You're on to something, Tall man. I've been railing against cell phones, particularly smart phones for years. Any device that consumes the attention of people the way smart phones do is dangerous and the tool needed to exert control of the masses, should the powers that be decide it necessary beyond the current manipulation. Just look around in any waiting area (the airport waiting for a flight) and 80-90% of the people are all looking at their cell phones. Very little human interaction. It's in those moments I love to be reading a book.
Here's a thought, a prediction maybe: with the current rapid emergence of AI and all of its potential, it seems to me the potential of it becoming, or supplanting God is quite good. As its evolution and technology continues it will be here - presence. And more importantly, tangible. It will be omniscient and omnipresent. And what is omniscient, omnipresent for far too many? God. I can easily envision, in a couple of hundred years (or less), a "techno-church" where the faithful come and revere the "presence" of the "only god" backdropped by a light show like no other. Those that "need" a god, a religion in their lives will finally have it. It will be seen. It will be touched. It will be all too believable for it not to be "true". There's some reality for you. Especially in this era of Trump and how he has shown how to BS so many. The evidence is clear. These smart phones and what you're on to (and I agree) are only a tiny morsel of a prelude to what's to come with AI.
You are describing the prescient and highly entertaining sci-fi comedy TV show, "Mrs. Davis"!! I highly recommend checking it out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Davis
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts! Sounds like a bloodless, nonviolent version of The Matrix. In my next post I’ll be talking about “surveillance capitalism”. Every online movement is tracked. Our behavioral data is sold, packaged, and analyzed. Then that data is used to continuously refine a customized approach to shaping our future behavior. It would be analogous to a tobacco company having the data and the means to customize a cigarette design for every consumer so that the cigarette is maximally addictive for each individual based on their unique body chemistry and behaviors. You raise a valid point about the dangers of AI. Whether AI continues to simply be a tool of human overlords or becomes an overlord unto itself is an interesting discussion.
Thanks for writing this. Putting the spectacle and surveillance consumerism in terms of how to pursue underlying social needs is an approach I can get behind.
Thank you Paul, I shall read the entire article carefully when I have the time before giving it an upvote. Oh, by the way, I am / will be doing all that on my computer, not on a smartphone :-)))) I have been virulently opposed to (and excessively irritated by) mobile phones, and subsequently smart phones, ever since the first ones appeared in the 1990s. In themselves, I would say that these devices are very useful if used wisely (i.e. in connection with one's job). The real evil is of course, the so-called 'social media', although even this can be useful if used wisely and sparingly. For example: without even having to open an account, I can keep track of new items on the menu at my favourite restaurants. I check that about once every 7 to 14 days. But after doing it I close down the computer. Computers are far better than smartphones, as one can't really lug them around everywhere. Nevertheless, one still must beware of spending too much time on a computer!!! (as I am doing now, to my annoyance)
You're on to something, Tall man. I've been railing against cell phones, particularly smart phones for years. Any device that consumes the attention of people the way smart phones do is dangerous and the tool needed to exert control of the masses, should the powers that be decide it necessary beyond the current manipulation. Just look around in any waiting area (the airport waiting for a flight) and 80-90% of the people are all looking at their cell phones. Very little human interaction. It's in those moments I love to be reading a book.
Here's a thought, a prediction maybe: with the current rapid emergence of AI and all of its potential, it seems to me the potential of it becoming, or supplanting God is quite good. As its evolution and technology continues it will be here - presence. And more importantly, tangible. It will be omniscient and omnipresent. And what is omniscient, omnipresent for far too many? God. I can easily envision, in a couple of hundred years (or less), a "techno-church" where the faithful come and revere the "presence" of the "only god" backdropped by a light show like no other. Those that "need" a god, a religion in their lives will finally have it. It will be seen. It will be touched. It will be all too believable for it not to be "true". There's some reality for you. Especially in this era of Trump and how he has shown how to BS so many. The evidence is clear. These smart phones and what you're on to (and I agree) are only a tiny morsel of a prelude to what's to come with AI.
You are describing the prescient and highly entertaining sci-fi comedy TV show, "Mrs. Davis"!! I highly recommend checking it out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Davis
I love sci fi and will check it out. Thank you for the recommendation 🙏🏻☮️
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts! Sounds like a bloodless, nonviolent version of The Matrix. In my next post I’ll be talking about “surveillance capitalism”. Every online movement is tracked. Our behavioral data is sold, packaged, and analyzed. Then that data is used to continuously refine a customized approach to shaping our future behavior. It would be analogous to a tobacco company having the data and the means to customize a cigarette design for every consumer so that the cigarette is maximally addictive for each individual based on their unique body chemistry and behaviors. You raise a valid point about the dangers of AI. Whether AI continues to simply be a tool of human overlords or becomes an overlord unto itself is an interesting discussion.
Thanks for writing this. Putting the spectacle and surveillance consumerism in terms of how to pursue underlying social needs is an approach I can get behind.
Hi Billy. Thank you reading and for engaging with the content. 🙏🏻
Folgers husband-pleasing ad from the 1960s illustrates Debord’s “spectacle”: https://youtu.be/Pm2b6lKtx8Q?feature=shared
Thank you Paul, I shall read the entire article carefully when I have the time before giving it an upvote. Oh, by the way, I am / will be doing all that on my computer, not on a smartphone :-)))) I have been virulently opposed to (and excessively irritated by) mobile phones, and subsequently smart phones, ever since the first ones appeared in the 1990s. In themselves, I would say that these devices are very useful if used wisely (i.e. in connection with one's job). The real evil is of course, the so-called 'social media', although even this can be useful if used wisely and sparingly. For example: without even having to open an account, I can keep track of new items on the menu at my favourite restaurants. I check that about once every 7 to 14 days. But after doing it I close down the computer. Computers are far better than smartphones, as one can't really lug them around everywhere. Nevertheless, one still must beware of spending too much time on a computer!!! (as I am doing now, to my annoyance)