Beautiful photos! I love your garden spaces. I’ve been thinking about AI, too, in terms of writing personal narratives. I even did a little experiment that I might write about this week or next.
Thanks for this, Tom. It's going into my bookmarked reminders pile for when I walk into a place that used to be served by people and is now served by yet another faceless robot kiosk and I need a breath of humanity in my lungs.
I like you considerably more than I like AI. And you hold a decent rank among the actual humans I associate with, too.
The creative life has always been a catwalk along a cliff that hurdles into the abyss. AI is just making you more aware of it. What I’m saying is; the uncertainty of work is a corner stone of the lifestyle. Focus on creating for the sake of it, because that’s what you’re supposed to do anyway.
Great piece, Tom. This is exactly the kind of counter-narrative commentary which acknowledges that AI will wreck many things without spiraling into hysterical doomsaying.
Every new technology creates big problems. But every new technology also creates new avenues for creativity and innovation. And some of the simplest facets of life -- like planting food, or taking care of loved ones -- will remain essential, and show exactly why the doomsday prognosticators are certain to be wrong.
I've been looking for an avenue to write about AI in my own neck of the woods, and I've been leaning much more toward something like this. Well done.
Excellent read! I'm afraid of AL too. But just like you, I deal with all the local Farmers and the Mom and pop shops if I can't find it locally then I do without until I get to a bigger city where there is another family-owned business.
Thanks for sharing my continued bird infatuation. Joking aside, you’re speaking to the converted. I don’t care how well we train AI and algorithms, it can’t react with the layers of personality, experience, and emotion, that we can.
I’ve been more mindful of my purchasing, too, fuelled greatly by the pandemic. I don’t want bulk manufactured crap. I want the knowledge and experience that buying a bag of compost from the local greenhouse affords me.
Tom, you express beautifully the idea that human connections matter--human beings doing work, writing essays, painting scenes/objects/concepts, and making things that bring joy to others and satisfaction to the creators. Your reflections here strike me as more trenchant than most of the stuff written about the AIpocalypse. Thanks.
May 14, 2023·edited May 14, 2023Liked by Tom Pendergast
“slaving away inside the bullshit machine” love that! Quit that years ago too!
Great piece! And you are absolutely right.
When I was in the bullshit machine, it was the field of engineering software, or software for engineers to create mechanical things. I get how AI works. AI is only as good as what it’s fed. In the early days of computing, there was an acronym we used, GIGO, garbage in garbage out. Much of what I’ve seen and read regarding AI has been garbage. AI is an “it” thing right now and hopefully it will go the route of mutton chops and bell bottoms. I think if it doesn’t, we’ll end up in WALL-E’s world. Ever seen WALL-E?
Al is amazing technology for the future... My daughter was showing me how she uses it every day in her business, when she was here on vacation... And like the way you explained how one can enjoy life without it.. like the beautiful game of soccer (football) watching Brighton play superbly and beat arsenal 3-0... try that Al..
Fantastic garden and that tree! Majestic. AI isn’t really intelligent... will it ever be? It’s smart algos and scripts, very complex and all, but even *if* we ever reach a “general intelligence” level AI it will still not be “intelligent”. As Einstein said: The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”
Bravo, Tom! 🙌😊⭐️ You’ve expressed this absolutely brilliantly!
(And your garden is beautiful.)
Beautiful photos! I love your garden spaces. I’ve been thinking about AI, too, in terms of writing personal narratives. I even did a little experiment that I might write about this week or next.
Thanks for this, Tom. It's going into my bookmarked reminders pile for when I walk into a place that used to be served by people and is now served by yet another faceless robot kiosk and I need a breath of humanity in my lungs.
I like you considerably more than I like AI. And you hold a decent rank among the actual humans I associate with, too.
Well written. Well played. Well done.
Indeed ❣️
The creative life has always been a catwalk along a cliff that hurdles into the abyss. AI is just making you more aware of it. What I’m saying is; the uncertainty of work is a corner stone of the lifestyle. Focus on creating for the sake of it, because that’s what you’re supposed to do anyway.
Great post, Tom! Sometimes the little things are actually bigger and better than we realized... :)
Great piece, Tom. This is exactly the kind of counter-narrative commentary which acknowledges that AI will wreck many things without spiraling into hysterical doomsaying.
Every new technology creates big problems. But every new technology also creates new avenues for creativity and innovation. And some of the simplest facets of life -- like planting food, or taking care of loved ones -- will remain essential, and show exactly why the doomsday prognosticators are certain to be wrong.
I've been looking for an avenue to write about AI in my own neck of the woods, and I've been leaning much more toward something like this. Well done.
Excellent read! I'm afraid of AL too. But just like you, I deal with all the local Farmers and the Mom and pop shops if I can't find it locally then I do without until I get to a bigger city where there is another family-owned business.
Thanks for sharing my continued bird infatuation. Joking aside, you’re speaking to the converted. I don’t care how well we train AI and algorithms, it can’t react with the layers of personality, experience, and emotion, that we can.
I’ve been more mindful of my purchasing, too, fuelled greatly by the pandemic. I don’t want bulk manufactured crap. I want the knowledge and experience that buying a bag of compost from the local greenhouse affords me.
Your gardens look great, btw!
Tom, you express beautifully the idea that human connections matter--human beings doing work, writing essays, painting scenes/objects/concepts, and making things that bring joy to others and satisfaction to the creators. Your reflections here strike me as more trenchant than most of the stuff written about the AIpocalypse. Thanks.
“slaving away inside the bullshit machine” love that! Quit that years ago too!
Great piece! And you are absolutely right.
When I was in the bullshit machine, it was the field of engineering software, or software for engineers to create mechanical things. I get how AI works. AI is only as good as what it’s fed. In the early days of computing, there was an acronym we used, GIGO, garbage in garbage out. Much of what I’ve seen and read regarding AI has been garbage. AI is an “it” thing right now and hopefully it will go the route of mutton chops and bell bottoms. I think if it doesn’t, we’ll end up in WALL-E’s world. Ever seen WALL-E?
P.S. beautiful gardens!
Beautifully Written. Thank You
Al is amazing technology for the future... My daughter was showing me how she uses it every day in her business, when she was here on vacation... And like the way you explained how one can enjoy life without it.. like the beautiful game of soccer (football) watching Brighton play superbly and beat arsenal 3-0... try that Al..
Fantastic garden and that tree! Majestic. AI isn’t really intelligent... will it ever be? It’s smart algos and scripts, very complex and all, but even *if* we ever reach a “general intelligence” level AI it will still not be “intelligent”. As Einstein said: The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”
I love this! It’s good to be reminded that we can choose activities, retailers and lifestyles that are authentic and real.
I was wondering where you’ve been!