Much has been said about the dangers of Artificial Intelligence. Previously, the criticisms have come from science fiction writers such as Arthur C Clarke (the writer of 2001: A Space Odyssey pictured above) and Michael Crichton and filmmakers like James Cameron. Now, the warnings are coming from pioneers in the field such as Geoffrey Hinton, the “Godfather of AI.” They warn us that to enact regulatory measures to prevent abuses such as replacing jobs and our ability to use our own intelligence. These issues are discussed in the video below. Importantly, we need to combat artificial intelligence is with real intelligence.
What does all of this have to do with the Allegheny Region of Pennsylvania? Like everywhere else, we are bombarded with images and articles that social media companies’ AI algorithms say that we want to hear plus our phones give us suggestions for finishing our sentences with plausible words. The algorithms make decisions about what we are thinking based on our past propensity to click like or open posts that interest us. Conceiveably, ChatGPT can be used to forge whole term papers or doctoral dissertations with professors being none the wiser. Conversely, those algorithms do not necessarily know what will interest us in the future. Their algorithms update freely using a Bayesian probability model which are constantly updated with new info (called machine learning).
Artificial Intelligence and This Site
I freely admit to using technology to analyze data concerning the area. In a sense we are all Bayesians but our ability to process information is rather limited compared to computers. I use computers as a tool to extract meaningful information from data, which It is meant to be a tool to enhance rather than a substitute for our own powers of deduction. Yoast SEO uses an algorithm to improve Search Engine Optimization to make this article and other WordPress posts more accessible to search engines and to make them more readable. Yoast rates this post as good for SEO but ok for readability.
Our real intelligence must not be replaced with artificial intelligence. In some cases it should be used to enhance our abilities. There are no algorithms on this site to tell you what you want to hear. Thus, the content should be what you need to hear.