Artificial… Unintelligence?
Artificial Intelligence has made us believe that computers are always correct and always have the answer, and that it’s our future. Because technology is so quick and easy to use, the human kind believe one day our entire world will be based through online entities. Chapter 1 of Artificial Unintelligence introduces these ideas in a new perspective. https://mitpress.mit.edu/read/hello-reader
Meredith Broussard, the author of Artificial Unintelligence, is a smart woman interested in technology since she was young. She’s experimented a lot with technology building in her lifetime. Her studies took place at Harvard in the computer science field as one of the only women. She ended up as an assistant professor in the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University. She has much experience in software developing and editing, as well as writing articles and essays for many publications.
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While explaining her early experiences with technology, Meredith said, “I learned how to use tools to build technology, and that building things could be fun. I discovered that my imagination was powerful, but that the reality of technology couldn’t measure up to what I imagined.” This can reign true while creating anything technological or digital.
There are two kinds of Artificial Intelligence- Hollywood AI or GOFAI, and Narrow AI. Narrow AI is what is used nowadays. It is the mathematical form and machine learning process. The dream is to eventually produce GOFAI, though. When I think of AI, I think of making things easier on the user. Making small things like changing a phone number seem time consuming. Data entering is time consuming so the computer does it itself. We assume that if our vacuum stops working, it was because of us rather than wiring or something going wrong inside, but in reality, wiring or coding can have problems.
Meredith describes technochauvinism as the belief that tech is always the solution. With this also comes with the assumption that technology is a safe space for freedom of speech, computers are ‘unbiased,’ and if more people were online, social problems could be resolved. Just because technology is relevant in people’s everyday lives now does not mean that it is our only reliant and that human nature can be transformed.
“It’s about understanding the bleeding edge, where human achievement intersects with human nature” (Broussard). Through my Digital Studies program, I have learned that technology is a huge part of today’s day and age. There are many communities online, but the most impactful community is that of the human race. We have the power to control technology and what we do with it. Culture continues to change through the digital world, but we must remember that at the end of the day, our own, real-life culture is what matters most. Like Meredith says, “we can feel empowered to say ‘no’ to technology when it’s not necessary so that we can live better, more connected lives and enjoy the many ways tech can and does enhance our world.”
