How it is being pushed, and how it is failing to deliver on its promises. AI is the Mid-Tech and it is already at its limit, but will that ever translate to corporate expectations?
I'm graduating with my master's in library and information science degree in a couple of weeks and currently applying for positions at academic libraries.
Over the course of earning my degree, we've had a fair number of discussions about generative AI, and while you do have some LIS scholars, like Aaron Tay (link below), who are looking at use-cases for the technology that may benefit the field, most of my fellow students, our professors, and lecturers all look at it as "mid tech" at best, while the vast majority of us are more concerned about its impact on labor, the environment, and the information ecosystem.
The most pro-AI course I took was actually one on data bias, where the professor had previously worked for companies like IBM, but even in that class the ratio of pro to anti sentiment was skewed in favor of the latter.
I try to keep up with blogs like Aaron Tay's as well as those of people like Ed Zitron or Brian Merchant.
Great article by Tressie. I find myself conflicted on Cuban. I wish the guy would finally stand up and match his words with feats that inspire rather than continuing to languish in his pseudo liberal disguise.
In advertising, they’re trying to incorporate AI into basic copywriting. Of course, it sucks, but they think they have to try. It reminds me of the initial introduction to desktop publishing. The boss thought he could eliminate designers and with the software, his secretary could crank out ads, newsletters, etc. Yeah. No. In creative endeavors, the human heart and soul will rule.
Thanks for this post, and especially the quotations from the NYT piece. Very thought-provoking.
As a former cognitive psychologist, I agree with you 100% regarding needing some expertise to use AI well; and that those skills will *not* be developed by turning to AI.
So many in my current field (writing, editing, proofreading) have bought the hype that I've had to seriously expand my job search. I won't take a job training that crap to replace us, which is most of what I see on LinkedIn these days.
"You can’t just learn how to craft a prompt for an A.I. chatbot without first having the experience, exposure and, yes, education to know what the heck you are doing. "
Indeed. If you lack the language, so to speak, with which to formulate the prompt/question you will need to receive enough of an education to do so, thus defeating the purpose of replacing the skilled worker with the non-skilled one as shown in the example.
I don't have time to think about this. I work with extraordinary talent and many are in their 80s. AI is just a magical tool for creatives. AI has no SOUL.
It can only know what it is programed to know. It can not think on it's own , so who ever did the programing is what it's knowledge is. Can it adjust itself?
I'm graduating with my master's in library and information science degree in a couple of weeks and currently applying for positions at academic libraries.
Over the course of earning my degree, we've had a fair number of discussions about generative AI, and while you do have some LIS scholars, like Aaron Tay (link below), who are looking at use-cases for the technology that may benefit the field, most of my fellow students, our professors, and lecturers all look at it as "mid tech" at best, while the vast majority of us are more concerned about its impact on labor, the environment, and the information ecosystem.
The most pro-AI course I took was actually one on data bias, where the professor had previously worked for companies like IBM, but even in that class the ratio of pro to anti sentiment was skewed in favor of the latter.
I try to keep up with blogs like Aaron Tay's as well as those of people like Ed Zitron or Brian Merchant.
Pro-AI LIS blogger Aaron Tay
http://musingsaboutlibrarianship.blogspot.com/
Pro-Luddite tech blogger Brian Merchant
https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/
This was very informative, Geoff. Thank you. Quite depressing overall, though. Mankind won’t be satisfied until we’ve completely destroyed ourselves.
Indeed, we seem to have not learned the lesson from Jeff Goldblum in the original Jurassic Park…
Ok. That reply DID make me smile. 🙂
Great article by Tressie. I find myself conflicted on Cuban. I wish the guy would finally stand up and match his words with feats that inspire rather than continuing to languish in his pseudo liberal disguise.
Learned a lot here, Geoff.
In advertising, they’re trying to incorporate AI into basic copywriting. Of course, it sucks, but they think they have to try. It reminds me of the initial introduction to desktop publishing. The boss thought he could eliminate designers and with the software, his secretary could crank out ads, newsletters, etc. Yeah. No. In creative endeavors, the human heart and soul will rule.
Thanks for this post, and especially the quotations from the NYT piece. Very thought-provoking.
As a former cognitive psychologist, I agree with you 100% regarding needing some expertise to use AI well; and that those skills will *not* be developed by turning to AI.
So many in my current field (writing, editing, proofreading) have bought the hype that I've had to seriously expand my job search. I won't take a job training that crap to replace us, which is most of what I see on LinkedIn these days.
Well shit, I just lost 4 subscribers from this post. Poopies.
Popped their AI bubble?
"You can’t just learn how to craft a prompt for an A.I. chatbot without first having the experience, exposure and, yes, education to know what the heck you are doing. "
Indeed. If you lack the language, so to speak, with which to formulate the prompt/question you will need to receive enough of an education to do so, thus defeating the purpose of replacing the skilled worker with the non-skilled one as shown in the example.
I don't have time to think about this. I work with extraordinary talent and many are in their 80s. AI is just a magical tool for creatives. AI has no SOUL.
It can only know what it is programed to know. It can not think on it's own , so who ever did the programing is what it's knowledge is. Can it adjust itself?
Sure. It can always do worserrrrr.