To me, the bigger problem than the lack of critical thinking is the acceptance that the lack of critical thinking is a perfectly acceptable way to deal with reality, AND the positive joy with which THEY* greet the lack of critical thinking because it makes them feel big. Because I see this embiggening to be one of the crucial social psychological problems facing the 21st-century. There are billions of people around me, forces that are beyond my ability to understand, let alone control, and I need to feel like I am something more than I am. And I’m too fucking lazy and entitled to accomplish it on my own, so I need to be embiggened by artificial means.
Senator Mike Lee of Utah is someone that makes Massey look like a flaming liberal. Today, he breathlessly announced that James Talerico would happily take your children and literally sacrifice them to Moloch. There is absolutely zero ambiguity and what he had to say. In a sane world, he would be censured by the Senate. His church would castigate him for reviling and slandering people. the people of Utah would demand his resignation. And he would be ashamed if he had the slightest bit of decency, but with a comment like that, decency long ago left the building.
Instead, we get crickets.
He’s not saying this because he’s hoping to convince anybody but his rabid base. He would be even stupider than he appears to be if he actually thought that he could. The intention is to inflame the terminally stupid, the exorbitantly fearful, the spiritually bankrupt. But that is the whole methodology of the demagogue— to make himself as stupid as the people that listen to him so that they will think that they are as smart and successful as he is.
That is Lee. That is Trump. That is every single religious huckster out there.
Thank you. Although my actual career was in the arts, I have degrees in sociology, mental health, and math. I tend to look at everything like a sociologist, but since psychology was an especial interest of mine, the psychology in sociology interests me even more. And math taught me the necessity of being precise.
Our problems as a body politic are to my mind, only mildly political. One crazy person in a village of 100? They can handle it. 1000 crazy people in a population of 100,000, it gets more difficult to handle, but they can still do it. But 1 million crazy people in a population of 100 million, and we have a real problem, especially if you give them a means to communicate with an organize with each other.
In all cases it’s just one percent of the population.
AI is a simple tool. Its best use is to offer assistance in writing. Simple tasks. If humans give up some of their control to machines, all hell will break loose. AI has no future for humans unless you want the world that “Wall-e” portrays. Its only purpose is to make trillions for the Musks & Bezos of the world.
The wealthy will not live where the AI data centers will exist.
Computers are meant to help humans, not take over for them. I know, I had a career for about 40 years in the computer world. They are tools. Nothing more.
I actually hate to see it being used to help people write. I refuse to use it for that. It may have some good applications for science/medicine, but otherwise is a dangerous tool, as you say.
I’m not convinced AI is good for anything. If it takes away the creativity of a writer or takes over the analysis process of anyone in any other profession, including science and medicine, then it’s fairly dangerous.
I’ve turned off as much of AI in our phones and computers as possible. We don’t use any home device to turn on the music or lights and we don’t use Siri.
Autonomous driving? What a joke and something which is dangerous for others as well. I’m a fan of KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid.
Your analysis is extremely frightening and it falls inline with all the other warnings I've read about the goals of Project 2025 and the developmental steps of fascism. I also just read Hartmann's book on the history of neoliberalism. At this point I'm desperate for some positive news on the most effective approach to counter act it and to save democracy.
This is what is most frightening about AI. And to make matters worse, most members of the House and Senate lack the understanding of AI (and sometimes technology in general) to be capable to develop sensible guardrails around the use of AI.
I agree with nearly everything you say here, Mike, but I do have one quibble. You warn: "Democrats should be careful before they laugh too hard about this because the same incentives exist everywhere now. It affects the left just as much of the right." With all due respect, Democrats are far better able to resist those pressures than Trumplicans. Whether we will actually do so is an open question, and I appreciate your reminding us not to be complacent. But I have faith that most Democrats will continue to see through the propaganda.
Negative political ads are almost as old as the US. Political demagogues like Trump aren't something new either. But the new AI technology threatens to strike a deadly blow to the body politic. Now, any sole, message-focused propagandist freelancer with a keyboard can replace entire teams of cronies and backroom political operators.
The electricity demanded by AI data centers is driving up electricity prices for regular Americans.
I beg to differ. You're talking about GOP primary voters. They believe toxic AI because they dislike women, minorities and gay/trans people. They've drunk the Kool-Aid. Our task is to remind everyone else about the reality that Trump and the GOP have created.
Our current reality is a losing war with Iran; gas between $4.50-$7 per gallon (depending on where you live); groceries that are 20% higher than last year; health insurance costing 25% or more higher; immigrants mistreated and killed in concentration camps; citizens gunned down by ICE and no prosecution of the Epstein rapists.
GOP turnout has been lower this primary season. Cognitive dissonance is keeping some home. Our challenge is to remind the rest of the population that if they don't vote for their own pocketbooks and safety all of the above problems will get much worse.
If MAGAts don't wake up and smell the coffee, they will surely be swept under with the tide. By then, of course, it may be too late for all of us. You believe the words of Trump, his cronies and sychophants, and the techno/kleptocrats at your own peril.
These are all EMOTIONALLY ILL adults acting like juveniles with a New Toy! FFS!! I mean REALLY. ALL of these screwballs need to GROW UP! I can't even believe these jerks are in gov't.
"Especially older voters who already struggle with basic internet misinformation."
I know this is not met as an insult; but, I've been hearing this since I was in my forties. Being an older person now, is it possible that those older people who struggled with basic internet misinformation have passed on. I think the current elderly have been internet literate for some time now.
I do recall, though, reading a poll before Massie's election that showed Massie winning amongst younger voters, but losing with the older voters.
I think it’s not a young or old thing it is a critical thinking issue. There are loads of young people that are not internet misinformation savvy at all. Many are swayed by influencers and lack the skills to discern good quality information from bad information.
I am not because I am confident that I am Internet savy. As well, I have critical thinking skills. This probably applies, moreso, to Republican voters, for which I cannot deny.
Okay, you've outlined our problem absolutely perfectly. In fact, "bravo", this was a great article. Very informative and I can tell you researched it well. But, (I do this myself all of the time) we can identify the problem and the nuances to it, but we have no idea how to fix it. How do WE fix this? Anyone have any real ideas? Scary as hell.
The biggest problem you more or less hint at.
To me, the bigger problem than the lack of critical thinking is the acceptance that the lack of critical thinking is a perfectly acceptable way to deal with reality, AND the positive joy with which THEY* greet the lack of critical thinking because it makes them feel big. Because I see this embiggening to be one of the crucial social psychological problems facing the 21st-century. There are billions of people around me, forces that are beyond my ability to understand, let alone control, and I need to feel like I am something more than I am. And I’m too fucking lazy and entitled to accomplish it on my own, so I need to be embiggened by artificial means.
Senator Mike Lee of Utah is someone that makes Massey look like a flaming liberal. Today, he breathlessly announced that James Talerico would happily take your children and literally sacrifice them to Moloch. There is absolutely zero ambiguity and what he had to say. In a sane world, he would be censured by the Senate. His church would castigate him for reviling and slandering people. the people of Utah would demand his resignation. And he would be ashamed if he had the slightest bit of decency, but with a comment like that, decency long ago left the building.
Instead, we get crickets.
He’s not saying this because he’s hoping to convince anybody but his rabid base. He would be even stupider than he appears to be if he actually thought that he could. The intention is to inflame the terminally stupid, the exorbitantly fearful, the spiritually bankrupt. But that is the whole methodology of the demagogue— to make himself as stupid as the people that listen to him so that they will think that they are as smart and successful as he is.
That is Lee. That is Trump. That is every single religious huckster out there.
*THEY- a global conspiracy company
That first paragraph stunned me. Great perspective tying the cultural laziness with envy.
Jealousy is an ugly emotion. Truly heinous behavior- strong psychosis emerges.
Homicidal joy maybe?
Thank you. Although my actual career was in the arts, I have degrees in sociology, mental health, and math. I tend to look at everything like a sociologist, but since psychology was an especial interest of mine, the psychology in sociology interests me even more. And math taught me the necessity of being precise.
Our problems as a body politic are to my mind, only mildly political. One crazy person in a village of 100? They can handle it. 1000 crazy people in a population of 100,000, it gets more difficult to handle, but they can still do it. But 1 million crazy people in a population of 100 million, and we have a real problem, especially if you give them a means to communicate with an organize with each other.
In all cases it’s just one percent of the population.
So scary! That's why I trust you, Mike, and Rick Wilson to steer me toward the truth!
AI is a simple tool. Its best use is to offer assistance in writing. Simple tasks. If humans give up some of their control to machines, all hell will break loose. AI has no future for humans unless you want the world that “Wall-e” portrays. Its only purpose is to make trillions for the Musks & Bezos of the world.
The wealthy will not live where the AI data centers will exist.
Computers are meant to help humans, not take over for them. I know, I had a career for about 40 years in the computer world. They are tools. Nothing more.
I actually hate to see it being used to help people write. I refuse to use it for that. It may have some good applications for science/medicine, but otherwise is a dangerous tool, as you say.
I agree.
I’m not convinced AI is good for anything. If it takes away the creativity of a writer or takes over the analysis process of anyone in any other profession, including science and medicine, then it’s fairly dangerous.
I’ve turned off as much of AI in our phones and computers as possible. We don’t use any home device to turn on the music or lights and we don’t use Siri.
Autonomous driving? What a joke and something which is dangerous for others as well. I’m a fan of KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid.
Let’s create a new verb, “Massied”, the use of AI falsehoods to defeat a candidate.
Your analysis is extremely frightening and it falls inline with all the other warnings I've read about the goals of Project 2025 and the developmental steps of fascism. I also just read Hartmann's book on the history of neoliberalism. At this point I'm desperate for some positive news on the most effective approach to counter act it and to save democracy.
Totally agree, I feel the same.
This is what is most frightening about AI. And to make matters worse, most members of the House and Senate lack the understanding of AI (and sometimes technology in general) to be capable to develop sensible guardrails around the use of AI.
Michael,it is not a matter of understanding AI. The proponents of AI are very clear and they say.
AI is going to destroy millions of jobs.
AI is going to destroy critical thinking.
AI is going io lead to a permanent "Nazi" gov't.
AI is going to continue to destroy any privacy you think you have.
AI is going to kill you.
I agree with nearly everything you say here, Mike, but I do have one quibble. You warn: "Democrats should be careful before they laugh too hard about this because the same incentives exist everywhere now. It affects the left just as much of the right." With all due respect, Democrats are far better able to resist those pressures than Trumplicans. Whether we will actually do so is an open question, and I appreciate your reminding us not to be complacent. But I have faith that most Democrats will continue to see through the propaganda.
Negative political ads are almost as old as the US. Political demagogues like Trump aren't something new either. But the new AI technology threatens to strike a deadly blow to the body politic. Now, any sole, message-focused propagandist freelancer with a keyboard can replace entire teams of cronies and backroom political operators.
The electricity demanded by AI data centers is driving up electricity prices for regular Americans.
I beg to differ. You're talking about GOP primary voters. They believe toxic AI because they dislike women, minorities and gay/trans people. They've drunk the Kool-Aid. Our task is to remind everyone else about the reality that Trump and the GOP have created.
Our current reality is a losing war with Iran; gas between $4.50-$7 per gallon (depending on where you live); groceries that are 20% higher than last year; health insurance costing 25% or more higher; immigrants mistreated and killed in concentration camps; citizens gunned down by ICE and no prosecution of the Epstein rapists.
GOP turnout has been lower this primary season. Cognitive dissonance is keeping some home. Our challenge is to remind the rest of the population that if they don't vote for their own pocketbooks and safety all of the above problems will get much worse.
Robyn, check again. AI is so toxic for the environment.
I did not say that AI is not toxic for the environment. I said that GOP voters are susceptible to AI Propaganda because of their bigotry and misogyny,
You're 100% correct Mike and it's scary as hell.
If MAGAts don't wake up and smell the coffee, they will surely be swept under with the tide. By then, of course, it may be too late for all of us. You believe the words of Trump, his cronies and sychophants, and the techno/kleptocrats at your own peril.
And ours.
Such a great newsletter / op ed. AI is playing with fire.
💯
These are all EMOTIONALLY ILL adults acting like juveniles with a New Toy! FFS!! I mean REALLY. ALL of these screwballs need to GROW UP! I can't even believe these jerks are in gov't.
"Especially older voters who already struggle with basic internet misinformation."
I know this is not met as an insult; but, I've been hearing this since I was in my forties. Being an older person now, is it possible that those older people who struggled with basic internet misinformation have passed on. I think the current elderly have been internet literate for some time now.
I do recall, though, reading a poll before Massie's election that showed Massie winning amongst younger voters, but losing with the older voters.
Anyway, I'm not offended.
I think it’s not a young or old thing it is a critical thinking issue. There are loads of young people that are not internet misinformation savvy at all. Many are swayed by influencers and lack the skills to discern good quality information from bad information.
Or even likely information.
I think you nailed it.
Perhaps you should be.
I am not because I am confident that I am Internet savy. As well, I have critical thinking skills. This probably applies, moreso, to Republican voters, for which I cannot deny.
Okay, you've outlined our problem absolutely perfectly. In fact, "bravo", this was a great article. Very informative and I can tell you researched it well. But, (I do this myself all of the time) we can identify the problem and the nuances to it, but we have no idea how to fix it. How do WE fix this? Anyone have any real ideas? Scary as hell.