Sign up to save tools and stay up to date with the latest in AI
bg
bg
1

The Cult of AI

Jan 30, 2024 - rollingstone.com
The article discusses the growing trend of treating artificial intelligence (AI) as a sort of deity in the tech industry, with many tech executives and enthusiasts displaying a messianic fervor towards AI. The author highlights the keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show for the Rabbit R1, an AI gadget, and the subsequent hype and excitement around it, despite its capabilities being similar to existing voice-activated products. The author also mentions the "Techno-Optimist Manifesto" by Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Netscape, which paints AI as a savior and a solution to all of mankind's problems.

However, the author criticizes this blind faith in AI, pointing out the potential harms and risks, such as job loss, privacy issues, and the spread of disinformation. The author also mentions the skepticism expressed by Nikki Pope, NVIDIA in-house counsel, about the harms of algorithmic bias to marginalized communities. The article concludes by comparing the AI-believing community to a cult, with some even creating a potential hell in the form of Roko's Basilisk, a hypothetical scenario where an AI punishes humans for not helping bring it into existence.

Key takeaways:

  • The article discusses the growing trend of AI technology being treated with almost religious fervor, with some tech leaders and enthusiasts viewing it as a potential savior or god-like entity.
  • AI gadgets like the Rabbit R1 are being marketed as personal assistants that can perform tasks such as ordering pizza or planning trips, with the device creating a "digital twin" of the user to interact with apps on their behalf.
  • There are concerns about the security of data with these AI devices, as well as the potential for AI to replace human jobs and increase reliance on technology.
  • The article also highlights the potential dangers of AI, including the risk of fraud from voice-cloning AI and the potential for AI to be used in harmful ways, such as in warfare.
View Full Article

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment!