*sees this thread and is instantly very excited* I love in-depth debates :) I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner, for some reason I didn't see this thread until now. I have to go at the moment, but I just wanted to let you know that I'll be replying more fully when I get a chance :)

I AM SO SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TIME GOES WAY TOO FAST :/ The upside is, at least I've had a lot of time to ponder what to reply :P

So to start with, yes, I agree that AI has a lot of really useful applications - there are so many things it can do at the drop of a hat that would be very difficult or time-consuming for humans. I've been learning a bit of programming in school over the past few weeks (or trying to lol) and really realized how useful computers and programs are for simulations, finding information, etc.

There are two main reasons I'm concerned about AI's prevalence, though, aside from its occasional incompetence ofc.  The first is all the negative ways in which it can be used - whether it's to spy on people through smartphones (you might like to research the Pegasus project, which is simultaneously shocking and fascinating), or to spread misinformation through generating things like fake images or online chatbots which are presented as real people. No matter how much governments try to regulate its use, some people will always try to use it for illegal or unethical purposes, and they are in fact already doing so.

The second reason is that, as you pointed out, our world is shifting further and further toward relying on digital tools. I do acknowledge that digital tools are often very beneficial, and I don't think we should abandon them. I just think they should be used in moderation. Relying on them for everything can't bring any ~stupendous~ benefits, and it does affect the health of communities and individuals. For example, people used to constantly interact face-to-face, which constantly reminded everyone, on a subconscious level, that we live in a world where it's important to be polite and considerate to others. Suppose you go to the store and interact with a cashier at the checkout counter - you need to be at least minimally considerate to the cashier. If you live in a close-knit community, maybe you even know the cashier quite well and she asks about your little sister who's down with the flu, and you ask about her husband and whether he's got a job yet, and then you finish buying your food and say goodbye. You've had a small, but meaningful interaction, reminding you, on a subconscious level, that people care about you and you in turn care about others. This has a very good effect on your emotional needs and your mental health in general, because that's the way humans are made. Now imagine that cashiers are replaced by digital checkout counters, where you pay automatically. Your world becomes a little more mechanized. You don't need to be polite or considerate - or even grumpy. Your emotions suddenly have no effect - you depend on an inanimate object in order to buy your food. And if it were just a matter of going to the store, it would be fine - one less social interaction won't have much effect - but this is a pattern that is becoming more and more common, even in more important settings. For example, people often text instead of actually talking to each other. Since humans evolved as community-oriented animals who need face-to-face interaction, I believe that dehumanizing society and making it rely on digital tools has a profound effect on the most basic needs of our psyches, affecting everything that defines us as a species and having a dire impact on mental health. Aside from all this, it's not even good for the economy, as it causes many people to lose their jobs. Relying on AI could also make people less competent and reliable, as they stop making an effort to develop their own skills and capabilities and instead let AI do everything for them. Students, for instance, are finding it easier than ever to cheat on assignments, as I know from the teachers in my family. And this is all without mentioning the terrible effect AI could have for writers, artists, and actors, especially if it were developed a bit further. Of course, ideally there would be regulations against using AI for creative endeavors, but there's a real possibility that we may not get much regulation.

So to sum up - yes, AI makes everything quicker! Faster!  More efficient! More breathtaking! Cheaper! And I don't mind using AI now and again, but I do mind the current trend toward giving it ever-greater importance. At this point in time - one in which many people are at the breaking point emotionally, and communities seem to be falling apart - I think it's time to take a step back and question whether AI's the answer to everything, whether we want to value efficiency and eye-catching innovation or whether we want to value our own humanity. It may be imperfect, but it still offers so much that a machine or program never can, so much that is desparately needed.

Anyway, those are my thoughts! Again, I'm so sorry I replied so late. I'd love to hear what you think about my points if you'd like to reply! :)

I think we have more reason to be worried. I run a podcast about classical music and recently got an email about a new AI that creates audiogram clips from my episodes and that they had "taken the liberty to make me a clip from my latest episode". I'm not sure if they really did or not. Either way, I still think that it can be useful as long as it is used wisely. 

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