AI isn’t very good at being human, and if we follow the current trend of insular behaviour then we won’t be, either
Nicole is PC Pro’s Futures editor. Don’t write in to tell her that people outside of London behave like this all the time already. She’s been past the M25, and y’all have just as many AirPods. @njkobie
If you don’t want AI to take over the world then I have one simple suggestion: be more human. Figuring out what exactly that means is no simple task. To avoid your job being taken by robots, management consultants recommend doing work that is human-focused, taking on roles such as yoga instructor or care worker. But the flexibility and strength of yoga instructors is so far from my own bodily experience that Boston Dynamics’ robot dog could teach it and be more useful a reference. I can see the argument for human care workers, but that says more about slow progress in robotics than our society’s desire to treat the elderly or ill with care and dignity.
You’d think actors would be safe from replacement, but they’ve taken to picket lines in California, protesting about both wages and the first steps onto the slippery slope of generating AI actors. One union warned that studios wanted to pay extras $200 to scan them, then use their faces in the future as AI avatars. Imagine taking a job as an extra early in your career, only to find your face in a film you didn’t consent to – or get paid for.
There are also fears that studios will use AI to write scripts, with humans taking on the role of script doctors to fix the shoddy pacing or dull dialogue. That’s perhaps just for low-quality dross that fills our screens, or for the multiple levels of sequels and prequels on some cinematic properties. I’d forgive the writers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe or Star Wars for turning to AI for fresh ideas given how many shows and films they’re churning out.
But there’s more to life than work. Even if we do all find jobs teaching yoga, I worry that algorithms and automation are making us all more machine-like. Go to the pub, order via an app (I’ve written previously about how much I love these, and I admit I’m a hypocrite). Stop for groceries, check your basket out on a self-service machine that can only banter via beeps. As we walk through life not talking to anyone, it’s no surprise we all stare at our phones and block our ears with Bluetooth headphones.
We already treat each other like robots. Amazon warehouse employees have long warned that they’re given repetitive tasks and worked until they break down. Interviews w
