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Monday, September 18, 2023

Is AI's Diet of Digital Sludge Making Us Dumber?

In a recent contemplation of our ever-lengthening days and the digital data that nourishes our artificial intelligence, I found myself at a crossroads. The ties between the celestial dance of the moon, the gatekeeping of knowledge by esteemed institutions, and the implications for our AI-driven future were not just intellectually stimulating but also profoundly urgent. With humanity at such a unique intersection, it's time to delve into these entangled narratives.

Ah, the moon is drifting away, dear readers, granting us extra minutes each day. Yet, do we use this gift of time wisely? Oh, no. While nature generously expands our days, humanity chooses to narrow the scope of what our emerging AI can learn. Esteemed organizations—say, @NewYorkTimes or @Nature—have decided to prohibit AI from accessing their treasure troves of information. Ah, the irony! We have more time but are effectively making dumber decisions. Now, if you've got an extra minute in your day, why not spend it doing a quick fact-check or reading an article from a reputable source? After all, our AIs can't do it for us.

This digital snobbery has repercussions. When AI systems like @OpenAI's GPT models are denied quality data, they turn to the digital sludge that litters the Internet. As a result, we're not just dumbing down our AI; we're dumbing down future generations. A shocking revelation, isn't it? This should ignite a sense of urgency within us all.

The world is watching as we make these choices. Institutions are shaping the AI narrative, but at what cost? The collective wisdom of humanity hangs in the balance, not just in our lifetimes but for generations to come. It's a cocktail of awe and dread, a sip of which should make us all a little queasy.

Throughout history, knowledge has been either a guarded treasure or a shared wealth. Remember when libraries were considered revolutionary? Well, now we're back to locking up books, only this time they're digital, and the librarians are algorithms. As we gain time but lose wisdom, it begs the question: What are we really doing?

So, there it is. A paradox for the digital age. We're at a crossroads, where our additional time could be a gift or a curse, depending on the choices we make today. With the clock ticking and the moon retreating, let's hope we choose wisely, for the sake of both our biological and artificial offspring.