Playing nice when you have to

Now that I have spent six posts on how terrible AI is, there is something else to note:

Among the people that I love, there is one going back to school to study AI so he does not become obsolete, and another being advised that if you don't learn AI you will be replaced by someone who does. One is in the tech sector, but the other is in banking.

Even in my course of study, when we were learning about technology there were lots of good things said about AI.

I will note here that I have seen discussions about the difference between machine learning and generative AI. My criticisms have been primarily focused on generative AI. 

When we are looking at environmental damage, I believe we need to consider both. However, I am not trying to get you fired.

We live in a vastly imperfect society that just keeps getting worse. There may be times when it's right to martyr yourself, but often the right thing is to survive; that might require some compromises.

How do we ethically work in this world?

First of all, knowledge makes sense. It makes sense to know how others in your specific job and in your field might use artificial intelligence and what the perceived benefits are. 

I hope, though, that one result of these posts can be also being aware of the downsides and potential flaws in using AI.

It replicates errors. It perpetuates bias. It is killing the planet.

Maybe you can be the one who asks -- in a company that has at least pretended a commitment to the environment -- how to compensate for the extra energy use.

Maybe you can be the one who encourages scrupulous proofing and checking of everything that gets generated via AI.

Maybe you can raise the questions.

And maybe that will get you in trouble. There will be people who are so high on the rush of technology and job elimination that some of this can be dangerous. You will have to use your best judgment.

One thing I believe, though, is that it is better to know and understand more. 

Take information and do good things with it, as best as you can.

Related posts:  

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-scuffle.html 

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2025/05/for-arts-sake.html 

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2025/05/garbage-in.html 

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2025/06/ai-lies.html

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2025/06/ais-human-cost.html 

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2025/06/reasonable-questions.html