In prior writings on the subject of the exponential digital revolution, we have articulated the felt existential difference between “can” (capability) and “should” (wisdom). Our regular readers are presumably familiar with our charge of dehumanization in the pursuit of convenient facility, with the universal substitution of “smartphones” for healthy personal interaction (in person, by telephone, letter). We have previously observed that the ensuing depersonalization and singularity, manifested by personal loneliness and insecurity (especially of the young), have been stated and reprised.
We have oftentimes expressed our concern about the proliferation of analogous digital robotic devices that seem to have emerged, exponentially, and profitably in the purported guise of “advancement.” Such a race for the substitution of human facility by computer-driven devices has evinced robotic airplanes and machinery. “Alexa” initiated entertainment devices and robotic, perfunctory appliances. Computer development companies have been in a breakneck race for additional software-based digital substitution of human labor and assorted hybrid systems. Computers enable mechanical robots to see, learn, and process information and summarily make decisions in real time.
We are resolutely in favor of advancement and ubiquitous progress, but are alarmed at the competitive race of digital robotic capability and the notable absence of responsible consideration of cost/benefit, or the societal impact, of the new developments. In our nuanced view, such a socially humanistic decision would perhaps have discouraged the unwise substitution of human interaction for a hand-held device, with small, lighted screens that merely record messages but do not convey interactive feelings. A responsible consideration of the social and emotional impact of cold and inexpressive exchange of digital messages, as opposed to expressive human conversation, might have delimited or prohibited the invasion of insalubrious smartphones as the universal means of (inadequate) interaction. In our view, this flawed development should have been the subject of ubiquitous and humanistic consideration regarding its insalubrious development and universal use.
The socially irresponsible march of profitable digital innovation, however, continues unabated in the feverish spirit of demonstrated capability, with little or no consideration of its empirical effect upon society and the individual. such irresponsibe lack of consideration is irresponsible and apparently seems unabated. The rate of such a lemming-like march to tragedy, in fact, worrisomely, seems to be accelerating.
The multi-eon period of long-term development of an intelligent animal, Homo Sapiens, successfully resulted in an upright-standing animal with the capability of reason and sentience. The natural dynamics of such brain development may never be known, but such a uniquely generous bestowal makes humankind singular among the Planet’s fauna and ultimately responsible for its own singularly admirable growth and development.
We are profoundly troubled by the recent dedicated aspiration to replicate the singular functions of the human brain by the competitive race of geek-scientists at Silicon Valley in their thoughtless race for the replacement of the human mind and, ultimately, the obsolescence of the utility of human sapience. The thoughtless adventure is empirically suicidal, like lemmings rushing to the cliff’s edge for ultimate extinction.
Recently, a computer-savvy friend had us listen to an A-I computerized conversation which was a replication of the exact theme of one of our writings, but related in other vocabulary, and discussed in robotic, mechanical) voices. This experience, apparently a simple example of AI replication, was shocking and profoundly frightening.
We would also demonstratively relate the substance of a television documentary film, which showed the exact AI replication of the classic sculpture, Michelangelo’s DAVID, which took less than 45 minutes.
We are puzzled and absolutely terrified by the zeal of Silicon Valley in its hubristic, thoughtless, and suicidal race to make the human being obsolete.
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