And in that, AI is reduced to being an application or a series of such. Not an AI entity, but discrete functions with code and datasets. And how that is stated is fine. Versus the metaphysical wonderment described by it’s top advocates looking for investment.
To do what? Again, broad statement regarding AI and little specifics. We need to ask more questions and get definite answers. It might take some of the zeal out of the discussion and bring it back down to reality.
I think this part is quietly being retired. Again, a good thing.
No you’re misunderstanding. I was referring to the application of a technology here to point that its public use case is stupid, but that would be like saying that the public use case for GPS being for lawnmower robot navigation is stupid (it is, believe me). The application isn’t the important part, it’s just the way the current players from a capital perspective are choosing to monetize the technology they are building privately (with lots of government assistance).
GPS itself is a “General Purpose Technology” – that is the category we put other things like the steam engine, electricity/power grid, internet/networking, etc in. Those general purpose technologies have difuse purposes across society. This is also true of the transformer technology at the core of GPTs (Generative Pretrained Transformers) or Diffusion Models leveraging DiT(Diffusion Transformers).
The transformer technology is the innovation that makes all of the popular applications of current “AI” suddenly possible over the last couple of years. The applications may or may not be meaningful but the underlying general purpose technology is.
I think you are confusing the marketing for the applications for the actual innovation in technology.
I’m using AI here to refer to intentionally refer broadly to what the common understanding of AI in the same way that when people refer to the internet they are also talking about a broad technological innovation made up of may different foundational building blocks. In that same vein, the foundations of the internet are highly controlled by organizations like ICANN, require significant investments by national governments like public infrastructure under oceans, and then are marketed to consumers.
I’m advocating that we need government involvement and control over this technology for the same reason you dont want each ISP to provide proprietary versions of the internet, or the inability to call your local 911 operator because your phone provider uses a proprietary network, or your ability to use most electrical appliances on the local electrical grid without having to worry about certain death. There is value in society at large investing in general purpose technology and setting up standards for those applications to sit on top of – and maybe equally important to know what happens when the companies die that are selling this capacity and orchestration into various parts of society.
You are likely correct in that. I am muddling over a lot of what you had to say.
Can’t argue that. The problem I see is we have a government at the moment that is highly subject to the current sales pitch. Do they really understand what they are involving themselves in. I think they see profit but not real application and affect including the negative portion.
I am still a Luddite on the whole affair. Another advancement in technology. Okay. But this turn around, they are stealing our resources and wallets without a real return in sight. And so far there is nothing on the horizon to say there will be.
As someone (@castor_troy) here once said, Dregseth is the very embodiment of the terminal O-4.
(Translation to Civilian English: Too dumb to be promoted above Major. In civilian corporate terms, he hits the Peter Principle at senior manager, not gonna make director.)
The flag officers that he recently commanded to appear before his august personage will definitely recognize the type. They have all, without exception, seen and gotten rid of morons like that at some point in their careers.
real men are gentle and kind, they have no need to bully or threaten anyone….its the creeps like whiskey pete and trumpf who bully and threaten s they know that they cannot measure up to a real man or woman.
