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Viewing the world through the data lens makes you blind to the things you didn't measure or that you cannot conceive a measurement for. It also stifles origina
by RGamma 5y ago
Viewing the world through the data lens makes you blind to the things you didn't measure or that you cannot conceive a measurement for.
It also stifles original thought that is conceived independent of how things are or what people like ("culture becomes stuck").
When dealing with data you need to be aware of your own unfixable shortcomings as an observer. And if you can influence people's behavior at scale you're no longer an independent observer anyway, complicating things further (a measurement that becomes a target stops being a measurement).
There isn't one truth you could uncover in data; life is an open-ended chaotic system. Let's keep it that way.
- dgb23 5y agoI've been thinking about data-driven AI systems that generate art, photography and the like. One thing about these systems is that they are always learning from past works. They don't create in the same chaotic - as you say - way as we do. Recognizing the limitation of these systems is key to be able to use them well and when not to use them.
- RGamma 5y agoThese systems lack any form of coherent world view, artistic vision, moral imperative, culture or ability to reflect on their own surroundings, limitations and assumptions (higher-order thinking). Even if one adds randomness to create new phenomena within their given framework, one can never compensate for that. Uncarefully applied data-driven narratives have not enriched our thinking, they're blunting it. And they blind us to what could be.
- TchoBeer 5y agoHuman art is also based off of past works. Moreover, AI art tends to be more, not less, chaotic than human art.
- RGamma 5y agoPast works are one component. Major happenings, fantasy, wishes, emotions, etc play a bigger role overall (historically).