There are human reactions to any "unknown" new thing.
Some are rational, reasoned reactions.
Some not so reasoned.
What are your thoughts on past rumination and worry?
Are we paralleling any of these patterns of thought?
In Ancient Egypt on the written word:
Some priests feared that writing would erode memory and oral traditions, arguing it could lead to a decline in wisdom.
In Greece and Rome on wheeled transport:
Concerns arose about over-reliance on machines and the potential loss of physical labor.
The Printing Press:
The spread of printed material sparked fears about the dissemination of heretical ideas and the decline of scholarly authority.
Gunpowder:
It caused apprehensions about escalating violence and loss of life.
The Mechanical Clock:
Some viewed this as a challenge to the divine natural order of things, tying it to interruption of natural rhythms.
Steam Engine:
The Industrial Revolution raised fears about job displacement and the degradation of rural communities.
The Telegraph:
Concerns regarding the potential for the rapid spread of misinformation and robber baron's access to news.
Electricity:
The introduction of electric power faced skepticism due to safety concerns and fear of the machines.
Photography:
Some artists and philosophers worried that photography would devalue traditional art forms.
Television:
Fears about its impact on social interaction, attention spans, and the quality of information became prevalent.
Nuclear Technology:
The atomic bomb's development led to fears of global annihilation and later, the ethical safety implications of nuclear power.
The PC:
Concerns about privacy, job loss, and the impact of screen time on mental health began to surface.
The Internet:
Fears regarding privacy, cyberbullying, and the spread of misinformation became significant societal concerns.
Social Media:
Issues of addiction, mental health effects, and the spread of false information raised alarms.
Generative AI:
Growing concerns include job displacement, ethical dilemmas in decision-making, and the potential for misuse in surveillance, AI-control over humans, and warfare.
Is there any good news?
Righteous Worry?
Overreaction?
On March 4, 1933, FDR famously stated, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
He argued that the nation needed to confront challenges with courage and determination, rather than succumbing to fear.
The current hand-wringing reminds me of nihilistic fear from almost a century ago, which could paralyze efforts to improve our AI future situation.
Roosevelt’s speech aimed to instill hope and confidence in people as they faced unprecedented change - where are our contemporary voices of reason???
Just my
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk