I’m scared of AI
I’m scared of AI.
At one time, it was just a couple whispers, but now it feels like a tidal wave is building and it’s about to crash ashore.
Remember how we used to joke about how crazy Smart House was on Disney Channel… well, who’s laughing now? Lol (btw that was my least favorite disney movie… so that checks out).
When ChatGPT first came out, it was fun. People warned us to adapt quickly or else you’ll be left behind (dun dun dun…). These days, I can’t go on social media or the internet without seeing some huge development in AI.
AI is here. And it’s definitely here to stay.
I am currently watching “Pluto” on Netflix and it has truly been eye-opening. The series is based on a manga called “Astro Boy” and it is based in a world where humans and robots live as equals.
The thing is, this manga was first written in 1952. Way before we knew what was coming, which is pretty impressive.
This (soon to be not so) dystopian world was so intriguing. For the first forty minutes of the first episode, I couldn’t figure out if the main character was human or a robot. In this world, some robots were so advanced that people couldn't tell them apart.
The show is tremendous at making you question what “life” really is.
In one episode, you watch a whole relationship develop between a robot and human. It goes from hatred, to denial, to respect and then companionship all before your eyes. Only once you start to care about these two characters, the robot predictively dies (sorry - spoiler alert, but not really).
And as you might have guessed, it’s f*ckin sad dude.
In this world, these robots live real lives which means they have memories, they learn new things and they have desires. This is totally different than when your iPhone finally hits the dust.
Just how humans age, they show how robots age with older models of technology. Some of their parts get discontinued and the similarity between humans and robots continue to become increasingly alike.
And if they start to live like us by getting married, making friends, and copying other human behaviors… what would make them that different from us… Enter ✨emotions✨ (the plot thickens).
That’s what makes us truly human, right? Can a robot learn love or hatred?
I, quite frankly, do not want to find out.
Watching this show felt like I was watching our future.
If a robot can be so advanced that it could replace a human, does that make them our equal?
This show makes you question just that.
So I am scared of the future. What will the world look like in 10 years? 20 years?! 50 years?!?!
I can’t say the current state of our world is doing so hot right now, what would adding this whole new element do to us?
What will happen when the robots take more jobs?
When they start replacing the need for human social interaction?
I’m not ready for this change. I want to cling to the simpleness of right now (and the past), even though it has got its own challenges.
I used to think that I was always a person who enjoyed change. Going to college, that was fun. Living a year abroad, iPhones, smart TVs. I welcomed this.
But AI… it feels huge. We’re just at the tip of the iceberg now, but I predict these changes will start slow and then become exponential.
Machines are supposed to make things more efficient.
I know my life has benefited a lot from technology, but I just wish the world could slow down a bit. Those big corporations are all rushing to be the first of whatever they’re putting out but I just wanted to enjoy what we have for a little bit longer before it all fades away.
Live in my ignorant bubble; sit in the sun for a while. I want to bask in the inefficiencies of today, take the long way home, get off my phone, be out in the world, communicate with other humans…
Why does it all have to change so quickly?
I think this is the age where you start to miss how things used to be. I’ve grown accustomed to this life.
But I know that holding on to the past doesn’t let you live in the now… and I certainly like living.
So while I’m scared of what’s on the horizon, I’m reminded yet again to enjoy the luxuries of right now. Whether it’s fears of robots, losing people you love or any other big thing out of your control, we can’t stop change. All we can do is take it one day at a time.
