Post #3103603

2026-05-19 12:49 UTC

> but these are new risks of arbitrary severity, from trivial to devastating, that did not exist at all before I disagree. The risks of arbitrary severity are already there, we have just slowly evolved into handling them how we handle them now, learned (sometimes) from the mistakes either how to handle them better or just accept the consequences as "how things are." So, I do agree that rapid switching to letting AI handle things will mis-handle the old risks in new and unanticipated ways. Maybe if AI helps us actually build a space elevator or functional fusion Tokamaks or other things like that then that will be creating significant new risks with their own new issues. >we have to do that hard work and be real with ourselves, rather than hand-wave them away because of the potentially thrilling prospects. AI is just the latest shiny in a long list of shinies that enthusiastic entreprenuers have hand-waved all the hard work around the real challenges away about. I think self driving cars are a pretty good example of how this "disaster waiting to happen" will really roll out - things like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYkv6jvTpCc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Elaine_Herzberg etc. Is it regrettable that Elaine died? Yes - right along with the other 6000+ pedestrians killed by human drivers that year in the US alone.

Replies (1)

@badgermurphy@lemmy.world 2026-05-19 17:27

I feel that we must largely agree, because you are making similar points to me, albeit with somewhat different apparent sentiment. For example, your points illustrate that there are perfectly good examples of the previous systems having horrible, regrettable, issues, as well. I think the real meat of my concerns with this rapid and, in my opinion, reckless and completely unregulated rollout, is that when something does go spectacularly wrong with an AI product, everyone throws their hands up and shouts "NOT IT!" when its time for responsibility and culpability to get handed out. Personally, I am totally fine with this technology and really any technology so long as the responsible parties are _made_ responsible for their failures and negligence. Today, big tech is trying to claim all the accolades and money for AI, and zero of the responsibility, and are so far being allowed to do so. Frankly, it seems that they have so thoroughly captured the levers of government meant to regulate them that we will have to wait for their insurers to force them to take responsibility, since _someone_ has to hold the bag when there's lawsuits. They've got a strong lobby, too.

Open ##3103604