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Earlier this month, a popular lifestyle magazine introduced a new "fashion and lifestyle editor" to its huge social media following. "Reem", who on first glance looked like a twentysomething woman who understood both fashion and lifestyle, was proudly announced as an "AI enhanced team member". That is, a fake person, generated by artificial intelligence. Reem would be making product recommendations to SheerLuxe's followers – or, to put it another way, doing what SheerLuxe would otherwise pay a person to do. The reaction was entirely predictable: outrage, followed by a hastily issued apology. One suspects Reem may not become a staple of its editorial team.
This is just the latest in a long line of walkbacks of "exciting AI projects" that have been met with fury by the people they're meant to excite. The Prince Charles Cinema in Soho, London, cancelled a screening of an AI-written film in June, because its regulars vehemently objected. Lego was pressured to take down a series of AI-generated images it published on its website. Doctor Who started experimenting with generative AI, but quickly stopped after a wave of complaints. A company swallows the AI hype, thinks jumping on board will paint it as innovative, and entirely fails to understand the growing anti-AI sentiment taking hold among many of its customers.
[...] Some members of the anti-AI movement have reclaimed the name "luddites". I come from tech circles, where luddite is considered an insult – but this new movement is proud of the designation. As Brian Merchant, author of Blood in the Machine, points out, the original luddites did not immediately turn to rebellion. They sought dialogue and compromise first. The new luddites, too, seek dialogue and compromise. Most realise AI is here to stay; they demand not a reversal, but an altogether more reasonable and fair approach to its adoption. And it's easy to see how they might be more successful than their 19th-century counterparts. The apocryphal Ned Ludd did not have social media. Downtrodden workers used to be easier to ignore. The internet is the greatest tool for organising in history.
Anger at AI companies is leading to some unlikely alliances. When the Recording Industry Association of America recently sued two AI music-generation companies for "copyright infringement on an almost unimaginable scale", musicians and fans took to the internet to voice their support. "Amazing. AI companies have me rooting for the damn record labels," said one composer. Old arguments are being set aside as the new threat of AI is addressed. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as they say.
[...] There is often a group of protesters outside the offices of OpenAI in San Francisco, holding "Pause AI" banners. This sentiment will only grow if AI is left unregulated. It may be tempting for countries to treat AI development as an arms race, to rush ahead irrespective of the cost. But polls show the general public thinks this is a bad idea. AI developers, and the people regulating the nascent AI industry, must listen to the growing AI backlash.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by VLM on Wednesday July 31 2024, @01:00PM (5 children)
It really is this generations "outsourcing" fad
(Score: 5, Interesting) by aafcac on Wednesday July 31 2024, @03:14PM (4 children)
It could well be the last time unless they figure out how to get people onboard with slavery again. Outsourcing works as long as there are cheaper places to send the work, but those places have been drying up and there's going to come a time in the next century where there are no places that are both cheaper and not involved in active war to move production to.
Having machines do it is really the last step as those will just get cheaper over time until they reach some sort of a minimum expense. Shy of replicators, I'm not really sure there is anything that could lower costs beyond that.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by turgid on Wednesday July 31 2024, @04:48PM (1 child)
At that point it will all come down to the price of energy and raw materials, but mostly energy.
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 2) by aafcac on Wednesday July 31 2024, @05:22PM
Precisely, there is probably not step beyond that unless somebody figures out an efficient method of converting elements into different ones. Which is highly unlikely to say the least.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Ox0000 on Wednesday July 31 2024, @07:00PM (1 child)
That, or a bunch of non-viable business models actually finally die off.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Thursday August 01 2024, @04:34PM
When its the "lifetime subscription" mouse, that's probably good.
It'll be much more exciting when international agribusiness collapses, and big pharma.