4 ms·

I dunno, I'm pretty sure AI will destroy a lot of things but people have been basing life and death decisions on astrology, numerology, etc. since time immemori

by klyrs 2y ago

I dunno, I'm pretty sure AI will destroy a lot of things but people have been basing life and death decisions on astrology, numerology, etc. since time immemorial and we're still here. An AI with actual malice could totally clean up in this space, but we haven't reached the point of actual intelligence with intent. And, given that it's just regurgitating advice tropes found on the internet, so it's probably a tiny bit better than chance.

soco 2y ago
Fair point, just let's not forget that nobody connected an Ouija board to the nuclear button. I'm not saying the button is connected now to AI, but pessimistic me sees it as a definite possibility.
- rootusrootus 2y ago
  > pessimistic me sees it as a definite possibility I'd like to think that will be after everyone who was alive for Wargames, Terminator, and Matrix has kicked the bucket.
norir 2y ago
In my opinion, ai tools followed blindly are far worse than astrology and numerology. The latter deal in archetypes and almost never give concrete answers like "do exactly $THING". There is widespread understanding that they are not scientific and most people who engage with them do not try to use them as though they are scientific and they know they would be ridiculed and marginalized if they did. By contrast, ai tools give a veneer of scientific authority and will happily give specific advice. Because they are being propped up by the tech sector and a largely credulous media, I believe there are far more people who would be willing to use ai to justify their decision making. Now historically it may be the case that authorities used astrology and numerology to manipulate people in the way that ai can today. At the same time, even if the type of danger posed by ai and astrology is related, the risk is far higher today because of our hugely amplified capacity for damage. A Chinese emperor consulting the I Ching was not capable of damaging the earth in the way a US president consulting ai would be today.
n_ary 2y ago
I dunno, no surveillance, military and police institutes had ever used astrology, numerology or horoscopes to define or track their targets but AI is constantly added to these things. General people using AI to do things can range from minor inconvenience to major foolishness, but the powers that be constantly using AI or being pushed to do so are not apples to apples comparison really.
- rbanffy 2y ago
  > I dunno, no surveillance, military and police institutes had ever used astrology, numerology or horoscopes to define or track their targets Phrenology was a thing for some time.

by klyrs 2y ago

soco 2y ago

Fair point, just let's not forget that nobody connected an Ouija board to the nuclear button. I'm not saying the button is connected now to AI, but pessimistic me sees it as a definite possibility.

rootusrootus 2y ago
> pessimistic me sees it as a definite possibility I'd like to think that will be after everyone who was alive for Wargames, Terminator, and Matrix has kicked the bucket.

norir 2y ago

In my opinion, ai tools followed blindly are far worse than astrology and numerology. The latter deal in archetypes and almost never give concrete answers like "do exactly $THING". There is widespread understanding that they are not scientific and most people who engage with them do not try to use them as though they are scientific and they know they would be ridiculed and marginalized if they did. By contrast, ai tools give a veneer of scientific authority and will happily give specific advice. Because they are being propped up by the tech sector and a largely credulous media, I believe there are far more people who would be willing to use ai to justify their decision making. Now historically it may be the case that authorities used astrology and numerology to manipulate people in the way that ai can today. At the same time, even if the type of danger posed by ai and astrology is related, the risk is far higher today because of our hugely amplified capacity for damage. A Chinese emperor consulting the I Ching was not capable of damaging the earth in the way a US president consulting ai would be today.

n_ary 2y ago

I dunno, no surveillance, military and police institutes had ever used astrology, numerology or horoscopes to define or track their targets but AI is constantly added to these things. General people using AI to do things can range from minor inconvenience to major foolishness, but the powers that be constantly using AI or being pushed to do so are not apples to apples comparison really.

rbanffy 2y ago
> I dunno, no surveillance, military and police institutes had ever used astrology, numerology or horoscopes to define or track their targets Phrenology was a thing for some time.