Thanks for sharing, Matthew, I don't feel so bad about my lone publishing credit in 2023 now! It never occurred to me to do a retrospective of my own workings, but I can see the benefit. I'll need to see if I can squeeze it in, only I promised my editor I'd have my copy edit revisions for my debut novel, "The Festival of Hungry Ghosts", back by next week (urban fantasy, the Big Bad Wolf leaves Fairyland to become a private eye in 1930's Los Angeles). And I've a short story idea that won't leave me alone. Here's looking forward to 2024.
You HAVE been busy! Two quick points. On your section about AI, you used the phrase: "...writers griping about how destabilizing AI is." I believe instability is a GOOD thing. Stability leads to comfort and comfort leads to complacency and stagnation. Humans NEED challenge and instability to achieve. AI is a tool. Like ANY other tool, so it too has a dangerous aspect of its' nature. I built two large armoires for my wife. I also drilled a hole in my left index finger and received numerous bruises and small cuts in the process. The more useful and dynamic a tool is, the greater the potential for misuse and abuse. If the use of AI presents challenges to the current system, then the system may have to change. Additionally, I have frequently made to argument for Arts (and Humanities) in STEM. However, that day is on the horizon. I think of many things as riding a pendulum. For a long time the Arts and Humanities have dominated much of education...at a great expense of STEM. (Can you tell that I am also a gas turbine engineer and an electronics technician.) The imbalance was recognized and the pendulum swung toward STEM. While I believe it still needs to swing more into the STEM direction, the shift is slowing and I believe that we will soon see a time where STEAM will hold sway...at least for a little while. I am looking forward to your Outer Deep posts as they usually spark discussions in my head for when I am snow blowing or sanding...LoL. Finally, your Amazon link for “Sword of the Silent” is dead.
Thank you Charles! I don't think all uses of AI are necessarily bad. However, I have no desire to read a story created by an AI. I'd much rather read a story written by a human being with real experiences.
Also, I think that in times of rapid change it's the study of the humanities that grounds us and keeps us focused on things that will benefit society as a whole. In a lot of AI research today I feel that there is no consideration, and it's just to see if it can be done or to be the other guy from getting there first. That's a dangerous place to be when you are dealing with technologies that have the power to upset society.
Thanks for the information about the broken link. I'll try to fix it. And I appreciate the comments, as always.
Concur. But I don't think we are anywhere near that...yet. And I think you answered your own concerns...AI, at its' core IS STEM... There is no 'Arts" in STEM. There is also NOTHING more human than art. An AI can emulate it, it can even make things we've ever seen before, but it can't create. It can mimic emotion, but it can't really feel. THAT is what makes Art. That nebulous weird thing that we call emotion...we can barely describe what emotion is, much less nail down the exact mechanisms...and even if we did, it would be different for each person. I can tell in an instant, something that is AI generated...there's always something off. When I'm reading, the 'voice' that is narrating while I read becomes more and more mechanical until the AI-ness just pops out. The same with AI generated graphics...they just look manufactured. Then again, maybe I am a freak...
Happy New Years!
Likewise
Thanks for sharing, Matthew, I don't feel so bad about my lone publishing credit in 2023 now! It never occurred to me to do a retrospective of my own workings, but I can see the benefit. I'll need to see if I can squeeze it in, only I promised my editor I'd have my copy edit revisions for my debut novel, "The Festival of Hungry Ghosts", back by next week (urban fantasy, the Big Bad Wolf leaves Fairyland to become a private eye in 1930's Los Angeles). And I've a short story idea that won't leave me alone. Here's looking forward to 2024.
Sounds cool!
You HAVE been busy! Two quick points. On your section about AI, you used the phrase: "...writers griping about how destabilizing AI is." I believe instability is a GOOD thing. Stability leads to comfort and comfort leads to complacency and stagnation. Humans NEED challenge and instability to achieve. AI is a tool. Like ANY other tool, so it too has a dangerous aspect of its' nature. I built two large armoires for my wife. I also drilled a hole in my left index finger and received numerous bruises and small cuts in the process. The more useful and dynamic a tool is, the greater the potential for misuse and abuse. If the use of AI presents challenges to the current system, then the system may have to change. Additionally, I have frequently made to argument for Arts (and Humanities) in STEM. However, that day is on the horizon. I think of many things as riding a pendulum. For a long time the Arts and Humanities have dominated much of education...at a great expense of STEM. (Can you tell that I am also a gas turbine engineer and an electronics technician.) The imbalance was recognized and the pendulum swung toward STEM. While I believe it still needs to swing more into the STEM direction, the shift is slowing and I believe that we will soon see a time where STEAM will hold sway...at least for a little while. I am looking forward to your Outer Deep posts as they usually spark discussions in my head for when I am snow blowing or sanding...LoL. Finally, your Amazon link for “Sword of the Silent” is dead.
Thank you Charles! I don't think all uses of AI are necessarily bad. However, I have no desire to read a story created by an AI. I'd much rather read a story written by a human being with real experiences.
Also, I think that in times of rapid change it's the study of the humanities that grounds us and keeps us focused on things that will benefit society as a whole. In a lot of AI research today I feel that there is no consideration, and it's just to see if it can be done or to be the other guy from getting there first. That's a dangerous place to be when you are dealing with technologies that have the power to upset society.
Thanks for the information about the broken link. I'll try to fix it. And I appreciate the comments, as always.
Concur. But I don't think we are anywhere near that...yet. And I think you answered your own concerns...AI, at its' core IS STEM... There is no 'Arts" in STEM. There is also NOTHING more human than art. An AI can emulate it, it can even make things we've ever seen before, but it can't create. It can mimic emotion, but it can't really feel. THAT is what makes Art. That nebulous weird thing that we call emotion...we can barely describe what emotion is, much less nail down the exact mechanisms...and even if we did, it would be different for each person. I can tell in an instant, something that is AI generated...there's always something off. When I'm reading, the 'voice' that is narrating while I read becomes more and more mechanical until the AI-ness just pops out. The same with AI generated graphics...they just look manufactured. Then again, maybe I am a freak...