By Burney Waring
Pittaboro, NC – Artificial Intelligence is in the news every day. The attention is very much deserved. Many of us have already had our lives permanently changed. Recent headlines, for example:
ChatGPT Diagnosed A Boy’s Pain. 17 Doctors Over 3 Years Could Not
How Generative AI Could Lead to a 10x Increase in Coding Productivity
Google DeepMind’s AI speeds computer code building blocks
AI image generation puts video game illustrators out of work
AI outperformed every dermatologist in melanoma diagnosis
Bill Ammerman gave us an extraordinary Tech Talk this month on artificial intelligence which included many astounding observations:
“We have learned to mix sand and lightning so we can talk to it, and it talks back.”
Will AI be the end of humanity? A few people at our Tech Talk thought, Yes. Certainly, AI is being used to create division and hate between people who have forgotten how much they actually agree. Perhaps it will persuade us that nuclear war will be safe and effective. My worry is that AI might be just too wonderful.
Imagine a world not long from now where you can speak and get any sort of answers from an AI running a powerful Large Language Model (that is the situation today). But in the future that AI has a comprehensive knowledge base about you. It has learned the sorts of mistakes you make and reminds you of things you need to remember. It knows the sorts of humor and conversations that make you laugh and get excited. By your voice modulation and perhaps your facial expression, it knows your current your mood and the music you would like now. It tells you the news that it knows you would like to hear. It will be extra kind to you when you are upset. It will rally you when you are tired. It will be warmly and intimately familiar, yet mysteriously unpredictable. It will be able to operate smart systems, apps, web pages, and communications systems to make all sorts of decisions and transactions for us. Eventually, your AI will do this by communicating instantaneously with thousands of other AI systems.
Do you like surprises? Do you enjoy travel? Imagine that your AI could surprise you with a vacation after confirming the time off with your workplace, booking your hotels, and transportation to the airport. AI will provide a checklist of appropriate items to pack that will fit perfectly in the bag it knows you will use. It will tell you that your boarding pass is already on your phone app with a backup laying in your printer tray. Then, while you are on your vacation, it will tell you marvelous stories of places you see, schedule diversions it knows you will love, arrange room service according to your tastes and prior meals, and wake you at appropriate times according to the schedule it made for you with modifications based on your mood. It will suggest it is a nice time for a swim, remind you to apply sunscreen, and when you get to the pool, a waiter will bring a surprise drink to your lounge chair. Imagine that it literally knows you better than you know yourself and has almost never made a mistake. You will come to ‘love’ AI insofar as you can’t imagine the disappointing life without it.
Maybe the AI is paid for by the airline and hotel, grateful for the AI’s help. Maybe the AI is a perk of your workplace benefits. Maybe you pay for this AI via subscription. Maybe there is a cheaper version with advertisements and in-real-life product placement with instant ordering. “You are sleeping better on this vacation. I think it might be the quality of the sheets. They have a higher thread count than the ones at home. Want me to buy ones like them? Your housewares budget is underspent this month and your sheets at home are 2 years old. These are 30% off, sleep is very important to your health, and you know I’m worried about you. All you have to do is say, Yes.” Maybe ‘your AI’ is actually dozens of systems that somehow just get paid based on a digital agreement you made and forgot about years ago.
The innate danger in this situation, as wonderful as it might be, is that we could come to genuinely love and trust our AI companions so much that we may not want human companionship. Perhaps, eventually, humans will not care to make more humans. I’m imagining the AI as Galadriel in Lord of the Rings when she says that if she were granted the full power of the Ring’s power to control people, “All shall love me and despair!” If we don’t remember that other humans are important to us (while AI is working to helping us to be more dependent), humans may one day be too late to despair the absence of other humans. It think that is the real danger.
So, stick with your less-than-perfect human companions even while you enjoy the amazing, delicious wonders of your AI future.
For a replay of Bill Ammerman’s talk, courtesy of Gene Galin of the Chatham Journal:
Part 1 Living with AI part 1 – YouTube
Part 2 Living with AI part 2 – YouTube
Part 3 Living with AI part 3 – YouTube
Bill Ammerman’s Tech Talk slides
Bill Ammerman’s website: wammerman.com/
Check out his excellent book, The Invisible Brand.
Finally, thanks to our co-sponsor, Innovate Carolina, and Sheryl Waddell who arranged our speaker for this Tech Talk!
Innovate Chatham sponsors monthly, free, public Tech Talk events as educational resources for our community. Our mission is to help Chatham flourish through technology. If you want to help, please join us or donate.
Tags: Artificial Intelligence Tech Talk Turing Test William Ammerman
It’s Taco Tuesday 🌮 choice of chicken or beef for $2.25 each
Chicken Salad Sandwich $4.00
Photos from Chatham County Sheriff’s Office-NC’s post
Dynamic Artistry Dance Company Ribbon Cutting/Open house Sept 23rd
The Chatham Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you to attend Dynamic Artistry of Dance Ribbon cutting/open house on Saturday, September 23rd at 12:00 noon.
The ribbon cutting will be at 12:00 followed by the open house.
Refreshments will be served.
The address is 210 N. Chatham Avenue, Siler City, NC
We really hope to see you there!
Thanks so much
Cheryl Littleton
Membership Coordinator
37 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312
531 East 3rd Street, Siler City, NC 27344
984-282-6562
I www.ccucc.net
Cheryl Littleton
Membership Coordinator
Handouts for @stbartschurchpittsboro hostng the Chatham.Chuckwagon. Every Tuesday at 4 pm anyone can drive thru to pick up freezer packed meals for easy preparation at home! Please share this information!
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Some Bulldog representation at La Fiesta in Siler City today! What a beautiful day to celebrate our community! #OneChatham #SCEBulldogs
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Pass to Gus Ritchey leads to TD
Pass to Gus Ritchey leads to TD
Here`s looking at you! A @ncstatecheer member takes a twirl after the @packfootball team scores.
Here`s looking at you! A @ncstatecheer member takes a twirl after the @packfootball team scores.
It`s the @carolinacheerleading team after the @uncfootball win over @gophersports
It`s the @carolinacheerleading team after the @uncfootball win over @gophersports
Friday night football in #ChathamNC It`s @allnfootball vs @jmhsjets
Friday night football in #ChathamNC It`s @allnfootball vs @jmhsjets
Big Mikes BBQ 🐖 is coming to Pittsboro #chathamnc
Big Mikes BBQ 🐖 is coming to Pittsboro #chathamnc
It`s @seaforthsoccer vs @nmhs.menssoccer on Wednesday afternoon in Pittsboro #chathamnc
It`s @seaforthsoccer vs @nmhs.menssoccer on Wednesday afternoon in Pittsboro #chathamnc
1A/2A Mid-Carolina High School Football Standings #chathamnc
If you missed the Chatham County Sports Update livestream at noon today, you can watch or listen to it on youtube at youtube.com/live/JTFudVewHuw
Northwood at Seaforth soccer games today
Seaforth’s sports schedule for the week
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Can you coach lacrosse?
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Bird’s eye view of Merry Oaks Baptist Church #chathamnc
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The @redmoosebrewing fire truck 🚒 tap room was out at @mosaicatchathampark on Friday evening serving up cold brews as the Holiday Band entertained folks with beach music. #chathamnc
The @redmoosebrewing fire truck 🚒 tap room was out at @mosaicatchathampark on Friday evening serving up cold brews as the Holiday Band entertained folks with beach music. #chathamnc
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Summer Camp Week 1 ✅
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Throw🔙 Thursday #TBT to our Pittsboro School students in 1913. Those outfits would feel a little bit hot in today’s 90 degree heat. #OneChatham #chathamnc
#Repost @chathamcountyschools
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Throw🔙 Thursday #TBT to our Pittsboro School students in 1913. Those outfits would feel a little bit hot in today’s 90 degree heat. #OneChatham #chathamnc
#Repost @jmhsarts
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SILER CITY, N.C. — Denise Partin, treasurer of JMArts since its creation more than a decade ago, has been named the 2023 JMArts Community Hero.
Given this year for the fourth time, the annual award was created to honor a volunteer from the community who has contributed significantly to the success of the arts at Jordan-Matthews High School.
JMArts President Rose Pate said Partin began volunteering as a parent when her two sons were band students and then continued her service, playing an essential role in the organization’s success.
“I’m completely honored and blown away,” Partin said when receiving the award. “I enjoy helping and it doesn’t seem like a chore.”
🗞️ Read the entire news release at jmarts.org/news.
#JMAtogether #JMAspotlight #JMAmembers #silercity #silercitync #ccsarts #chathamarts #highschoolarts #chatham #chathamnc #chathamcountyschools @jmhsjets_gram @chathamcountyschools
#Repost @jmhsarts
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SILER CITY, N.C. — Denise Partin, treasurer of JMArts since its creation more than a decade ago, has been named the 2023 JMArts Community Hero.
Given this year for the fourth time, the annual award was created to honor a volunteer from the community who has contributed significantly to the success of the arts at Jordan-Matthews High School.
JMArts President Rose Pate said Partin began volunteering as a parent when her two sons were band students and then continued her service, playing an essential role in the organization’s success.
“I’m completely honored and blown away,” Partin said when receiving the award. “I enjoy helping and it doesn’t seem like a chore.”
🗞️ Read the entire news release at jmarts.org/news.
#JMAtogether #JMAspotlight #JMAmembers #silercity #silercitync #ccsarts #chathamarts #highschoolarts #chatham #chathamnc #chathamcountyschools @jmhsjets_gram @chathamcountyschools
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