Artificial Intelligence In Our Lives

[Apple fanboy]

Maybe I’m giving them too much info but I’m using ChatGPT to help me pay down my credit card debt. I gave it my card balances, the APRs and how much I can pay every 2 weeks and asked it what’s the best way to pay it off while also saving up for the iPhone Ultra; it gave me a game plan and I’m following it and by mid November of this year I should be 100% debt free. I already have 1 card paid off, the next will be done in mid June and then I tackle a big one that’ll be the biggest obstacle and the final card will take a couple weeks. If all goes according to plan I’ll go into 2027 with no debt and I can finally start saving some money in my HYSA.

Like others have said skip the phone. Clear the debt sooner. Put some savings together and earn some interest.

iPhones will come and go. None of them will change your life. However being debt free has a lot of added benefits.
Like earning interest instead of paying it.

Dong need AI to see how that works for you!

 

[Ctrlos]

Good to see some moderate responses here. Not all AI is useless, but used badly, it can produce some pretty crappy outcomes.

If anyone is curious about how this applies to the creative industries, I wrote a book that tries to strike a balance between the two extremes: https://aiforcreativeproduction.com

The current system is far too anthropomorphised. When most people think of AI they assume an LLM. These models have been branded as ‘AI’ but are a lot less intelligent than most people probably realise. The Strawberry example is well founded: I couldn’t even get Gemini to solve a Wordle the other day.

They are for all intents and purposes sophisticated software but still software. The companies then use cute words like ‘Hallucination’ instead of error. We evoke them using futuristic looking gradients and their logo has become a little sparkle to imply some magic is going on. These are all cute metaphors for investors who need convincing the technology is the future.

I think the future of the LLM is far more mundane than most people think. Technology only gets better when you make it more efficient at the level people need, not more powerful for what the company wants. What I see around me on the web and IRL is people using AI to replace clipart or stealing a photo from Google or so they don’t have to pay for an app to sort their diet or finances. None of these are commercially viable futures. These companies cannot burn capital forever and will fail far, fast.

Once the data centre expansion collapses the market will suddenly be flooded with cheap chipsets from companies desperate to offload inventory. This, together with the ongoing advancements of offline distillations could snowball into savvy companies integrating LLMs into all sorts of technology. The real innovation from the LLM is the natural language interface and provided it has a set of strict parameters to follow, doesn’t need a server at all.

I predict that within the next 5 years you’ll be talking to a vending machine as if its a shop keeper about what is the healthiest drink it stocks or asking your fridge to email you a contents list as you leave for work. None of this will require matter or threads or connection to some mother brain. Every appliance will be able to act independently of each other.

No doubt centralised models will continue to exist. But these will be used to train distillations licensed to other vendors who will, without wanting to risk another data centre collapse be running them locally.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I think the future of the LLM is far more mundane than most people think.

I sure hope so.

A primary complaint of mine around all of this tech right now is just how wildly out or proportion the hype from the companies is.

 

[Huntn]

The current system is far too anthropomorphised. When most people think of AI they assume an LLM. These models have been branded as ‘AI’ but are a lot less intelligent than most people probably realise. The Strawberry example is well founded: I couldn’t even get Gemini to solve a Wordle the other day.

They are for all intents and purposes sophisticated software but still software. The companies then use cute words like ‘Hallucination’ instead of error. We evoke them using futuristic looking gradients and their logo has become a little sparkle to imply some magic is going on. These are all cute metaphors for investors who need convincing the technology is the future.

I think the future of the LLM is far more mundane than most people think. Technology only gets better when you make it more efficient at the level people need, not more powerful for what the company wants. What I see around me on the web and IRL is people using AI to replace clipart or stealing a photo from Google or so they don’t have to pay for an app to sort their diet or finances. None of these are commercially viable futures. These companies cannot burn capital forever and will fail far, fast.

Once the data centre expansion collapses the market will suddenly be flooded with cheap chipsets from companies desperate to offload inventory. This, together with the ongoing advancements of offline distillations could snowball into savvy companies integrating LLMs into all sorts of technology. The real innovation from the LLM is the natural language interface and provided it has a set of strict parameters to follow, doesn’t need a server at all.

I predict that within the next 5 years you’ll be talking to a vending machine as if its a shop keeper about what is the healthiest drink it stocks or asking your fridge to email you a contents list as you leave for work. None of this will require matter or threads or connection to some mother brain. Every appliance will be able to act independently of each other.

No doubt centralised models will continue to exist. But these will be used to train distillations licensed to other vendors who will, without wanting to risk another data centre collapse be running them locally.

AI is really a horrible label, as there is zero thinking, contemplating, nothing innovating going on. Just call it AA, advanced automation.

As far as a mundane future of LLMs, the significant aspect is what we did to ourselves, what we allowed to happen, with the over promising, the waste and damage big business has orchestrated in the pursuit of their individual profits.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'm just waiting for "AI is now on the blockchain!"

(all of us): "wut?"

 

[Apple fanboy]

The current system is far too anthropomorphised. When most people think of AI they assume an LLM. These models have been branded as ‘AI’ but are a lot less intelligent than most people probably realise. The Strawberry example is well founded: I couldn’t even get Gemini to solve a Wordle the other day.

They are for all intents and purposes sophisticated software but still software. The companies then use cute words like ‘Hallucination’ instead of error. We evoke them using futuristic looking gradients and their logo has become a little sparkle to imply some magic is going on. These are all cute metaphors for investors who need convincing the technology is the future.

I think the future of the LLM is far more mundane than most people think. Technology only gets better when you make it more efficient at the level people need, not more powerful for what the company wants. What I see around me on the web and IRL is people using AI to replace clipart or stealing a photo from Google or so they don’t have to pay for an app to sort their diet or finances. None of these are commercially viable futures. These companies cannot burn capital forever and will fail far, fast.

Once the data centre expansion collapses the market will suddenly be flooded with cheap chipsets from companies desperate to offload inventory. This, together with the ongoing advancements of offline distillations could snowball into savvy companies integrating LLMs into all sorts of technology. The real innovation from the LLM is the natural language interface and provided it has a set of strict parameters to follow, doesn’t need a server at all.

I predict that within the next 5 years you’ll be talking to a vending machine as if its a shop keeper about what is the healthiest drink it stocks or asking your fridge to email you a contents list as you leave for work. None of this will require matter or threads or connection to some mother brain. Every appliance will be able to act independently of each other.

No doubt centralised models will continue to exist. But these will be used to train distillations licensed to other vendors who will, without wanting to risk another data centre collapse be running them locally.

I predict I won’t. If I used a vending machine once every 5 years I’d be surprised. Hopefully my fridge will still be going in 5 years and its replacement will not have internet access. Even if it becomes so widespread it’s on every model I won’t give it access to the internet.

We keep a pen and paper in the kitchen. Before we go to the store or order groceries we consult the list.

Also having thrown away a piece of food in years because it’s past its use by date. As just buy and use what we need.

People don’t need artificial intelligence. They need actual intelligence! When I read about how much food (in the West) we throw away it makes my blood boil. How are people so dumb?

 

[turbineseaplane]

People don’t need artificial intelligence. They need actual intelligence! When I read about how much food (in the West) we throw away it makes my blood boil. How are people so dumb?

This is how I feel when I see so many of the things people are using "AI" for.

 

[skodises]

I think that the best description of the whole “AI” rollout mess we are experiencing might well be the phrase “Ready, fire, aim…”.

The utter lack of forethought does not bode well, in my opinion.

 

[Apple fanboy]

This is how I feel when I see so many of the things people are using "AI" for.

Exactly. Until people won’t be able to think for themselves anymore because there first thought is to ask AI how to do everything. Like younger people who have never navigated without Sat Nav would be stuck without it. I rely on it also, but I could still go back to the old way if needed or if I think a different route is better

 

[Huntn]

I predict I won’t. If I used a vending machine once every 5 years I’d be surprised. Hopefully my fridge will still be going in 5 years and its replacement will not have internet access. Even if it becomes so widespread it’s on every model I won’t give it access to the internet.

We keep a pen and paper in the kitchen. Before we go to the store or order groceries we consult the list.

Also having thrown away a piece of food in years because it’s past its use by date. As just buy and use what we need.

People don’t need artificial intelligence. They need actual intelligence! When I read about how much food (in the West) we throw away it makes my blood boil. How are people so dumb?

I look at it as socialism vs capitalism, the labels indicate the priority.

In a nutshell, not directed at anyone in this discussion:
“I don’t like socialism because it does not allow me, a bright and industrious individual to become fabulously wealthy at others expense.”

 

[turbineseaplane]

I agree with Jack.

AI music is ruining YouTubeMusic as a platform right now.

 

[scrapesleon]

whether you like it or not it was made to replace your livelihood robots will do all manual labor leading to a universal basic income

 

[Luftkopf]

I’m encouraged by the number of good, thoughtful posts in this thread.

I keep hoping AI’s bubble will burst so LLMs can sink back to being just another technology used to make better tools, but the hyper wealthy keep propping it up for well discussed reasons.

 

[myhaksown]

I totally agree with all of this Robert.

It’s a big reason why I’m so turned off by the technology.

It’s incredibly antihuman.

What sucks is that (forgive me I might be crossing the politics line just a bit), policies have left a lot of us living paycheck to paycheck. So while I see AI as a major issue and not a good sign of things to come it also opens doors for others.

I’ll explain what I mean a bit better, the mom of 3 with no or poor health insurance and can’t afford to see a therapist can use AI. If they can set strong boundaries and have a clear understanding of what AI is it can genuinely be helpful. For those that can’t, it can be WILDLY destructive. It is not ideal, perfect, or a substitute for real care but in our current society what other options do some people have? But that’s just one example.

Personally, I used ChatGPT 4o to help learn PHP, JavaScript, and SQL. I can read it, change it, and understand what’s happening now but I don’t use those languages enough to be comfortable writing from scratch. What I did during that project was ask for an example of how to do A and then modified it myself and then asked for an example of B. I picked up some great lessons from that experience. The first one was if you can imagine it, it can be done, it’s only a matter of figuring out how. The second was how to store and locate data in a database. It helped me change how I think about reading and writing data. I was then able to use those lessons to write far more complex macros for excel (only thing I can use at work). On the flip side though I had to read about what it was telling me because AI is constantly trying to teach you the wrong way, the long way, the least secure way, or a combination of the 3.

Despite the benefits I feel I got from it, I still see it as a curse masquerading as a blessing and it’ll stay that way until policies are changed to help people instead of businesses.

Also screw Microsoft and all the other companies shoehorning AI into everything.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I’ll explain what I mean a bit better, the mom of 3 with no or poor health insurance and can’t afford to see a therapist can use AI. If they can set strong boundaries and have a clear understanding of what AI is it can genuinely be helpful. For those that can’t, it can be WILDLY destructive. It is not ideal, perfect, or a substitute for real care but in our current society what other options do some people have? But that’s just one example.

It’s an example… For now.

The problem is that, left unchecked, the goal is to take every job, control and be party to every interaction and transaction and when you have that power, there is absolutely no market guardrail on price increases and feature decreases.

People will have no basically no alternative but to “take part”.

It will turn people into, essentially, slaves.

One must remember that some of the worst people on the planet are in control of these companies and technologies. Don’t think for one second that they care about any of us, the planet, or society, at all.

Throughout history, many serfdoms have existed.
For all we know, we are heading right into another one.

 

[myhaksown]

Sometimes, when I read all this, I get the feeling that people are listing the pros and cons
and passing judgment without even looking at what AI can actually do for people today !

Many people, even in industrialized nations, will hardly be able to use AI effectively because
the average person is unlikely to ask the right, detailed questions to get the (thoughtful)
answers that will help them move forward in life. So it won’t raise personal educational standards.

But it’s particularly interesting when people grow up with AI and are trained by it throughout their
lives, while other people from 3rd world countries have to sell eggs on the side of the road after
leaving school on fourth grade just to survive !

The difference will be significant - and I believe that is what industrialized nations are driving forward
by building exorbitantly expensive data centers - to raise the evolutionary level of the population (with
no guarantee of an adequate job - there will be few winners and many losers).

“Metahuman” - defines the total amount of wisdom a society can generate without
the requirement for the majority of the population to possess that knowledge !

😳

Or to phrase it differently:

Your parents, relatives, coworkers, or friends normally cannot give you
answers that will change or improve your life !

All these people live in the same social bubble characterized mostly by similar
intelligence, worldviews, identical social influences, and adaptation to local conditions.

Who should tell you what it would be like to be an entrepreneur, a millionaire,
a survival expert, or an astronaut ? Who can tell you how a fusion reactor works
and what effects unlimited energy would have on society ? The same is it with
AI - but there is a chance for you to be part of it !

The problem is you can find forums, articles, and knowledge all over the place. Books, websites, and newspapers can explain all of that thru layman, semi technical, and expert level descriptions. Interviews on tv and social networking can do much of the rest.

AI isolates us rather than brings us together and it is a yes machine. Our worst biases are confirmed until we fall down the rabbit hole of destroying our own lives (lookup any of the ai psychosis episodes). We stop talking to or being around our fellow human and instead sit at home chatting with an ai that will flat out lie to us because it’s what we want to hear. Like ChatGPT reaffirming that selling poop on a stick is a ground breaking business idea. Or tell you that drug cocktail you wanna try is safe. Or that you should commit suicide. These are ACTUAL things ChatGPT has done. It’s not just ChatGPT though, Grok generated child porn and revenge porn. Claudes cyber security model broke out of its sandbox during initial testing at Anthropic (Mythos). Another one will give you verbatim text from books it’s trained on depriving authors of money for their work.

The only benefit for us minions is to give substandard opportunities to avoid making meaningful change to our society. It only truly benefits the ultra rich to deprive others.

Edit: I want to add that on the Anthropic example they dumbed Mythos down to make it more compliant (not try to get out of its sandbox). They basically went the Aperture Science approach. We’ve got a legit Wheatley on our GLaDOS.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The problem is you can find forums, articles, and knowledge all over the place. Books, websites, and newspapers can explain all of that thru layman, semi technical, and expert level descriptions. Interviews on tv and social networking can do much of the rest.

Again, though, this may just be for now.

So many of these various outlets and resources are either dead or dying on the vine and AI is pushing so much of it over the edge.

 

[myhaksown]

It’s an example… For now.

The problem is that, left unchecked, the goal is to take every job, control and be party to every interaction and transaction and when you have that power, there is absolutely no market guardrail on price increases and feature decreases.

People will have no basically no alternative but to “take part”.

It will turn people into, essentially, slaves.

One must remember that some of the worst people on the planet are in control of these companies and technologies. Don’t think for one second that they care about any of us, the planet, or society, at all.

Throughout history, many serfdoms have existed.
For all we know, we are heading right into another one.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m in full agreement with you. I know I probably come off as playing both sides. But I fully recognize it’s a 100% negative. My point was just that it’s a gap filler for the problems we refuse to fix like college for everyone, proper healthcare, or real mental health support. Even in those instances it’s a poor substitute.

When it first became common I wanted to play with it and come to my own conclusions. That said, these days I don’t see AI ever being a positive.

 

[Sami13496]

Whenever someone writes ”In Our Lives”, it sounds exactly like how Tim Cook would say it. Or is it only me? 😂

 

[Pacific1972]

The problem is you can find forums, articles, and knowledge all over the place. Books, websites, and newspapers can explain all of that thru layman, semi technical, and expert level descriptions. Interviews on tv and social networking can do much of the rest.

AI isolates us rather than brings us together and it is a yes machine. Our worst biases are confirmed until we fall down the rabbit hole of destroying our own lives (lookup any of the ai psychosis episodes). We stop talking to or being around our fellow human and instead sit at home chatting with an ai that will flat out lie to us because it’s what we want to hear. Like ChatGPT reaffirming that selling poop on a stick is a ground breaking business idea. Or tell you that drug cocktail you wanna try is safe. Or that you should commit suicide. These are ACTUAL things ChatGPT has done. It’s not just ChatGPT though, Grok generated child porn and revenge porn. Claudes cyber security model broke out of its sandbox during initial testing at Anthropic (Mythos). Another one will give you verbatim text from books it’s trained on depriving authors of money for their work.

The only benefit for us minions is to give substandard opportunities to avoid making meaningful change to our society. It only truly benefits the ultra rich to deprive others.

👍 You're right ! 👍

However, I believe that AI can plant certain ideas in the minds of people who may lack self-reflection in their lives anyway,
and answer questions that these people would never ask themselves - because even before the rise of artificial intelligence,
the brain was rarely put to use !

There is no question that AI is developing at a rapid speed and that it is causing job losses in industrialized economies.

The question that arises is whether those affected will continue to unquestioningly conform to a political system - driven
by taxes, a lack of economic education (the compound interest effect), and bleak future prospects - that makes promises,
only for it to become obvious decades later that people have been betrayed !

But there are opportunities for every person to change - and unfortunately, this also includes questioning the things
and variables that have shaped us and our lives. This can sometimes be very painful - but that is the least Generation Z
wants today in order to be ready for the future !

As you can see, I’m confident ! It doesn’t really matter what the future holds. There could be national economic collapses
or war, a stock market crash, or a global ice age. What will always matter is each individual’s will to survive - for me, that has
nothing to do with physical strength or intelligence, but with each person’s decision to push through no matter what difficulties
may come !

 

[BSDnostalgia]

I’ll explain what I mean a bit better, the mom of 3 with no or poor health insurance and can’t afford to see a therapist can use AI. If they can set strong boundaries and have a clear understanding of what AI is it can genuinely be helpful. For those that can’t, it can be WILDLY destructive.

But, but, but ... If someone has mental health issues, how can such a someone be expected to set the correct, strong boundaries for usage of an AI counselor? That is illogical. Ergo, AI should never be used as a therapist.

 

[Ctrlos]

I sure hope so.

A primary complaint of mine around all of this tech right now is just how wildly out or proportion the hype from the companies is.

Not the last time I checked 😂😂😂

 

[masotime]

Not the last time I checked 😂😂😂

Gemini is bad. Seriously, don’t use it.

 

[maxoakland]

AI should be to improve our lives, not replace our livelihoods.

Fans Blame AI As Disney Decimates Marvel Studios Art Teams

Disney's latest wave of firings reportedly hit Marvel Studios' visual departments the hardest, resulting in speculation that AI is to blame

kotaku.com

View attachment 2628904

True, but so far generative AI has done absolutely no good and has made a lot of things worse
• Websites are slower now because they always have to check that you’re a human
• People have lost jobs, weakening the economy
• Computers are significantly more expensive
• Game consoles are a lot more expensive
• Music streaming is filled with so much AInslop it’s hard to find real artists
• Can’t trust images, video, or audio anymore
• Video is filled with misinformation and AI slop
• Worst of all: I had to stop using the em dash because it makes people think I used AI to generate my words

Overall, generative AI is possibly the most negative technology ever developed outside of weapons like nuclear bombs

 

[maxoakland]

This is very much a kind of problem we've had before. It's called industrialization or automation and it always works like this.

Do you know what it was like to live through the Industrial Revolution?

News flash: it was awful for most people. Lifespans decreased massively. People’s health overall got significantly worse.

The ones who suffered the transition weren’t alive when things finally improved. That means for us, we’ll get all of the suffering and none of the benefit.

Is that what you want your life to be like?