AI: Why the Quiet Voices Matter Most When Discord Rules
When turmoil begins, the wise, called upon, retreat to the peace within
AI is popular. Something to have a stance on. “Did you hear they gave the Nobel prizes of physics and chemistry to AI guys, crazy right?” “Wow, the Tesla event yesterday was something — don’t you think?” You better think something, anything. Nothing’s worse than impartiality by ignorance. That’s AI now, like politics. Hesitate and people will assume your side for you; “if you’re not with me you’re my enemy.” Controversy rules. There’s division even if you want to sum.
Naturally, as with all divisive stuff, AI has given birth to opposing groups — pro-AI and anti-AI people. They’re thesis and antithesis. They despise each other more than they care about AI (or themselves), like hooligans cheering for their team as an excuse to get drunk on anger and hatred (metaphorically and literally).
In fairness to the people who identify with the labels but don’t share all the defining traits, I should draft a detailed taxonomy (I won’t, it’s beyond my scope, but know that I’m sensitive to such internal differences). There’s a hidden complexity, full of color and texture, to how people relate to one or the other group. Only a tiny minority reaches fanatic levels of allegiance.
