Play Book Tag discussion

The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna - 4* - My Review

This book is a takedown of AI hype. Rather than accepting tech industry claims about artificial intelligence, Bender and Hanna expose "AI" as primarily a marketing term masking corporate power grabs, data exploitation, and the devaluation of human work. I have been reading extensively about AI and its current state, attempting to separate rather outlandish claims and concerns from what is really happening, so when I saw this title, I felt it would add to my understanding of the bigger picture.

The authors argue that "AI” is a marketing term being used to rebrand existing machine learning technologies. They debunk common claims about AI taking over the world, creating artificial life, or becoming better than humans at everything. They employ wit and sarcasm, which assists in making their points and makes the book appealing even to those without a keen interest in technical topics.

The authors argue that large language models are systems that can generate coherent language but do not (and cannot) understand the meaning behind the language they extrude. Bender and Hanna contend that the AI technologies are primarily intended to help the rich get richer by “justifying data theft, motivating surveillance capitalism, and devaluing human creativity.” They believe it is the latest trend in Big Tech's drive for profit, with little concern for its impact.

The book examines the current state of AI in industries such as healthcare, education, media, and law-enforcement. It provides examples of products already in place that are unreliable, ineffective, and even dangerous. It also looks at the environmental impact of these technologies, which are causing tech companies to miss their carbon reduction goals.

The authors provide mechanisms to resist the imposition of AI and suggest, where possible, that refusal to use it is one of the main ways to push back. The book encourages readers to think critically about the broader social implications. This book is essential for anyone seeking to understand the current AI landscape. I have read plenty of books promoting the benefits of AI. This book provides the other side of the coin.

Adding to TBR

I look forward to your thoughts, Jason. I think the truth probably lies somewhere in between - there are beneficial uses for AI but in my opinion needs to be overseen by a non-profit Board, not a group with a vested interest. We have seen what big tech's lack of a moral compass has done in our world in creating divisiveness and spreading misinformation. Not to mention collecting personal information as well as not paying for the use of creative products in their training models. Trust is a huge issue here.