Thank you, Bret. I loved reading your text. I think one of the keys to understand chatGPT is that it is a text predictor, which means it can give us interesting answers by predicting what a human could have answered and it does so by processing human production on the matter. It means that these answers are like small mirrors of ourselves. We are marveled because it does look a lot like us. And indeed it does. We are predictable in things we believe are great and unique, like when a novelist sprinkles his prose with a lot of adjectives and he thinks he's being a genius. Ask chatGPT to do it and you'll see that there's nothing magical about it.
The illusion of a soul can be achieved by the AI. So what truly makes a human so special? And why would we still need humans if the illusion is good enough? And because we live in a world of illusions, because we eat illusions everyday, because our representation of reality -in our minds- is an illusion, AI seems to be deemed to success. So what is it then that distinguishes human beings from a fine-tuned prediction? What about mistakes? What if the only thing that really makes us unique is our incredible capacity of error. What about subliming errors? The rose and the cross, the lotus growing from the pestilent puddle, the blues from slavery, Nobel prizes from pogroms, etc. AI could fake that, but it would feel hollow in a sense. I hope it would... I really do. That's why I love Mexico. Plenty of mistakes everywhere but also plenty of soul and heart.
Is there such a thing as democracy in world controlled by AI? Or would it, at best, be the presentation of democracy. Now we have major sections of media that certainly select and shape the news, which of course, in turn, shapes the minds of readers. This is the precursor for a more controlled world. And what about writing? Could the masterworks of the likes of Eugene O'Neill ever be mimicked to such an extent that readers wouldn't know the difference? Great writing is achieved when the reading becomes from one heart to another. AI has no heart, and no matter how close and exact the presentation that fact remains. What will this do to us humans?
Len, you're asking the right questions. It will take time for the answers to be revealed. Given what's happening today, and how technology has assumed the predominant role in our lives, I'm not terribly optimistic at this moment.
Great article, Bret. On the evolutionary scale, technology has left mankind in the dust, and that's what makes these quantum leaps so dangerous.
Eric: I've given up trying to figure out what's next. I follow Mel Brooks here, who hopes for the best, but expects the worst.
Amen, brother. Mel always knew best. In the meantime, enjoy the simple pleasures.
Thank you, Bret. I loved reading your text. I think one of the keys to understand chatGPT is that it is a text predictor, which means it can give us interesting answers by predicting what a human could have answered and it does so by processing human production on the matter. It means that these answers are like small mirrors of ourselves. We are marveled because it does look a lot like us. And indeed it does. We are predictable in things we believe are great and unique, like when a novelist sprinkles his prose with a lot of adjectives and he thinks he's being a genius. Ask chatGPT to do it and you'll see that there's nothing magical about it.
The illusion of a soul can be achieved by the AI. So what truly makes a human so special? And why would we still need humans if the illusion is good enough? And because we live in a world of illusions, because we eat illusions everyday, because our representation of reality -in our minds- is an illusion, AI seems to be deemed to success. So what is it then that distinguishes human beings from a fine-tuned prediction? What about mistakes? What if the only thing that really makes us unique is our incredible capacity of error. What about subliming errors? The rose and the cross, the lotus growing from the pestilent puddle, the blues from slavery, Nobel prizes from pogroms, etc. AI could fake that, but it would feel hollow in a sense. I hope it would... I really do. That's why I love Mexico. Plenty of mistakes everywhere but also plenty of soul and heart.
Jeremy, thanks for taking the time to write such an incisive comment. Where do you live in Mexico?
Oh, we met at Joaquin's party last week, remember? Tall french guy with the zombi job.
Yes! We need to get together. Please send me an email, my address is on the card I gave you.
When you see "AI" substitute "complicated computer program nobody completely understands" and read it again.
True dat
Is there such a thing as democracy in world controlled by AI? Or would it, at best, be the presentation of democracy. Now we have major sections of media that certainly select and shape the news, which of course, in turn, shapes the minds of readers. This is the precursor for a more controlled world. And what about writing? Could the masterworks of the likes of Eugene O'Neill ever be mimicked to such an extent that readers wouldn't know the difference? Great writing is achieved when the reading becomes from one heart to another. AI has no heart, and no matter how close and exact the presentation that fact remains. What will this do to us humans?
Len, you're asking the right questions. It will take time for the answers to be revealed. Given what's happening today, and how technology has assumed the predominant role in our lives, I'm not terribly optimistic at this moment.