Is AI taking Over?

 A few years ago, I blogged about AI.  I was concerned about kids using it to cheat on assigned compositions.  I bemoaned the impact of artists being displaced by AI created images. I resented the work of authors being downloaded to educate AI how to write, essentially stealing our work without compensation.  Was I ever naive!  Today, objecting to AI is like the old story of Pandora already being out of the box!

I am not unaware of the potential AI represents, but I am concerned that the positive potential was recognized and rushed to go forward, without understanding the full impact.  Clearly, positive possibilities are still being discovered, with others already at work.  What concerns me is whether AI has a conscience.  

I cannot explain how all of that works, but as I understand it, the intelligence of humans, discovered and developed over more generations than I can imagine, is fed into the massive storage of AI.  What once took researchers hours or months or years to discover or create can now be accessed from an AI search with significate speed. The wisdom of generations has been downloaded.

Obviously, the benefits of that are enormous.  However, the ethical impact was not carefully examined before the ability to create this monster of human intelligence was set free.  When you think about what it can do, it is difficult to decide where to start in controlling the potential power.

Once I was concerned about taking human work without compensation.  That remains an issue, but now I realize that far more concerns exist.  The more responsibilities that are transferred to AI, the more important issues arise.  To list a few, should AI be responsible for values like fairness, accountability, safety and other human values.   Before 'turning AI loose' should we have built in concepts of ethical guidelines, risk management, bias, unintended consequences, and accountability. 

The implementation of AI is not just an American decision.  Other nations are involved, and developing common rules and standards requires international cooperation.  The rapid pace of AI development has outrun the speed of regulation, and defining and standardizing AI across the world somehow requires coming together to establish not only ethical principles but also safety and regulatory agreements.  Assuming that is accomplished, who becomes the watchdog and the authority to hold offenders to account?

Assuming that is settled, have we really taken into account whether humans might have created artificial intelligence with consciousness.  Some would suggest that we don't even fully understand how our own intelligence works, and lacking that knowledge, how can we control AI?  We have already gone past the point of pausing to figure out the ramifications of AI before implementing it, already benefitting from positive uses.  

There are, however, those who wonder if we have ventured into the world of the 1968 "2001: A Space Odyssey."  I will pause for now, but there are already those who are looking ahead to see whether we are moving too fast. 

 

Don't Forget the Ladies

What really matters!

 

 

I have written often about Presidents, but far less often about the Presidents' wives.  Many things impact the influence of the stability of the nation.  This blog considers the important of presidential wives.  Only one U.S. President was unmarried throughout his life.  Six presidents were unmarried when they took office.  Cleveland married while in office.  Four were widowers when they took office and never married again.  Three lost their wives while in office.  However, in recent years our presidents have had wives beside them as they campaigned and served.  Do First Ladies matter?  If the issues predicted by Ulysses S. Grant in the comment above are significent, do such things apply to First Ladies?,  

   The role of the President's wife is undefined, but First Ladies have gradually carved out roles.  In addition to social duties in the White House and representing the nation when they travel, many of the modern wives have chosen causes they wish to support. 

The absence of a title for the President's wife was left to Washington, and he chose Lady Washington.  Early presidents followed his example.  Today, presidential wives are called First Ladies.  Our modern First Ladies are seen as partners to the president.  Some are outgoing and involved in their husband's activities, including campaigning, and participating in their husbands' policy advocacy.  Others have social causes of their own.

Some are close political confidantes of their husband, even crafting political speeches.  It is common today for first ladies to campaign for their husbands.  Most modern First Ladies have specific causes of their own, speaking out to bring attention to the causes they support.  Eleanor Roosevelt set an example for First Ladies, and most since have continued to follow her example, although with less involvement by most.  Eleanor was not afraid to get out of the White House and advocate for her causes, and because her husband had been crippled by polio, her willingness to travel in his place was important. In surveys, Eleanor's popularity continues to the present time, generally at the top.  

Early wives of the past are often unknown to modern women taking polls; however, Abigale Adams is an exception.  The letters between the second president and his wife, have survived, and his respect for her opinions are apparent, including her ability to manage their farm while he was away.  She is perhaps best remembered for her quote, reminding her husband "to remember the Ladies."   

The grace of Jacqueline Kennedy following her husband's assassination keeps respect for her alive.    Michelle Obama often ranks highest among modern First Ladies. 

One survey divided responses into 10 categories:  Background, Value to the Country, Steward, Courage, Accomplishment, Integrity, Leadership, Being Her Own Woman, Image, and Value to the President.  Mrs. Roosevelt topped that list, followed by Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Lady Bird Johnson.    

Perhaps in the early years of our nation, far less was expected of the President's wives.  Yet, I was surprised that many surveys ranked wives of early presidents quite high.  I could not help wondering how those responding even knew the early wives.

Today, most Presidential candidates utilize their wives and children in the campaigns.  Do citizens like that, or would they prefer the old-fashioned campaigns when wives and children were left at home...or seated in the back!  

The only conclusion I could make from my research was that people do pay attention to the wives of the presidential candidates. Whether publicly using the candidate's family or leaving them at home and out of the picture is better I do not know.  Personally, I think meeting the candidates family is relevant--especially since their wives may host important visitors.     

     

 

What is morality?

Do we face a setting sun?

In a recent editorial in The Atlantic, David Brooks wrote "Today we live in a world in which many, if not most, people no longer have a sense that there is a permanent moral order to the universe."  He added, , "Individuals get to make lots of choices, but they lack the coherent moral criteria required to make those choices well."

That quote sent me in search of a definition of morality, and perhaps I should not have been surprised to find many definitions from which to choose.  In today's world, different definitions might have been expected.  I selected two examples from the possible choices, but you can find many others.  The first definition of morality: " A code of conduct that, given specific conditions, would be endorsed by all rational people."  And second, "A particular system of values and principles of conduct, especially one held by a specific person."  Both of these definitions define certain limitations or conditions.  As Brooks suggested, finding complete agreement about much of anything is difficult.  

Even such a generally agreed belief--Thou Shalt Not Kill--has exceptions, including killing in self-defense, killing in war, killing in defense of others, and choosing who to abandon when only on can be saved. 

The obvious importance of America's Freedoms is the inclusion of the Bill of Rights, yet our freedoms have limitations.  The often-quoted example of those limits is the restriction that you cannot yell "Fire" in a crowded theater when there is no fire, because others might be injured trying to escape from the imaginary danger.  That classic example is obvious, but the restrictions on Untruths verses Opinions is far more challenging to tie down. 

Consider these examples of differences of opinions that involve types of morality.  

Should those who did not want to be vaccinated or wear a mask during covid have been forced to do so?  If they knowingly infected others, should they be responsible for the medical expenses or punishable for knowingly infecting others?  Must children be vaccinated if their parents' faith opposes it?  Is trans-gender eligible to be recognized for all reasons?  Should capital punishment be practiced.  Should cloning be practiced on humans or animals.  Should animals suffer and/or die in experiments to aid humans.  Should there be a death penalty?  Should polygamy be sanctioned?  Should Doctor Assisted Death be allowed in all states, with proper counseling and circumstances?  Should a woman be responsible for her own body?  Should wearing animal fur be prohibited?  

This blog was not written to provide answers but rather to encourage reflection on how to preserve a sense of morality, not only our own but a respect for others.  We are a nation of many ethnicities, beliefs, traditions, and extreme differences of wealth.  Generations of Americans have treasured our system of government, and the responsibilities entrusted to us.  That freedom depends on our morality and a respect for the differences among others.  Yet, defining morality is difficult.     

This blog isn't about answers, but I believe reflection on the issues that we can see all around us is   important.  My personal reflection has reminded me that answers are complex, but that should not mean that today's world has become 'anything goes.'  Neither does it mean that only my way is correct.  Defining morality is complicated by the extreme differences and rapid changes between generations.  Yet, if we cannot bridge all of these differences, defining morality may become impossible, and without morality a nation based on freedom faces perhaps more challenges than in any other time of our American history.