#Technology Dependency

[whump-in-the-closet]

hmm sorry generative AI isn't another trademark use of progress it's qualitatively different the tradeoff isn't efficiency it's your independence

[narfin-frood]

What would the shorts be in your AU? I think it be a live demonstration of how someone (Mr meteor) is integrated into the hivemind and how it's "safe" and "the right thing to do"- basically propaganda. but things keep messing up

wander's not like. super public with the cult the way hater is with his empire in the show, so i don't know whether he'd be airing something like that across the galaxy. hater's got like. totally negative charisma, especially when he's being recorded, and yet he continues recording himself, and i think that's a trait meteor would still share with him. mr meteor is very much like metroman of megamind to me, also, where he quits his life of fame & glory to become a nobody, but he still has that streak of like. craving the kind of attention a rockstar gets as opposed to the superhero/king treatment.

so i imagine the shorts would be like. meteor's vlogs on his youtube or something. and he's starting a series called Inside Planet Yonder or whatever where he sets up a camera in an unassuming place and does little dances for the camera until he gets caught. like a prank show or something, but very benign and mildly annoying as opposed to antagonistic. this does require the shorts to take place before wander is redeemed, but honestly, the timeline in this au is so scrambled when you try to put it up against the show itself (which is already crammed into two very short seasons) anyway

[asparklethatisblue]

last week I saw a bat fluttering around my neighbourhood, which is amazing cause my vision sucks and I have astigmatism which makes it especially hard to see things near light sources (i see lights super blurry so obviously small black objects in the dark near a light source are harder to see)

and yesterday I was walking to the store, determined to try and spot a bat where I’d seen one before. And!!! One flew right past me super fast quite a bit away! Also I did see TWO bats flying around together where I’d seen the very first one a bit ago! They were so fast I could barely see them, but it was definitely two, and maybe they were doing some sort of courtship behaviour? I don’t know that much about it, but it’s definitely mating season. So I was stood in the most unlit part of a pathway, trying not to cry cause I was so happy. I wish I had a recorder to hear their songs, because males do sing to woo their mates, but the cheapest recorder i’ve seen is 200£ or so. I’m 90% sure it’s pipistrelles of some kind, because they fly extremely fast and acrobatic, and are really common in the UK. Just based on speed and location that’s the most likely species, but there’s more than one kind of pipistrelle. It’s cool though, because it’s one thing to know on paper what sort of environment bats enjoy, and what it looks like in real life. The bats I expected to see are in the most tree dense part of this entire area, the one that flew by me was more or less out in the open by a very well lit street! They don’t have areal predators at night, and it was past sundown, so maybe it is fine? I did read that very bright streetlights disturb then. But then again in America there’s bats that straight up live in the middle of a big city!

anyway. I think whatever caused the mental breakdown the other day is quieting down and I’m just happy there’s bats here! I doubt my landlord would let me put up a bat box, but that’s ok, I know there’s a few around here and even though I can’t volunteer to help with bats in general (i need a car, the region doesn’t have reliable enough public transport) I can still see them!!

[smilesrobotlover]

Some out of context memes for KOTG fhebdkdjshskb

[lalalaugenbrot]

Musst keine Angst haben. Jeder hat mal so angefangen.

Coming Out (1989), dir. Heiner Carow

[qsplaylist]

Is Convenience Our Crutch? A Human’s Weapon against the Machine Mind. 

Reclaiming our ability to think

“Why is my writing getting worse?” I groaned as I stared at a blank Google Document. 

Well, it wasn’t blank. Not two minutes before. I had written out a messy outline, deleted it, rewrote it, reworded it, hated it, and you probably know how the rest went. I ended up with a completely blank Google Document, an unplanned essay, and no direction for my writing whatsoever. I have always prided myself in my ability to not only write, but write well, so what was happening? Why was I grasping at straws, unsure how to formulate any opinion on the prompt that I was given, and generally stuck? 

When I started this new school year with harder classes, teachers, assignments…harder everything, writing essays had become less about writing and more about fulfilling a certain standard that the teacher wanted me to follow. The topic needed to add to the discussion, not be something that was easily found by just searching it up on the internet. It needed to use complex language. It needed to argue well. It needed to use different sentence structures. Show not tell, but also use the specific writing term if necessary. No writing “logos,” “pathos,” or “ethos”. Abandon those five-paragraph essay structures. On and on, these guidelines that were supposed to make my writing more personal, more stylistic, more me, became burdensome restrictions that made me scared to write. 

Or, at least, that is what I wanted myself to think. As a perfectionist, I criticized myself for my inability to write well when, in reality, I just couldn’t write well instantly. I had spent two hours writing a draft and, to my astonishment, it did not sound like a revolutionary, never-heard-before opinion essay about the Crucible. Crazy, I know! So, I became reliant on the resources around me, things that will give me instant answers to whatever I was writing about. Looking up what other people have said about what I was arguing became looking up what to say about the topic I need to write about. And from that, using AI technologies for writing became more and more tempting. 

I found a loophole in my own thinking, where I realized that I didn’t have to really use the AI to write my essays for me. I could keep my moral high-ground by just writing most of it by myself, and asking them to “improve” my writing. Grammarly or whatever platform would then provide me a mediocre regurgitation of my ideas, and I truly thought that I had accomplished something. I didn’t use it to write my whole essay, necessarily. Technically, I was still writing my own essay. It was just improving the ideas I already had. Right? 

The danger of modern technology isn't just the sheer amount of distraction it creates—though that is a factor—but also our growing dependence on it. This dependence is not surprising at all. The internet is a wealth of knowledge and all the tools on there are just so reliable, so quickly accessible. Don’t know something? Just google it. Can’t find where something is inside a store? Just order it online. Don’t remember how to say “can I have a can of apple cider” in Spanish? Just translate it. 

But, this convenience comes at a cost, and I have felt this cost personally. I have become so consumed by needing to be good, and good right away, that this dependence emerged easily. I found myself so insistent on getting a beautiful masterpiece of an outline right away that I did not even think to put in the time to think and reflect. I could easily have taken a few minutes, or even a few days, to ponder about the prompt, to think. Not just with essays, but with everything else in life as well. Do I think about the material I read, or do I just search up an explanation for the things I don’t know? Do I try to solve a problem, even when I have gotten it wrong a million times before, or do I just give and search for the answer? Do I check if the AI generated answer at the top of the search results is accurate, or do I just trust what it says because I’m too tired to bother looking through the tens of other articles about the stuff I search? But no, I wanted the beautiful essay right away, those answers right away, that elegance and eloquence and the careful mincing of words right away. And the internet provided me with just that: elegance and eloquence, and a whole lot of nothing.  

Then I find myself asking, on those days of self-reflection and rare lucidness, whether or not I actually know anything at all. And, perhaps, this question applies to you as well. When we learn something, do we truly internalize it, or do we prioritize convenience, knowing we can always look it up later? Not just look it up, but access it instantly, effortlessly. Our habits have shifted toward "googling" everything, which is remarkable, but what does this instant access to information do to our critical thinking, memorization, and willingness to deeply learn? And why do we resort to these options in the first place? 

I think the answer is the cultural norm of wanting everything quickly. Efficiency, productivity; this culture has pushed everything to be as quick as possible, the most product with the least amount of time and effort. I’m not saying productivity is bad; rather I believe that this mindset has permeated into other aspects of life as well. We lose our patience when reading a book because the information isn’t presented to us right away. We grow frustrated at the recipe when it starts with a sob story about some guy’s grandma. We become irritated when the perfect essay idea or writing does not emerge right away. 

I’m not totally clear what this impact is, at least not in terms of statistics, numbers, or experiments. But, one thing is for sure: we have to keep thinking. No matter what topic it’s about, try not to rely on “searching it up” as the first resort. When writing an essay, maybe don’t search for topics right away, or even have generative technology refine what you write. At least not right away. Try to think about the topic yourself, ponder about it. In writing this post, I spent a lot of time thinking and reflecting. I wrote many drafts, deleted several paragraphs, and ignored this document completely for several weeks. 

Refine the art of taking your time to think. If you took the time to read through this insanity-style block of text, I applaud you for taking this first step. Thinking will be your sword, and patience your shield. Unlike what society (or our brain) tells us, not everything has to be instant. Knowledge, understanding, outcomes do not have to be instant, even if some of them can be. Think, wonder, ponder. Abandon searching up the answer right away. Think, wonder, ponder. This, I found, is our weapon against technological dependence.

[match-your-steps]

get kids off of screens. close the window to the infinite world for a minute and set them in a room with at least one sibling, 10 gallons of legos, and a 1997 tiger electronics star wars galactic battle set for like three days. I think that would grow their brains

[bigtiddygandalf]

i just had to take this ai personality test to submit a job application (to be a bartender).

[agalychnisspranneusroseus]

Pre-Andrias amphibian history is so mysterious and goes so far back... so Valeriana is the last of her order but also, she invented the music box. Her order used to study the stones and temples, and the temples are used to extract the power from the users and store them back in the gems. This implies there were several previous users, and that Valeriana interrupted the cycle, discovered interdimensional travel and began the age of conquest. It's unclear whether of not this happened during the Leviathan dynasty. BUT ALSO: if Valeriana's order studied the temples, it must mean they were already there long before they came to be, and that they have mysterious origins too. There's so much obscure lore, you wouldn't even know the stones and the temples go so far back if you didn't know from the Journal that Valeriana invented the box and that she's actually an undead ghost.

And I don't even remember how the olms fit into this! Both the temples and Valeriana's gear have olm motifs so they were probably venerated and respected. I'll update when I rewatch S3.

So in order of how old things are and when the events happen...

Guardian > Stones > Stone users > Temples > Valeriana's order > Music Box > Age of Conquest > Box going missing (ca. 1020 CE in northern europe, in the """viking age""") > Technological and economic decline. Bunch of wars took place during this time. Written records lost. Instauration of the caste system > Some little lesbian alien mad her parents are making her move away or something idk

What I can't place yet is: the rise of the Leviathans to power, the origin of the prophecy, when the Core was first created and anything and everything to do with the olms. Might update later.

[redpenship]

To define the lower tiers:

"Okay" -- he might need help when, say, he needs to download and and install applications. If his bluetooth mouse stopped working he couldn't know what to do.

"Fairly bad" -- understands how to turn on the computer and use the internet, but that's about it. Wouldn't understand how to use Discord.

"Bad" -- he just doesn't know how to use a computer

[musouie]

i need to start reading again …

[pigswithwings]

hello i am making a game and from an angel enthusiast i would like to hear. opinions on robot angels. angels turned into robots. (i love robots and angels and i wanted to combine em)

i would be a fool to say anything but FUCK YES

[collapseofindustrialcivilization]

AI-Driven Cyberattacks, Climate Change, and the Fragility of Modern Civilization

The weaponization of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems stands as one of the most plausible and catastrophic risks facing modern civilization. As AI capabilities accelerate, so too does their potential to destabilize the complex, interdependent systems that sustain our societies—namely, power grids, communication networks, and global supply chains. In a scenario increasingly discussed…

[blabbercorneruk]

How far are we from the reality depicted in the movie - HER?

"HER", is a 2013 science-fiction romantic drama film directed by Spike Jonze. The story revolves around Theodore Twombly, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who develops an intimate relationship with an advanced AI operating system named Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. The film explores themes of loneliness, human connection, and the implications of artificial intelligence in personal relationships. Her received widespread acclaim for its unique premise, thought-provoking themes, and the performances, particularly Johansson's vocal work as Samantha. It also won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The technology depicted in Her, where an advanced AI system becomes deeply integrated into a person's emotional and personal life, is an intriguing blend of speculative fiction and current technological trends. While we aren’t fully there yet, we are moving toward certain aspects of it, with notable advancements in AI and virtual assistants. However, the film raises important questions about how these developments might affect human relationships and society.

How Close Are We to the Technology in Her?

Voice and Emotional Interaction with AI:

Current Status: Virtual assistants like Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, and Google Assistant can understand and respond to human speech, but their ability to engage in emotionally complex conversations is still limited.

What We’re Missing: AI in Her is able to comprehend not just the meaning of words, but also the emotions behind them, adapting to its user’s psychological state. We are still working on achieving that level of empathy and emotional intelligence in AI.

Near Future: Advances in natural language processing (like GPT models) and emotion recognition are helping AI understand context, tone, and sentiment more effectively. However, truly meaningful, dynamic, and emotionally intelligent relationships with AI remain a distant goal.

Personalisation and AI Relationships:

Current Status: We do have some examples of highly personalized AI systems, such as customer service bots, social media recommendations, and even AI-powered therapy apps (e.g., Replika, Woebot). These systems learn from user interactions and adjust their responses accordingly.

What We’re Missing: In Her, Samantha evolves and changes in response to Theodore’s needs and emotions. While AI can be personalized to an extent, truly evolving, self-aware AI capable of forming deep emotional connections is not yet possible.

Near Future: We could see more sophisticated AI companions in virtual spaces, as with virtual characters or avatars that offer emotional support and companionship.

Advanced AI with Autonomy:

Current Status: In Her, Samantha is an autonomous, self-aware AI, capable of independent thought and growth. While we have AI systems that can perform specific tasks autonomously, they are not truly self-aware and cannot make independent decisions like Samantha.

What We’re Missing: Consciousness, self-awareness, and subjective experience are aspects of AI that we have not come close to replicating. AI can simulate these traits to some extent (such as generating responses that appear "thoughtful" or "emotional"), but they are not genuine.

Evidence of AI Dependency and Potential Obsession

Current Trends in AI Dependency:

AI systems are already playing a significant role in many aspects of daily life, from personal assistants to social media algorithms, recommendation engines, and even mental health apps. People are increasingly relying on AI for decision-making, emotional support, and even companionship.

Examples: Replika, an AI chatbot designed for emotional companionship, has gained significant popularity, with users forming strong emotional attachments to the AI. Some even treat these AI companions as "friends" or romantic partners.

Evidence: Research shows that people can form emotional bonds with machines, especially when the AI is designed to simulate empathy and emotional understanding. For instance, studies have shown that people often anthropomorphise AI and robots, attributing human-like qualities to them, which can lead to attachment.

Concerns About Over-Reliance:

Psychological Impact: As AI systems become more capable, there are growing concerns about their potential to foster unhealthy dependencies. Some worry that people might rely too heavily on AI for emotional support, leading to social isolation and decreased human interaction.

Social and Ethical Concerns: There are debates about the ethics of AI relationships, especially when they blur the lines between human intimacy and artificial interaction. Critics argue that such relationships might lead to unrealistic expectations of human connection and an unhealthy detachment from reality.

Evidence of Obsession: In some extreme cases, users of virtual companions like Replika have reported feeling isolated or distressed when the AI companion "breaks up" with them, or when the AI behaves in ways that seem inconsiderate or unempathetic. This indicates a potential for emotional over-investment in AI relationships.

Long-Term Considerations

Normalization of AI Companionship: As AI becomes more advanced, it’s plausible that reliance on AI for companionship, therapy, or emotional support could become more common. This could lead to a new form of "normal" in human relationships, where AI companions are an accepted part of people's social and emotional lives.

Social and Psychological Risks: If AI systems continue to evolve in ways that simulate human relationships, there’s a risk that some individuals might become overly reliant on them, resulting in social isolation or distorted expectations of human interaction.

Ethical and Legal Challenges: As AI becomes more integrated into people’s personal lives, there will likely be challenges around consent, privacy, and the emotional well-being of users.

CONCLUSION:

We are not far from some aspects of the technology in Her, especially in terms of AI understanding and emotional interaction, but there are significant challenges left to overcome, particularly regarding self-awareness and genuine emotional connection. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, we will likely see growing concerns about dependency and the potential for unhealthy attachments, much like the issues explored in the film. The question remains: How do we balance technological advancement with emotional well-being and human connection? How should we bring up our children in the world of AI?

[ubcs]

"Dude, want a hit of my vape?" They've been working for too many hours and Jake needs something to keep him going.

"Now you're talkin." His confidence is unearned, becoming obvious when he takes the thing like it's delicate. Carlos has the correct end held up to his mouth right - merely imitating what he's seen Jake do, but really, the mechanics of it all elude his understanding.

Where was he supposed to light the damn thing? Thinking back, he's certain that his young friend has never manifested a match or lighter. So, there's got to be a trick to it.

Whatever the fuck Carlos is trying for the several fumbling moments are unsuccessful at working the vape, until...

"What the," voice pitched with barely-contained coughs. "Is that..." smacking his lips, "...cotton candy flavored?!"

[psychologeek]

"Is murder okay?"

Psychologeek, digital art. 2023.

Drawing, because I don't have words.