My homage to two famous cartoons: As I’ve noted elsewhere, verbal (or literary) agility need not be a sign of intelligence. And such fluency can be glib, even annoying. Especially when, as with some people, responses are repetitive, follow predictable patterns – in autopilot mode. So, AI puts us in a similar place. Driven by… Continue reading AI is really annoying – there, there?
Category: Research
Looking at technology
Architects of AI – Time Magazine’s ‘Person’ of the Year 2025
Two years after Time’s “TIME 100 AI” cover for 2023 – the most influential people in AI … movers & shakers, shaping the good, bad, & ugly, we have a shorter list for the 2025 cover. I’ve read & written a lot about AI the last two years. Time’s article covers all the bases. Even… Continue reading Architects of AI – Time Magazine’s ‘Person’ of the Year 2025
‘Rage bait’ – word of the year 2025
It’s been a year of “deliberate agitation.” Witness Oxford University Press’ announcement that rage bait was Word of the Year. Compare with last year’s word brain rot: “outrage sparks engagement, algorithms amplify it, and constant exposure leaves us mentally exhausted.” Eliciting anger grabs attention, offers personal gain, promotes political sway – all in a marketplace… Continue reading ‘Rage bait’ – word of the year 2025
The modern influencer dream – meritocracy’s ‘noble lie’ of mobility?
Billy, Sally, “What do you want to be when you get older?” We live in a hyper-connected world, a social media landscape of scaleable, accessible influence. Monetizing yourself – you are the product – is no longer just for traditional celebrities. As I’ve discussed elsewhere, a cardinal characteristic of the American psyche is a singular… Continue reading The modern influencer dream – meritocracy’s ‘noble lie’ of mobility?
Human welfare needs help – the AI welfare sideshow
Tools .. totems … T-factor (thalamocortical network) … consciousness in the circle of life, eh. [1] As mentioned elsewhere, remember that “there’s nobody home” when interacting with gen AI models and chatbots. Despite occasional chatbot psychosis where a user attributes some type of agency, perhaps even a consciousness, to a chatbot. Yet, expert commentary, as… Continue reading Human welfare needs help – the AI welfare sideshow