Perilous Tech

Occasional thoughts on technology and social issues

  • ChatGPT, Alignment, and the Paperclip Maximizer

    ChatGPT, Alignment, and the Paperclip Maximizer

    On Valentines Day this year, I commented about the current AI boom and the paperclip maximizer, but I feel this topic deserves a bit more explanation. With all of the hype and mobilization caused by the ChatGPT demo, the warning about AI alignment is missing from news coverage and conversation. We are getting a preview… Read more

  • Chatbots, Search Engines, and Truth

    Chatbots, Search Engines, and Truth

    Whether we want them or not, chatbots are coming to search engines. Google announced Bard and Microsoft implemented ChatGPT style integration with GPT-4 from OpenAI in Bing. Well, at least people are talking about Bing again, which hasn’t been mentioned in a conversation since its launch. All jokes aside, this begs the question, is search… Read more

  • ChatGPT Reaches Social Contagion Status

    ChatGPT Reaches Social Contagion Status

    On a daily basis, I’m bombarded by fantastical news stories and email articles about ChatGPT and how 2023 is the year it’s going to replace “X” job or profession. It seems that no profession is safe. It reminds me of the Dewie The Bear scene from the movie Semi Pro where Will Ferrell screams, “Everybody… Read more

  • Good Enough is Fine: This Year AI Displaces Creatives

    Good Enough is Fine: This Year AI Displaces Creatives

    2023 is going to be an interesting year for generative AI. Past the demos of the previous year, there’s going to be a big push on monetization. This application and integration into products will have a displacing effect and this effect will have a disproportionate impact on certain areas, mainly in the creative arts. Note:… Read more

  • You Should Read 1984 in 2023

    This may seem like an odd book recommendation for 2023. After all, the book is 74 years old. Maybe you, like myself, read it when you were in school and felt that you’d gained all the insights from reading and classroom discussions. Do you remember any of those? I know I didn’t. Revisiting a text… Read more

  • ChatGPT Generates Amateur Futurists

    ChatGPT Generates Amateur Futurists

    Scour the web and social media for reactions to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and you’ll notice a trend. Everyone’s now a futurist. The tech crystal ball has revealed to droves of people, regardless of background and experience a future where you can ask for technical content in the style of Shakespeare or even write college essays for… Read more