Can Artificial Intelligence Sidestep the Pitfall of Deterioration with Humor?

“Can AI Avoid the Enshittification Trap?”

“As we push ever forward in systematising intelligence, we cannot forget that the purpose is not just to build tools that think, but tools that improve human decision-making. And right now, we shittify all over the place.”

An ironically perceptive observation made by the folks over at Wired as they dive into the profound question – can AI truly steer clear of the booby traps that come with ‘enshittification’?

The article continues to dissect how our growing obsession with artificial intelligence and machine learning has led to a cluster of machines that produce, more often than not, shoddy recommendations. Now, our much-touted ‘smart’ technology is not exempt from stumbling and fumbling, just as we humans are prone to do.

We’ve all felt the eerie chill when ads that echo our latest conversations just coincidentally pop up. Frankly, the technological marvel behind it isn’t as ‘digits-from-heaven’ as it is ‘code-and-algorithms-gone-rogue’. There is a whole labyrinth of faulty recommendation algorithms at play that, in a bid to be preemptive, are instead serving up an unappetizing smorgasbord of randomness.

It’s akin to having a chat with a particularly dense friend who, despite the best intentions, simply can’t understand or produce any content of substance. At some point, one has to wonder – are we cultivating intellectual tools or simply creating electronic jesters?

Yet, the joy of technological progress doesn’t entirely dim in the light of these shortcomings; rather, it only helps in realizing the need for stronger guardrails around our artificial offspring. Identification and subsequent rectification of these AI foibles are key to minimizing the risk of ‘enshittification’.

Importantly, the article highlights that AI should essentially serve as an aid for better human decision-making. This is where the balance between human elements and AI could be perfected to create a tool that not only thinks but also enriches our decision-making abilities.

In essence, it isn’t about creating Skynet or HAL 9000. It’s about paving the way for meaningful collaborations that capitalize on the ability of humans to provide what AI can’t – empathetic judgment, creative inspiration, and an understanding of consequences.

Here’s hoping the race to the pinnacle of AI’s potential doesn’t devolve into a quagmire of ‘enshittified’ decision-making. So, as we go about building AI that can essentially ‘think’, let’s learn from our past human blunders and yield the helm cautiously. Lest we end up creating AI-driven monstrosities – serving suggestions of cat litter ingredients for that next gourmet recipe.

Read the original article here: https://www.wired.com/story/can-ai-escape-enshittification-trap/