It’s kind of sad that this is how everything has ended up. Fake news, AI, misinformation, disinformation, incels, and arguments. Good about the cats though!
In 1990 or so, when I worked in IT, part of my job at Rhodes University (via which the internet originally came to South Africa) was monitoring all the Usenet newsgroups, teaching people how to use them, and creating South African ones. The internet had sprung up from ARPANET/DARPANET so it was mostly military in the beginning, and then academics sharing research. All text-based of course, using Pine and Trumpet. Very serious. But there were science fiction newsgroups and rec.pets.cats (CATS CATS CATS), which was a sign of things to come. Cat users always find each other…
Within the academic and journalism sectors in 1990, everyone thought this would be 100% for good. There was no money or power in it then of course. As soon as it became easier to use and companies saw money in it, the rot began.
Well-written post, Janet. I am so afraid that AI–not an asteroid–will be humanity’s downfall.
Just like everything else on this planet, good ideas can become abused by those seeking profit over truth.
Very wise words. As soon as money and power enter the picture they destroy good things.