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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: 2, Interesting) by Mojibake Tengu on Wednesday July 31 2024, @01:53PM (5 children)
Last time I checked, Unitree G1 handles a Shaolin style long pole.
Well, I can gladly hammer nails, bake pancakes or solder myself, but I am really tempted to teach Jian or Tangdao to that thing.
Beginnings are always clumsy, but envisioning its mastery of the tools brings me satisfaction.
Rust programming language offends both my Intelligence and my Spirit.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 01 2024, @12:32AM (2 children)
I gave you a +1 interesting, but you should have given a link to the robot:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806181084216.html [aliexpress.us]
A mere USD $180,000
> Unitree H1 universal humanoid robot is the world's most powerful humanoid robot with near-kinetic performance.
(Score: 2) by Mojibake Tengu on Friday August 02 2024, @04:07AM (1 child)
Thanks. H1 is another model. G1 is cheap, pricing starts somewhere at 17k$. I consider both affordable, though.
I usually don't do advertising so that's why I didn't provided a link. Of course, it's https://www.unitree.com/g1/ [unitree.com]
Somehow, I expected the humans are still capable to locate a breakthrough technology products themselves.
Why folks buy stuff on Amazon or Aliexpress is always beyond me.
Rust programming language offends both my Intelligence and my Spirit.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 03 2024, @02:56AM
> Why folks buy stuff on Amazon or Aliexpress is always beyond me.
Surprised you haven't figured this one out, it's all about lower prices (for awhile). Online sellers like Amazon and Aliexpress are always subsidizing certain items...in an attempt to corner that section of the market (that is, monopolize it--at which point they raise prices).
Amazon did it first with books by browbeating publishers for additional discounts and selling far below cover price...and darn near succeeded in wiping out all the independent booksellers around the world. Also caught up were many specialty presses that couldn't survive on the small margins left by Amazon's greed.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Reziac on Thursday August 01 2024, @05:07AM (1 child)
What are you going to solder yourself to ? :D
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Mojibake Tengu on Friday August 02 2024, @04:09AM
It's English language what needs parenthesis, not me.
Rust programming language offends both my Intelligence and my Spirit.