Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

All this $$$ is killing AI.

I used to work in AI. That means that I researched things that might allow us to do things that we couldn’t do. I attempted to instruct a computer or, as we used to say, I attempted to write a computer program to do something that people could do and computers couldn’t do. I struggled with the fundamental that all a computer could do was tell the difference between a one and a zero.

It was research. That is what AI is: a field of research.

At one time a home thermostat was considered AI. Make it colder when it was too hot and make it warmer when it was too cold. Amazing stuff that only thinking people could do. After successes in that research, AI turned into control theory. There are many other examples of research in AI turning into other endeavors that we take for granted.

Now, however, AI is big BIG B I G money! I have nothing against folks making money and supporting their families. I have nothing against folks turning research into practice and creating jobs for other folks. Good stuff.

If you want to make money, shout AY EYE! or something like that. People with money will beat a path to your door. Who care$ if we are a bit loose with word$. We are talking money here.

Nevertheless, I am troubled by folks in technology not understanding these basic tenets. Come on folks, let’s do a little research into history. Journalists? Well, their profession is marked by getting things wrong far more often than getting them right, so I have low expectations there.

Come on, we can do better.