Love and respect you to death, and how thoughtful you are about all things, including this one, even though I'm not landing in as much as a nuanced place (I believe-- perhaps quixotically but hell that's what we've got some days-- in the collective power of human refusal, and of putting as much of the genie back in the bottle as possible).
I wrote about this a bit-- I think it's such a fascinating moment for movement building, because so many of the people who are having awakenings against AI now in a collective way (think the college graduation booers or, more catalytically, the data center protests) have themselves dabbled in it, so it's important to not shame folks who have played around with consumer facing AI but to just keep asking the question-- "do you really need this technology? If you are not confident in your skills in this area, is there a person you could reach out to for help?" We're at this first moment of backlash, which is so exciting, but it's happening because so many people have already been marginalized by this technology (as you know, I have always lived in and loved the kind of places where resources are extracted from, and watching my current state's fresh water be pillaged for crumbs hugely impacts my take here) and I think it's so important to help people understand that the more we choose to not voluntarily add this technology to our life because we were told we had to, the more it slows down the train and protects our neighbors.
To my second question above, I am also very excited about some sort of coordinated movement of offering human services to each other-- for instance, one of the most heartbreaking uses of AI for me as a writer is when I hear that people are using it to write eulogies-- how can we organize writers to offer that gift to strangers who might feel overwhelmed by grief and self doubt in that sacred moment?
I just feel that collective refusal is so necessary right now, because when I play out the story of who benefits from the idea of AI inevitability, I just can't imagine that it's movements for love, care and liberation.
Thanks for the link. I missed that one, and really enjoyed it. So many good points in there that I will think more about. One point I want to wrestle a bit with though - I am generally a late adopter for new technology (and even after I adopt, I tend to be a dumb dumb at it). But as I understand it, AI is different than, for example, buying a cell phone, because our use of it is shaping its very structure and "world view" and content. I heard this guy speak at Skoll and it really impacted me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuchopra42/ Maybe he's full of shit! I'm not a technologist! But I'm also not from the Global South. I want to understand how folks most likely to be screwed by tech would like me to be an ally.
Thanks. I'll check that guy out. It sounds like one big difference in where you and I are currently landing is that the inevitability argument made by the AI boosters feels much more resonant to you than it does to me. It makes me curious as to why that is-- do you think it's a realism vs. idealism? A difference in our geography and what spaces we're in?
I am also Team Collective Refusal, but I think even the genie in the bottle metaphor is part of the problem. Maybe toothpaste back into the tube would be more accurate? Acknowledging that there actually isn't magic involved and a lot of what we're dealing with is a sticky mess.
My elementary school bully called me up in 5th grade, when her grandpa died, to ask me to write the eulogy for her-- coulda been a heartwarming moment. I was like, hell no. But I'd be happy to do it for almost anyone else!!
At this moment, AI is non consensual. It is being forced on us at so many levels, currently most of my learning is about trying to opt out. It seems nearly impossible for me to not participate at some level. I can’t use google spell check because I have AI turned off. (But maybe I’m a fool and it was ai for years I didn’t know it?)
I think AI has potential in medicine and science and other places where processing vast amount of information at light speed is useful, but what I see around me is people using it as a toy and a shortcut. Use by the war machines of the world is as horrifying as watching videos of the farm land they are paving over for data centers.
We are addicted to convenience and capitalism wants to make money of the craving they created.
Thank you for sharing your insights. I is helpful to have the positives pointed out. I hope the resistance we are seeing builds and can make some difference.
I love the conversation over the binary and agree that machine is an apt descriptor. I have been studying ways to resist the machine and ways to integrate the machine. I integrate machine learning at work and resist it at home.
Love and respect you to death, and how thoughtful you are about all things, including this one, even though I'm not landing in as much as a nuanced place (I believe-- perhaps quixotically but hell that's what we've got some days-- in the collective power of human refusal, and of putting as much of the genie back in the bottle as possible).
How dear friend? And what movements/advocates are you following to figure that out?
I wrote about this a bit-- I think it's such a fascinating moment for movement building, because so many of the people who are having awakenings against AI now in a collective way (think the college graduation booers or, more catalytically, the data center protests) have themselves dabbled in it, so it's important to not shame folks who have played around with consumer facing AI but to just keep asking the question-- "do you really need this technology? If you are not confident in your skills in this area, is there a person you could reach out to for help?" We're at this first moment of backlash, which is so exciting, but it's happening because so many people have already been marginalized by this technology (as you know, I have always lived in and loved the kind of places where resources are extracted from, and watching my current state's fresh water be pillaged for crumbs hugely impacts my take here) and I think it's so important to help people understand that the more we choose to not voluntarily add this technology to our life because we were told we had to, the more it slows down the train and protects our neighbors.
To my second question above, I am also very excited about some sort of coordinated movement of offering human services to each other-- for instance, one of the most heartbreaking uses of AI for me as a writer is when I hear that people are using it to write eulogies-- how can we organize writers to offer that gift to strangers who might feel overwhelmed by grief and self doubt in that sacred moment?
I just feel that collective refusal is so necessary right now, because when I play out the story of who benefits from the idea of AI inevitability, I just can't imagine that it's movements for love, care and liberation.
Here's the last piece I wrote on this. Thanks for being so curious and generous with your comment section to welcome it in https://thewhitepages.net/p/you-will-never-win-at-ai?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=reaction&utm_medium=email&utm_content=post&triedRedirect=true
Thanks for the link. I missed that one, and really enjoyed it. So many good points in there that I will think more about. One point I want to wrestle a bit with though - I am generally a late adopter for new technology (and even after I adopt, I tend to be a dumb dumb at it). But as I understand it, AI is different than, for example, buying a cell phone, because our use of it is shaping its very structure and "world view" and content. I heard this guy speak at Skoll and it really impacted me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuchopra42/ Maybe he's full of shit! I'm not a technologist! But I'm also not from the Global South. I want to understand how folks most likely to be screwed by tech would like me to be an ally.
Thanks. I'll check that guy out. It sounds like one big difference in where you and I are currently landing is that the inevitability argument made by the AI boosters feels much more resonant to you than it does to me. It makes me curious as to why that is-- do you think it's a realism vs. idealism? A difference in our geography and what spaces we're in?
I am also Team Collective Refusal, but I think even the genie in the bottle metaphor is part of the problem. Maybe toothpaste back into the tube would be more accurate? Acknowledging that there actually isn't magic involved and a lot of what we're dealing with is a sticky mess.
love that
Great point!
My elementary school bully called me up in 5th grade, when her grandpa died, to ask me to write the eulogy for her-- coulda been a heartwarming moment. I was like, hell no. But I'd be happy to do it for almost anyone else!!
That's why we need to organize a wide swath of voluntary eulogy writers, so that none of us have to do it for our fifth grade bullies
100%
For the record, I'm obviously in. Eulogies are one of my favorite literary forms.
This is incredible.
Great read! Important questions. Machine intelligence is a helpful phrase.
At this moment, AI is non consensual. It is being forced on us at so many levels, currently most of my learning is about trying to opt out. It seems nearly impossible for me to not participate at some level. I can’t use google spell check because I have AI turned off. (But maybe I’m a fool and it was ai for years I didn’t know it?)
I think AI has potential in medicine and science and other places where processing vast amount of information at light speed is useful, but what I see around me is people using it as a toy and a shortcut. Use by the war machines of the world is as horrifying as watching videos of the farm land they are paving over for data centers.
We are addicted to convenience and capitalism wants to make money of the craving they created.
Thank you for sharing your insights. I is helpful to have the positives pointed out. I hope the resistance we are seeing builds and can make some difference.
I love the conversation over the binary and agree that machine is an apt descriptor. I have been studying ways to resist the machine and ways to integrate the machine. I integrate machine learning at work and resist it at home.