I am very grateful to have lived for a good two decades before the internet (fka the Internet) took over everything. At the same time, I honestly don't know if I could handle living overseas as I do without the internet, particularly without Google Translate. I'm three years into learning Italian, and...ay yi yi, mama mia, it's a lot.
I wondered what happened to the parrot. I didn’t know!
I agree that we still have a choice on how we use technology and AI and should resist our own decline. But it takes a lot of discipline. Each morning when I pick up my phone I must decide: open Libby and read a book or check my other apps.
Thank you. You wrote so eloquently about this quasi not-caring, just moving on to the next thing. We must be on the same wavelength. Sharing my post from this morning:
My father (who turns 79 next month) frequently says he’s glad he’s as old as he is because he doesn’t think he’ll be around in 20 years. He views that as a good thing because he “won’t be able to stand the level of stupid by then.” I’m starting to understand his point of view.
What an ending— not expecting that. I fear we will lose our sense of community in the coming decades. “It’s hard to explain to a young person how completely transformed the world is now — how much more impersonal it is” I realized this the other day when I was teaching ballet class to some teens- they have only lived in a world with these technologies (social media etc). I felt grateful to have known a world before internet.
Oof. I was not expecting that ending. A real gut punch.
I’m grateful that my life was internetless for 15 or 16 years. Honestly, I wouldn’t be sad if it all went away tomorrow (a sentiment that is now striking me as something I think I’ve written in response to one of your posts).
Anyway. Off to go yell at clouds like a good GenXer.
Yes yes yes yes and co-sign to basically everything you said (elder millenial-who may as well be an old lady because anyone who's not a zoomer is old now- yells at clouds too.
Speaking of which, did you read the new study that said over-use of AI reduces actual intelligence? You may have linked it but I didn't click on all the links because ... attention spans and all that.
I've been fearful ever since I became an adult, which was right around 9/11. It sucks and I'm trying to lean more into the hope side of things, or at least try to act locally in a hopeful way, which is what I can do...
And yes re the writing and thinking. I write to figure out what I think, and also why I think what I think. I'm usually working it out for myself on the page.
For me, the top objection to these AI models is not even that they shorten attention spans. It's that they are so frequently WRONG. They invent fake facts, make bad (and even dangerous) recommendations, err constantly. I just have this vision of the near future where everyone is blithely following the directions of some bot that is spewing nonsense, and they have no way of knowing because they treat these models like they're God. I wouldn't mind so much a doctor, accountant, pilot, etc., getting answers from a computer IF the computer were actually spitting out the right (or best known) answer, but not when the computer is just making sh*t up.
People need to stop using AI as if it were Google. It's not. It's meant to be a tool. If people learned and understood how to properly use it as such, then maybe they wouldn't see it as something to be so worried about? 🤷🏻♀️
Lovely read Brent. Whatever about the older generation attention span issue. What about the younger generation coming up behind us glued to their devices from a young age. What is it doing to their cognitive abilities and emotional intelligence? I don't have children myself but have nieces and nephews and I can see the effects it's having on them already. That poor parrot 🦜 Like Claire I had wondered what happened to him 😣
Not me. I love having the accumulated knowledge of humanity on a little device that fits in my pocket. I used to have to actually remember things to impress people with my mastery of trivial detail. Now the only thing I have to remember to how to best structure a Google search.
Sure, it’s irritating there’s SO much garbage these days, like some dickhead graffitied the only copy of the Encyclopedia Brittanica in existence. But I’ve gotten pretty good at filtering out garbage over the last seven decades - I think it’s what renders me immune to the dubious charms of snake-oil salesmen like our current POTUS and his ilk.
As for bored, not anymore. Solitaire, chess, checkers, dominoes, crosswords - and that’s just the old stuff. Having to wait at the doctor’s office or the DMV is a nice little break instead of an exercise in boredom.
You’re probably right in the sense we were necessarily more social before we all had our noses buried in our screens all the time. Part of the attraction for me, since I’ve always been a bit of a hermit.
Excellent article, Brent. So many things to say about the state we’re in, where does one begin? Oh, today on my run I squeezed in a SIXTY DEGREE hill workout! Isn’t that impressive?! 🥲
I posted a link to your article on my Facebook page and got one comment. The comment consisted of the person saying younger people at work are impressed by her ability to retain things, and she thinks it might be related to her music activities. I could be wrong, but I’m guessing she didn’t even read your piece.
I am very grateful to have lived for a good two decades before the internet (fka the Internet) took over everything. At the same time, I honestly don't know if I could handle living overseas as I do without the internet, particularly without Google Translate. I'm three years into learning Italian, and...ay yi yi, mama mia, it's a lot.
That is EXACTLY the issue, isn't it? We can't live with it, can't live without it. A real puzzler.
I wondered what happened to the parrot. I didn’t know!
I agree that we still have a choice on how we use technology and AI and should resist our own decline. But it takes a lot of discipline. Each morning when I pick up my phone I must decide: open Libby and read a book or check my other apps.
It is a CONSTANT struggle. Then again, it is designed to be a constant struggle, which is a big part of the problem...
Thank you. You wrote so eloquently about this quasi not-caring, just moving on to the next thing. We must be on the same wavelength. Sharing my post from this morning:
https://open.substack.com/pub/ministryoffunnywalks/p/fade?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=5bx8z1
Thank you, appreciate that!
My father (who turns 79 next month) frequently says he’s glad he’s as old as he is because he doesn’t think he’ll be around in 20 years. He views that as a good thing because he “won’t be able to stand the level of stupid by then.” I’m starting to understand his point of view.
Yeah, I've had that feeling too (and I HATE it, I really do!).
What an ending— not expecting that. I fear we will lose our sense of community in the coming decades. “It’s hard to explain to a young person how completely transformed the world is now — how much more impersonal it is” I realized this the other day when I was teaching ballet class to some teens- they have only lived in a world with these technologies (social media etc). I felt grateful to have known a world before internet.
I feel the same way. Something is gained, and something is definitely lost. And what we're losing is BIG.
Oof. I was not expecting that ending. A real gut punch.
I’m grateful that my life was internetless for 15 or 16 years. Honestly, I wouldn’t be sad if it all went away tomorrow (a sentiment that is now striking me as something I think I’ve written in response to one of your posts).
Anyway. Off to go yell at clouds like a good GenXer.
God damn clouds! LOL
Yes yes yes yes and co-sign to basically everything you said (elder millenial-who may as well be an old lady because anyone who's not a zoomer is old now- yells at clouds too.
Speaking of which, did you read the new study that said over-use of AI reduces actual intelligence? You may have linked it but I didn't click on all the links because ... attention spans and all that.
I don't like feeling fearful of the future. I never have before!
I did read those studies, and they make perfect sense to me. I think writing is sooooo important in shaping how and what we think.
I've been fearful ever since I became an adult, which was right around 9/11. It sucks and I'm trying to lean more into the hope side of things, or at least try to act locally in a hopeful way, which is what I can do...
And yes re the writing and thinking. I write to figure out what I think, and also why I think what I think. I'm usually working it out for myself on the page.
These days, what passes for optimism is: Yeah, it's gonna get bad, but maybe that's the only way things'll ever get better!
I'm laugh-crying because it's true.
I relate! And it really is hard to not sound like old man yelling at clouds.
Also, would love to see this post as a punchy 10 second teaser video.
hehehe
For me, the top objection to these AI models is not even that they shorten attention spans. It's that they are so frequently WRONG. They invent fake facts, make bad (and even dangerous) recommendations, err constantly. I just have this vision of the near future where everyone is blithely following the directions of some bot that is spewing nonsense, and they have no way of knowing because they treat these models like they're God. I wouldn't mind so much a doctor, accountant, pilot, etc., getting answers from a computer IF the computer were actually spitting out the right (or best known) answer, but not when the computer is just making sh*t up.
Yeah, it's another good point. And we have no way of knowing their biases either.
People need to stop using AI as if it were Google. It's not. It's meant to be a tool. If people learned and understood how to properly use it as such, then maybe they wouldn't see it as something to be so worried about? 🤷🏻♀️
Absolutely right. But at the same time, I'm worried about OTHERS relying on it. Which makes me worried! LOL
Yes, this is a very real concern! Other people always worry me. 😂
Lovely read Brent. Whatever about the older generation attention span issue. What about the younger generation coming up behind us glued to their devices from a young age. What is it doing to their cognitive abilities and emotional intelligence? I don't have children myself but have nieces and nephews and I can see the effects it's having on them already. That poor parrot 🦜 Like Claire I had wondered what happened to him 😣
Thank you! Yes, so sad about Beto.
Yeah, I think it's mostly about the devices, and that makes me sad.
Short attention span [ theater]. The rulevin seminary 40 years ago- don't preach longer than 10 minutes. With phones it's even shorter now
Oh man oh man! Some things can't be said that briefly! They just can't...
The thing about the eye contact! What is up with that?
Yeah. Learned behavior, I guess.
Not me. I love having the accumulated knowledge of humanity on a little device that fits in my pocket. I used to have to actually remember things to impress people with my mastery of trivial detail. Now the only thing I have to remember to how to best structure a Google search.
Sure, it’s irritating there’s SO much garbage these days, like some dickhead graffitied the only copy of the Encyclopedia Brittanica in existence. But I’ve gotten pretty good at filtering out garbage over the last seven decades - I think it’s what renders me immune to the dubious charms of snake-oil salesmen like our current POTUS and his ilk.
As for bored, not anymore. Solitaire, chess, checkers, dominoes, crosswords - and that’s just the old stuff. Having to wait at the doctor’s office or the DMV is a nice little break instead of an exercise in boredom.
I wish I’d had one of these long ago.
Interesting take! Not me, alas. I agree about the "access to the accumulated knowledge of humanity," but I think, overall, people were happier before.
You’re probably right in the sense we were necessarily more social before we all had our noses buried in our screens all the time. Part of the attraction for me, since I’ve always been a bit of a hermit.
LOL. Yes, same.
Excellent article, Brent. So many things to say about the state we’re in, where does one begin? Oh, today on my run I squeezed in a SIXTY DEGREE hill workout! Isn’t that impressive?! 🥲
LOL you got it, exactly. We're all schizo now!
And thanks!
I posted a link to your article on my Facebook page and got one comment. The comment consisted of the person saying younger people at work are impressed by her ability to retain things, and she thinks it might be related to her music activities. I could be wrong, but I’m guessing she didn’t even read your piece.
LOL