Teraga

DEAR TECH COMPANIES, STOP PUSHING AI ON ME!

I'm trying to preserve my cognitive abilities here!

I recently opened a PDF file containing some tech specs I needed for work, and the program let me know that the document "appears to be long", and that I could save time by reading an AI summary instead!

While this function may be useful for some people in specific cases, it is not automatically the best default option. In my case, I needed to be familiar with the document to do my job properly.

I often need to reply to queries as quickly and clearly as possible, so I must be able to quickly find technical specifications whenever I need them.

Simply put, I need to rely on my brain first, and if needed, use external tools to quickly retrieve extra information (Ctrl+F is enough for that).

I may come off as a grumpy Luddite, but I am starting to feel sick of this seemingly unstoppable "AI-everywhere" frenzy.

What bothers me is the fact that AI is often presented as the default option and not something that you choose to use IF and WHEN you deem it necessary. Yes, it is possible to deactivate it from search engines and programs, but why does it have to automatically appear whenever I open a program?

Just like with smartphones and apps, it seems that AI is being forced on all "consumers" (even on those who don't want it or don't need it) despite evidence of the risks connected to overreliance on AI. Giving AI to people without first educating them on how to use it and informing them about its shortcomings may cause great damage, possibly more than the damage caused by unethical social media use.

Research also suggests that AI may negatively impact cognitive skills. I don't know about you, but I have a thing for not losing skills. I am perfectly aware of how easy it is for our brains to go for the solution that requires less energy/ effort, and I don't want AI to automatically summarise or write content or do research for me. I want selected technologies to be a support, if and when I need it, not the default.

Also, searching for information quenches my constant thirst for knowledge and discovery (hello, hyperactive brain!). I love using different search engines, compare the results and build my own impression of the world. And, when I don't have the time, I prefer to skim read.

So, do I think that AI is inherently bad and should be banned? No. I think that it can be a useful tool if used for specific tasks by people who know how to use it and are aware of possible hallucinations, biases and misinformation. It can be a great tool for scientists (even if AI overreliance can also affect scientists) or for people with disabilities. However, I don't think that having AI pop up every time we open a file or start an online search is the best way to employ this technology.

There are other problems caused by excessive AI use; the environmental impact of AI is a major one. But this is a topic for another post.