The dangers of AI

PalmaI am not an expert in artificial intelligence, but I have incorporated it into my daily life for tasks such as searching for laws and news related to my work in the newspaper archive. Saving time on these tasks allows me to have more space to think, analyze, observe, and talk to people, which is precisely the most satisfying part of my job.

That said, I must confess that AI bores me quite a bit, and talking about AI even more so. I come from the 20th century, I knew a completely analog world and, although I don't miss it, this aspect makes me relate to digital technology without much enthusiasm. I know it helps, but it doesn't excite me at all.

The concerns surrounding AI are many, and even more so with the warnings that the creators themselves have made public. Personally, my fear is completely irrational (it arose, I did not decide to have this fear): I do not want to become more foolish than I already am. Is it absurd? Yes. But it is my fear and I cannot deny it.

A month ago, a scandal occurred in France around the novel C'était ça ou mourir, by Thélyson Orélien. This book was a great success and aspired to win the Goncourt prize until two accusations were made: the text had been written with AI (he denies it) and there were plagiarisms of other authors. I ask myself at this point if I would feel like reading a book written with AI, and the answer is no. I don't even consider it. I have no desire to read a book that has not been written by a person. However, others doing so does not trigger my censorship alarms. Let everyone do what they want, can, and find. There are no rules here.

But my relationship with literature goes beyond passing the time, which it also does. What I like is facing the dangers of natural intelligence: desires, insecurities, happiness, sadness, madness, peace, thought... If they are not human, I am not interested, no matter how well-constructed and entertaining the story may be.

When I read, I also look for communication with the author, for it to be them who tells me a story, and only them. For them to help me better understand the world I live in, to ask me questions I hadn't considered before. And it's not enough for a machine to do it. Is it a prejudice? Yes. It is another one of the dangers of natural intelligence, which does not stand out for its objectivity or neutrality. Maybe I am getting old and I no longer have the head for certain things.