In a futuristic article, Fortune discusses the way research in to reading and interpreting brainwave activity, has lead to conclusive initial experiences that allow the brain to replace the mouse for basic functions.
Science Fiction Novels have often given us images of a future with voice controlled and complex computer systems providing valuable services and functions. Fewer have portrayed humans interfaced with computers via brainwave patterns alone. It is true that the thought of having to have a chip implanted in your brain to do so is a pretty scary thought. The idea that such an interface could be accessed by computers other than the one(s) intended, chills you to the bone. The mere notion of a virus capable of creating havoc with a human brain through such an interface is a nightmare.
But the advantages that can be gained, as well as less obtrusive methods that are appearing without the need for implants is fascinating:
Last year, Sony took out a patent on a game system that beams data directly into the mind without implants. It uses a pulsed ultrasonic signal that induces sensory experiences such as smells, sounds and images.
There are also far more useful examples in the article where quadriplegic patients can communicate via such systems and a chip that could be able to "process thoughts as fast as speech - 110 to 170 words per minute - by 2012".
"Stu Wolf, one of the top scientists at Darpa", describes the mind enabled systems like these : "network-enabled telepathy" which is disturbingly close to the storyline of the film 'Matrix'.
Let's hope that the top scientists and researchers alike provide us with safe and useful devices that will make our lives easier and secure.
A related article at the washingtonpost.com explains how "scientists at Stanford University hope to allow patients one day to complete actions without even having to think about the action itself."
This obviously all sounds beneficial on the whole and far better than the reports that have been published about how cell phones affect the brain.
I question the reliability and accuracy of Generative AI (GenAI) in enterprise scenarios, particularly when faced with adversarial questions, highlighting that current Large Language Models (LLMs) may be data-rich but lack in reasoning and causality. I would call for a more balanced approach to AI adoption in cases of assisting users, requiring supervision, and the need for better LLM models that can be trusted, learn, and reason.
I discuss my experience with chatbots, contrasting older rules-based systems with newer GenAI (General Artificial Intelligence) chatbots. We cannot dismiss the creative capabilities of GenAI-based chatbots, but these systems lack reliability, especially in customer-facing applications, and improvements in the way AI is structured could lead to a "software renaissance," potentially reducing society's technical debt.
The article discusses the contrasting debate on how AI safety is and should be managed, its impact on technical debt, and its societal implications.
It notes the Center for AI Safety's call for a worldwide focus on the risks of AI, and Meredith Whittaker's criticism that such warnings preserve the status quo, strengthening tech giants' dominance. The piece also highlights AI's potential to decrease societal and technical debt by making software production cheaper, simpler, and resulting in far more innovation. It provides examples of cost-effective open-source models that perform well and emphasizes the rapid pace of AI innovation. Last, the article emphasises the need for adaptive legislation to match the pace of AI innovation, empowering suitable government entities for oversight, defining appropriate scopes for legislation and regulation, addressing ethical issues and biases in AI, and promoting public engagement in AI regulatory decisions.
Japan has made its ruling on the situation between Content creators and Businesses. Japanese companies that use AI have the freedom to use content for training purposes without the burden of copyright laws. This news about the copyright laws in Japan reported over at Technomancers is seen as Businesses: 1 / Content Creators: 0 The […]