Artificial Unintelligence
AI is evolving. Humanity, less so.
At least three of you may be wondering where I've been since I last published in [checks notes] April. A mere two-month hiatus. Or, as Royal Mail calls it, “First Class.”
I would like to apologise for my radio silence. You may imagine I've been up to something revolutionary and earth-shattering – like inventing a cure for stupidity (I briefly considered Wine Gums, but suspected they'd only make things worse!). Alas, the truth is far less spectacular.
Brace yourself: I’ve been busy writing an unusually serious article. And just to manage expectations, by "serious", I don't mean something peer-reviewed. Frankly, it wasn't even self-reviewed. But it was serious enough that I had to clear my schedule of meetings, social events and anything that got in the way of deep thought. Like this gathering:
So, what was my serious article about? Well, as you may have gleaned from the title of this less-than-serious piece, it was about AI and human creativity. You can find it here, in the unlikely event that you have nothing better to do (like negotiating a truce with your smart speaker or varnishing your bamboo toothbrush).
If you need further persuasion, I can promise you that it contains a piece of [bad] art that I painted. Less National Gallery, more National Disgrace.
I find AI a complex subject to get one's human head around, quite frankly. That’s because it stands to impact so many areas of modern life and the direction we're heading as a society. Much like oat milk, if you're not using it already, someone will soon force it upon you. I use it myself for brainstorming new product ideas. (That's AI, not oat milk – although both are made from stuff no one fully understands.)
The board game concept below is one such example of an Alastair-plus-AI collaboration. I had the idea, and AI created the artwork.
Yes, that's right – you too can turn bedtime tears into early retirement. And, at the same time, teach your kids financial literacy. It's literally the definition of a win-win, and I'm fully expecting that phone call (you heard me, Hasbro!).
So, what else do I use AI for? Well, it helps me improve my grammar and check my articles for spelling and typos. There is, after all, a very fine line between stepping out of the house wearing a three-piece suit and stepping out as a three-piece suite...
It looks surprisingly comfortable, though, doesn't it? And that fabric really exudes 'casual summer' vibes.
Loungewear aside, it’s nice to have fun with AI tools and use them to enhance our creativity (the board game is genius, though, right?). But beneath the novelty, there are serious warnings – from the very people who created it and from organisations like the Center for AI Safety.
And then there are the people building it, shaping it and supposedly regulating it. Perhaps we could start feeling more relaxed about a future involving AI if the companies controlling it weren't funded by venture capitalists and owned by megalomaniacs with a God complex. It's like putting Hannibal Lecter in charge of a wine-paired tasting menu. Memorable, yes. Enjoyable, less so. 🍷
So will AI save us? Destroy us? Or simply shift our fashion toward a more beige, upholstered style? Who knows. One thing's for sure, though: we're all strapped into this slightly wobbly rollercoaster together, and there's no getting off it.
So, for now, I suggest we just remain calm. Carry on. And follow the wise motto of the Paranoid Society: Trust no one. Especially the toaster.
See you soon. First Class, obviously. 👋
Alastair
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