It used to be that the weather was our most popular topic of conversation, giving us an excuse for a harmless moan. But we seem to have moved on to something a bit more sinister and now we’re all talking about technology. For instance, is AI a good or a bad thing? It’s capable of transforming our lives for the better by early and accurate diagnosis of illness, but it might become a force for evil like HAL in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 A Space Odyssey, when he goes rogue and shuts off the life support system of the entire crew. Although I do try to contemplate this seriously, any mention of 2001 now makes me think of the Barbie film, when the monolith that famously falls to earth in Kubrick’s film is replaced by a giant Barbie doll.
I know it’s causing real problems for teachers (AI not Barbie). For as long as I can remember they have been complaining about students’ poor language skills and their inability to arrange their thoughts clearly enough to write an essay. When I was at university decades ago, we had an English literature professor who started every lecture by teaching us a key point of grammar because he said (quite accurately) that we obviously didn’t have a clue. I am still grateful to him for unlocking the mysteries of the apostrophe. Now that students can simply use AI, I can’t help but wonder how well it’s working. How much knowledge can AI have of basic grammar and coherent sentences if very few actual people have the necessary abilities? Where would it learn them? Sadly, I don’t imagine that my English professor is still available.
Then of course there’s the furore about social media, its lack of regulation, addictive properties and toxic effect. The general consensus is that it damages young minds, but what about older minds? Addiction seems to have spread across the generations, with many seeming unable to find their way through the thicket of disinformation to arrive at any sort of truth. But what can we do? I can’t help it, I love technology. I don’t want to go back to a pre-internet world. I want to watch TV on demand, stream any music I fancy, use Google maps to get myself lost, look at gardens on Instagram, text my family and friends, book train tickets on my phone, transfer money through the ether and inflict my blogs on people. I’d miss it. A lot.
It’s all just too complicated. Google quietly dropped its motto of “Don’t be Evil” back in 2018 – do you remember those heady days when the internet was going to be a force for good? I think our only option is to mistrust the motivations of large faceless corporations and have faith in actual people. We need to resist the pull of cute cats and Dick Van Dyke being charming in the latest Coldplay video. Or maybe that’s just too much to ask.
If a joke is worth telling, is it worth telling twice?
I really enjoyed reading your reflections on the shifting conversations around technology, especially how it contrasts with our previous obsession with the weather. It’s fascinating (and a bit concerning) to think about AI’s potential both to enhance our lives and to pose significant challenges.
I completely agree that while AI can be a powerful tool for education, it also raises questions about fundamental skills like grammar and coherent writing. Your mention of your English professor brought back memories of my own experiences in school, where we often took those foundational lessons for granted. It’s ironic that as we develop technologies to assist us, we may inadvertently be sidelining essential skills.
The discussion around social media is equally complex. It’s alarming how pervasive addiction has become across all age groups, and navigating through misinformation feels like an uphill battle. Yet, as you mentioned, there are so many conveniences and joys that technology brings into our lives—who could imagine going back to a world without instant access to information or the ability to connect with loved ones at any moment?
I share your sentiment about the need for scepticism towards large corporations while maintaining faith in individuals. It’s crucial that we hold onto the idea of using technology as a force for good while being mindful of its pitfalls.
Let’s keep this conversation going! I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on how we can strike a balance between enjoying technological advancements and ensuring they serve humanity positively.
I don’t see how the first line pertains to anything, but the work is grammatical and the use of apostrophes is surprisingly good. The content, however, is both banal and derivative. Mark: C-
In addition, I am opposed to AI software developers who expect to harvest writers’ work free of charge, so in future all comments from AI Robert will be disallowed. I am also starting to wonder what AI Robert has done with the actual Robert, and can only fear the worst.
The misuse of, or lack of, apostrophes really irritates us. A sign on a florist’s van – “It all stem’s from here” – was particularly annoying!
I guess when in doubt, just sprinkle apostrophes about!