Thinking specifically about AI here: if a process does not give a consistent or predictable output (and cannot reliably replace work done by humans) then can it really be considered “automation”?
Thinking specifically about AI here: if a process does not give a consistent or predictable output (and cannot reliably replace work done by humans) then can it really be considered “automation”?
This argument strikes me as a tautology. “If we don’t care if it’s different, then it doesn’t matter to us”.
But that ship has sailed. We do care.
We care because the use of AI says something about our view of ourselves as human beings. We care because these systems represent a new serfdom in so many ways. We care because AI is flooding our information environment with slop and enabling fascism.
And I don’t believe it’s possible for us to go back to a state of not-caring about whether or not something is AI-generated. Like it or not, ideas and symbols matter.
“We” in this moment is you, right now. If the end product is the same, then it is the same. If the process is the use-value then it matters, but if not, it doesn’t.
Ideas and symbols matter, sure, but not because of any metaphysical value you ascribe them, but the ideas they convey.
First you said “it doesn’t matter if we can tell or not”, which I responded to.
So I’m confused by your reply here.
I quite literally stated that it matters in some cases and not in others.
If the process is the purpose, then it matters. If the end product is the purpose, then it largely doesn’t.
I am saying that we can no longer meaningfully separate the two things.
Cognition and AI? We absolutely can, just because some people fail doesn’t mean it’s intrinsic.
No, I’m saying we can no longer meaningfully separate the product and the process.
We do by default in capitalism, that’s the basis of commodity fetishism.
That’s not a rejection of what I said, so I assume you agree.