a person, and this is really difficult to do. in my mind, that's a problem of our world, but that's i guess an personal issue i have with it. it's not a requirement for people to be more conscious, though i'd wish they (and myself!!) were.

I think, people should be free to talk, even say nasty things, and others should have thick skin. But, i don't insult people, because i don't like to hurt people, even though i don't think they should be hurt by my opinion even if i give it. so you are right its a bit in the middle, where at one side it's a problem things impact people collectively, and on the other side people should not let things impact them like that.

They are free to choose, but the choices might not always be clear or known.

Re: Does ChatGPT make us dumber?

#15

Post by sim7c00 »

leourbina wrote: post #11
sim7c00 wrote: post #8

Pointing at tech and blaming it for degrading the human condition is refusing to take responsibility of your own predicament. (not saying anyone here is doing it - it's a generalization!) People who get 'dumber' from technologies, like GPS mentioned by a commenter (nice example), but also auto-correct, intellisense and such helpertools, they choose themselves the path of least resistance, and least learning. Arguably…

I’d take a slightly different perspective. I’d like to think that these tools are in some ways “humanizing” - we can offload things that we’re not particularly good at (like memorization tasks) and instead we can use our capacities to do things that (at least for now) we humans are uniquely capable of doing. As an example: Back in the 90’s people knew many phone numbers by heart, nowadays I don’t think people know mo…

I do agree that we might want to offload mundane and boring / repetitive tasks which do not add value to our lives. But this 'value' is a personal and subjective thing, so it's hard to give a recipe there which will fit everyone.

Hence I think its important for people to be educated in how to maintain this balance of easy-life vs. hard-life to optimise for their own life what they will get from it.

I for example do not use intellisense nor auto-correct. (i do make a lot of spelling mistakes!). I want to learn to program, so intellisense will break that learning. I do not want to 'produce programs' - for which intellisense is _super good_ as it will increase productivity a lot. I know most people make the tradeoff the other way, as they prefer productivity over learning.

Re: Does ChatGPT make us dumber?

#16

Post by timeon »

leourbina wrote: post #11
sim7c00 wrote: post #8

Pointing at tech and blaming it for degrading the human condition is refusing to take responsibility of your own predicament. (not saying anyone here is doing it - it's a generalization!) People who get 'dumber' from technologies, like GPS mentioned by a commenter (nice example), but also auto-correct, intellisense and such helpertools, they choose themselves the path of least resistance, and least learning. Arguably…

I’d take a slightly different perspective. I’d like to think that these tools are in some ways “humanizing” - we can offload things that we’re not particularly good at (like memorization tasks) and instead we can use our capacities to do things that (at least for now) we humans are uniquely capable of doing. As an example: Back in the 90’s people knew many phone numbers by heart, nowadays I don’t think people know mo…

> to better use

I'm still waiting for this to take effect.

Re: Does ChatGPT make us dumber?

#17

Post by unshavedyak »

sim7c00 wrote: post #14
unshavedyak wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Pointing at tech and blaming it for degrading the human condition is refusing to take responsibility of your own predicament. (not saying anyone here is doing it - it's a generalization!) So i take issue with this, but i also don't necessarily argue that i'm right. This is similar in my mind to free speech on podiums, and where we sit in general on responsibility of collective health, etc. I personally don't think…

Hey, I do agree and don't agree, for the same reasons perhaps. My words are a bit utopian I suppose, and I do realize things aren't black and white. People need to have the wits about them to know what impact stuff has on them as a person, and this is really difficult to do. in my mind, that's a problem of our world, but that's i guess an personal issue i have with it. it's not a requirement for people to be more con…

The complexity in this area is a reason why i'm a proponent of public education, more societal focus on it, etc.

I suspect a big part of personal responsibility is the assumption that the average person is intelligent and capable of making informed decisions. Something i suspect many aren't, these days. Which isn't to say that we're all uneducated morons, but rather that many of the areas i brought up are purposefully being kept dark, obscured, etc. Which makes informed decisions.. well, difficult.

Anyway, sorry for the tangent, just wanted to bring it up. Appreciate your time :)

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