Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 37, No. 172.
        Department of Digital Humanities, University of Cologne
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        Date: 2023-08-21 08:16:33+00:00
        From: Willard McCarty <willard.mccarty@mccarty.org.uk>
        Subject: the AI bubble, again

This is in reference to Gabor Toth's posting about generative AI with a
link to Gary Marcus' sceptical piece (at
https://garymarcus.substack.com/p/what-if-generative-ai-turned-out).

What strikes me about it is that anyone aware of the history of AI
should be surprised at the sandy foundations of this new promise-threat,
or indeed be taken in by the great fuss over the dangers to life, limb,
mind and everything else posed by generative AI. 

It's not that there is no danger. What bothers me is that few if any are 
suspicious of the motives involved in raising the alarm. Should we not be 
asking the lawyers' useful question, cui bono?, regarding the regulatory
meetings over how generative AI should be controlled. Who profits from
the massive attention bestowed on the major players? Might they be eager 
to be in the limelight? Is there not a long history of manipulation of the 
public so that the flow of cash keeps flowing?

I recommend a look at Edward Bernays, Propaganda (1928), whose 
argument is summarised at <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_(book)>. 


Comments?

Yours,
WM
--
Willard McCarty,
Professor emeritus, King's College London;
Editor, Interdisciplinary Science Reviews;  Humanist
www.mccarty.org.uk


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