“In general, computer interfaces present reality as framed in the perspective of modern capitalism, thus, orienting technology along an existing axis of class privilege” (Selfe & Selfe, 1994).
Thanks Terry for this thorough history of computing, along with the possibilities of where we are heading with the advent of AI.
I also appreciate your healthy skepticism of what AI can and cannot do. You might enjoy Ed Zitron's newsletter: https://www.wheresyoured.at/author/edward/. His critique of the AI industry offers what I think is a needed counter for all the technology optimism out there.
As I read your last section - predicting how AI will influence and impact every area of work - I was curious what the physical nature of AI will resemble. Still primarily on our phones? Or even more closely embedded in our lives, physically as well as cognitively?
I’m not sure about the physical form, the hardware, but my bet is there will be multiple options depending on the application. There will be AI access in work stations and work sites, likely fixed in place for 24 hour access. Bots will be highly specialized for their particular task field and will require strong human expertise in the task field to use them. Some task fields will be minimally impacted—I suspect art and religion will have peripheral cognitive task fields but nothing like agriculture say where the task realm has multiple fields like “planting growing harvesting” with different related kinds and levels of human expertise. It gets a little science fictiony in my mind but it seems reasonable
Thanks Terry for this thorough history of computing, along with the possibilities of where we are heading with the advent of AI.
I also appreciate your healthy skepticism of what AI can and cannot do. You might enjoy Ed Zitron's newsletter: https://www.wheresyoured.at/author/edward/. His critique of the AI industry offers what I think is a needed counter for all the technology optimism out there.
As I read your last section - predicting how AI will influence and impact every area of work - I was curious what the physical nature of AI will resemble. Still primarily on our phones? Or even more closely embedded in our lives, physically as well as cognitively?
I’m not sure about the physical form, the hardware, but my bet is there will be multiple options depending on the application. There will be AI access in work stations and work sites, likely fixed in place for 24 hour access. Bots will be highly specialized for their particular task field and will require strong human expertise in the task field to use them. Some task fields will be minimally impacted—I suspect art and religion will have peripheral cognitive task fields but nothing like agriculture say where the task realm has multiple fields like “planting growing harvesting” with different related kinds and levels of human expertise. It gets a little science fictiony in my mind but it seems reasonable