It would be difficult to have a serious or substantive conversation about Artificial Intelligence without touching upon some basic human characteristics or even flaws, which the various AI companies are looking to exploit. It is time that we take a serious look at who and what we really are as humans, for ourselves, to better understand how or why various AI companies will look to exploit us.
Humans have automated tasks and their work for centuries. Form the time of the first industrial revolution, to even now, AI applications to are sneaking into over lives. The fact is that, if there is an easier, faster or even lazier way to get a job done or to accomplish some task people are facing, we want it. We REALLY want. People do not seem to care if there might be other prevailing circumstances or even consequences, we just want that drug.
We will begin with the rush by AI companies to give people an “automated” helper, which they euphemistically call agents. A system or systems which AI companies can come to give you use of, and pay for, to help “supposedly” make your life easier going forward.
Microsoft is pushing its ‘Copilot’ which is being directed commercially at companies to help with a company’s customer service needs. Google for its part is working on six productivity Agents themselves, OpenAI has its ‘Sora’ for training other AI systems and Anthropic has a feature now on its ‘Claude’ so you can even create your own AI Assistant. How nice, how convenient huh?
Artificial intelligence companies are praying that their Agents will provide the means to monetize powerful, expensive AI models. Venture Capitalists are pouring capital into new AI agent enterprises which promise to revolutionize how we interact with technology. Businesses envision a leap forward in efficiency using agents to handle everything from customer service to data analysis. For individuals, AI companies are pitching a new era of productivity where routine tasks are automated, freeing up time for other things. What those ‘other things’ are, is another matter, but I digress. The final hope is that for these Agent initiates will become your true partner, not just a tool.
You may not be surprised to learn that your brain is a muscle. The more you use it, the better, the more powerful, the stronger it becomes. So when you start to surrender your work, even some tasks which otherwise you might consider enjoyable, like finding the flights for your vacation, the simple fact of the matter is, you as a person, a human person, are diminished. The fact is undeniably that exercise is what we do to strengthen your muscles, period. Not using a muscle or muscle group is regressive to our health, mental or otherwise. Coming to let AI, or any AI agent, do everything for you, may not be the best thing you can do for yourself. Nobody else will tell you that, but it is true.
So on the one hand, if you are an engineer, and you need some specific kind of help or input, that is one thing. But if it is something which you can do, and do for yourself, get off your cellulite derriere and do it yourself. The person you will be doing the favor for, is you. Companies want to see get hooked on this placebo called an “AI Agent” as a great fix. They want to see you get hooked on such services over time. Its lazy at its core and not the best for you or your mental prowess. And it will cost. Its a short-term fix which you can be dependent upon over time. All good drug dealers make the drugs exceptionally easy or cheap, even free at the beginning, but the actual price comes out over time.
With all the tools which are now available to a user today on the web, you CAN find what you want. Give yourself some self-respect and get the personal satisfaction that you can do it. You will be glad you did. Sharpen your mind overall. Save the charges on your credit card and take pride in yourself and what you can accomplish on your own.