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Stormy, stormy seas, this AI thing and me [1]

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Date: 2023-10-21  

I didn’t see this coming. You know, AI, in it’s current incarnation. Did you?

This AI thing: It just ain’t me; just ain’t my thing.

I sucked and still suck at anything and everything AI-driven. I can’t even figure out how to disable the auto word-select feature on my mobile device. So, what does that tell you?! As soon as I type in a word, the auto word-select feature is right there at the ready, just itching to do its thing. Thanks, but no thanks.

And, since we’re talking about “things,” where does this leave me and people of my persuasion in the grand scheme of things? Probably much better off for being and remaining both AI ignorant and illiterate.

So, let’s have a look at mobile AI as just one example.

I only recently read a headline at jalopnik.com/... proclaiming that a robotaxi, in effect, did not know how to react when confronting — or, at least, when it came to interacting with at least — one pedestrian. And, we humans: We’re supposed to trust this technology?! I don’t think so!

And, in another example, economics correspondent Paul Solman, some time ago in a PBS News Hour on-air broadcast went for a test ride. He was in the passenger’s seat (of course, in a vehicle with a Level 5 autonomous capability, all seats would become passenger seats) or “riding shotgun,” colloquially speaking in a so-called “driverless” vehicle and while out-and-about on San Francisco Bay Area-based roadways, all seemed to be moving along just fine; that is, until it wasn’t. I remember when watching footage of the experience, the car, in approaching one intersection in particular, even though the cars ahead in waiting for the green were stopped, the supposedly driverless car, instead of slowing in anticipation of coming to a stop, actually sped up. In response, Solman appeared to be freaking out. I don’t recall learning whether or not the vehicle crashed or a collision was avoided. But, I have to assume the latter because I’ve not since heard any more about it.

And, the way I see it: In this application, since there are too many variables involved, there is too much potentially that could go wrong. I think about my own mobile device and how, quite frequently, the auto word-selection provision can’t even get the words correct. At least, get that feature resolved first before we even think about our pursuing highly complex and sophisticated hardware like autonomobiles, and, when you think about it, such also qualifies as a, wait for it, mobile device.

In the meantime, I’ll put my trust in what I know works best for me: the discrete component-based, hard-wired stuff.

I haven’t had to rely on AI technology in the past and I see no need to start now, thank you very much!

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