I remember when AI was nothing more than an ’80s sci-fi fantasy. Back then, it was easy to imagine AI as some distant, futuristic concept—a trope more than a reality. But today, AI is no longer a distant dream; it’s an integral part of our daily lives, embedded in everything from word processors to web browsers and digital assistants. AI is everywhere, and it’s being embraced by almost every company at an astonishing rate.
Over the past year, I’ve been deeply immersed in this AI-driven world, exploring everything from image generators to voice clones and chatbots that can mimic lost loved ones. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the downright bizarre. While I’m not a doomsayer predicting AI’s downfall, I can’t help but feel that much of its potential is being wasted on solving the wrong problems.
The Promise of AI
We’re living in the age of AI, a time when this technology has the power to simplify our lives, make work easier, and revolutionize the way we interact with computers. And to be fair, AI does deliver on some of that promise. I use generative AI every day, whether it’s interacting with Meta AI through my Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses or consulting ChatGPT for recipe ideas and movie suggestions.
Virtual assistants have been transformed by AI, reaching levels of performance that were once the stuff of Hollywood movies. This technology is poised to change how we interact with our devices in ways we can barely imagine. Instead of thinking of computers as mere boxes with screens, AI could lead to a seismic shift in our relationship with technology—something not seen since the invention of the mouse.
That’s exciting. It’s the kind of innovation that should make us all eager to embrace AI. But after spending so much time with various AI tools and services, I find myself questioning whether we’re really using this technology in the best way possible.
The Pitfalls of AI
The advancements in virtual assistants are just a small slice of the AI pie—one of the least controversial aspects of it, in fact. As AI continues to evolve, it’s being used to create all sorts of content, leading to some highly divisive outcomes.
AI can generate almost anything, and that’s where the problem lies. Creating is a deeply human trait, one we shouldn’t so readily hand over to machines. As concerns about disinformation, defamation, and the misuse of deepfake technology grow, we need to ask ourselves: Can we trust what we see and hear? Was that article really written by a human? Is that incriminating image real? As AI models become more sophisticated, distinguishing between real and fake becomes increasingly difficult.
Even worse, AI is eroding our human connections. Who thought it was a good idea to let AI handle our communication with others? From summarizing emails to replying to texts from loved ones, AI is being used to distance us from human interaction. This trend is not just misguided; it’s downright depressing.
A recent ad by Google perfectly encapsulates this bleak reality. In it, a father talks about his daughter’s admiration for track star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. She wants to write a letter to her idol, but instead of doing it herself, she outsources the task to her dad, who in turn outsources it to Google’s AI. The result is a lifeless, AI-generated letter—hardly the heartfelt message it was meant to be. This ad, intended to be uplifting, instead highlights the disconnect between the creators of these AI tools and the people they’re meant to serve.
AI: Use It, But Don’t Use It?
Adding to the confusion is the mixed message from the companies developing these tools. They encourage us to use AI for everything from writing to creating art, yet they also develop tools to detect and penalize us for doing so. It’s no wonder that OpenAI is hesitant to release its own AI text identifier—it could cause serious problems for those using ChatGPT for tasks like homework help or creative writing.
These companies know that one of the main selling points of their AI models is the ability to generate content that could be seen as cheating or plagiarism. Yet, they continue to walk this fine line, promoting AI’s capabilities while simultaneously warning against its misuse.
Conclusion
At this point, I’m not convinced that generative AI, as it’s currently marketed, offers the net benefits we once hoped for. While it can make virtual assistants more useful, it also has the troubling ability to make human communication and creativity feel less personal and genuine.
We could all use a little less generative AI in our lives. I’ll hold on to my digital assistants, if only for convenience, but the rest? You can keep it.
On one hand, we’re told to embrace this new wave of AI tools wholeheartedly. On the other, we’re warned against using them for fear of crossing ethical lines. The companies behind AI are sending mixed signals, leaving us to wonder: Is this really the foundation for the next big thing in tech, or just a house of cards? With each passing month, I find myself leaning more toward the latter.
https://github.com/teteusAraujo/products-service/issues/12
https://github.com/hubgit/hubgit.github.io/issues/9
https://github.com/hkusu/github_document_demo/issues/2
https://github.com/Yezz123-Archive/github/issues/2
https://github.com/Keenjin/Keenjin.github.io/issues/10
https://github.com/hollowtree/hollowtree.github.io/issues/3
https://pastelink.net/crs8w4zz
https://open.firstory.me/user/cm00u4zdx06k401v017vh6pan
https://wokwi.com/projects/406641513812439041
https://wandering.flarum.cloud/d/96184-i-spent-a-year-using-ai-and-it-solved-all-the-wrong-problems
https://community.wongcw.com/blogs/818631/I-spent-a-year-using-AI-and-it-solved-all
