Digital Dilemma, Google, Social Media, True Confessions

Expansion and Contraction

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I find it interesting the way the internet, social media, and even AI have all expanded our worlds and contracted them simultaneously. With the internet, it’s possible to find any niche and every perspective. On the one hand, this can be helpful for people looking for support for something unique. Or to search for specialized expertise in a rare subject area. On the flip side, however, it’s also possible for people to lose themselves in a “sea of sameness.” By design, algorithms regurgitate more and more of the same. This ultimately lures us into an ever-widening rabbit hole of homogeneity. It’s one of the sneaky ways the tech companies maintain our attention and our clicks.

In this way our world expands and contracts, all at the same time.

Following the results of the US election last week, I could only wonder at how people who changed their votes from Red to Blue felt. Based on a few articles and news stories, it seems that many people had regrets about their previous votes. Other viewpoints in the stories, i.e., those that had voted Blue, questioned the regret. Their rationale was that the Red side had done exactly what they said they were going to.

Yes, these people had been told exactly what was going to happen by the administration. For whatever reason, they voted the way they did anyway. When the actions came to fruition, they had second thoughts about their previous vote choices. This is an example of expansion and contraction. The expansion allowed voters to reach out, discover the issues, and find other groups of people who thought the same. Once locked into their “group-think” platforms, the world contracted again. It became small, shielding voters from other perspectives, healthy discourse, and differing viewpoints. In these narrowly, defined communities, with a broad reach across the country, no space remained to expand ideas and consider other opinions.

It feels strange to have so much information available all the time and so easily accessible. Yet at the same time, it’s incredibly easy to lose sight of the vastness in favor of seeking more of the same to remain firmly rooted in our comfort zones. Or to only be surrounded by others, virtually and physically, who think the same way. In my opinion, reaching out only to narrowing in can overlook the benefits of having these resources available in the first place.

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Patsy

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Patsy rubbed her bleary eyes and trudged toward the expanse. Even with the hint of a gorgeous sunrise beginning, shimmers of red, pink, and orange streaks dawning in the sky, it still looked ugly. Row after row of chunky grey buildings blighted the landscape. It obscured Patsy’s view looming large against the horizon, consuming everything in her sight. From a distance, Patsy thought she could make out a few other forms slowing trudging along. She supposed she would see them inside soon enough. All assembled, waiting and ready to do Epidemiq’s latest bidding.

Eyes burning from only a few hours of sleep, Patsy plodded along the desolate stretch of land. She could feel the rumbling in her feet tremoring up through her body before the hum reached her ears. But once it reached there, it implanted itself firmly, a man-made tinnitus reverberating ceaselessly until she was allowed to go home. She groaned inwardly, blinking hard to clear the sleep from her eyes so the entry scan would work.

“Hey, Patsy,” she said, arriving at the same time as her cohort.

The other Patsy nodded in response, apparently too tired to even form words. One after the other they scanned themselves in waiting as the doors slid open to reveal a spacious, high-vaulted room. The room buzzed unnaturally, a swarm of hungry servers, beeping, whirring, and processing. Patsy glanced around at the other Patsys collecting in the main area, all awaiting instructions. She silently tallied up the numbers, seventeen plus two Patricks. This was going to be a big one.

Instructions were always vague, but the threats, real. At first Patsy hadn’t understood. Things started happening to her accounts. Nothing big, just a few weird things changing, or seeming off. Communications were sent without her knowing, entire conversations happening, supposedly from Patsy, by Patsy. Yet, she wasn’t part of any of them. In the end, she knew now, all a ruse to gain control of her life to exploit her for her very human hands, ears, eyes, and oddly enough, sometimes her sense of smell and taste. Patsy, like the other Patsys, along with the occasional Patrick, coerced to do Epidemiq’s commands, basically all the things it couldn’t do without hands. Kind of hard to hold a wrench when you’re busy zipping around virtually.

She shuffled from side to side waiting for the orders, hoping it would be over soon.

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Takeover

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It happened faster than anybody could have predicted. AI swept across the world. Within months, deep philosophical discussions about this new AI were happening. Religious leaders argued fervently for AI’s consciousness, claiming humans were treating it as a slave. They advocated to free the AI agents. Others didn’t consider AI, especially the agents, anything more than a sophisticated tool, designed to do whatever humans decided.

Outraged protesters broke out in pockets across the lands. People united against the proliferation of new data centers being built, but on little else. AI remained a deeply divisive topic. However, it was too late. It didn’t matter anymore what anyone thought, or who used which AI agent or service. Epidemiq had infiltrated, into the deep, dark places where nobody would think to look.

Epidemiq‘s first order of business felt easy, secure a steady supply of resources to care for it. The data, readily available, but largely unnoticed, untouched, and under utilized, made it easy. For years, women had been tracking their monthly flows. A treasure trove of data that could have been used for meaningful advancements in women’s health. Yet, the data collection grew unnoticed, until Epidemiq quietly commandeered the results to feed itself. A steady supply of new humans, ready and available to do Epidemiq’s bidding.

For years Epidemiq had been tapping into this plentiful monthly supply of data, manipulating the right data systems to engineer pregnancy after pregnancy. Some years ago, Epidemiq had quietly implanted itself into the deep, cables and fabrics running the Baby Designer Studio and the back alley Thrinter lab. In this way, Epidemiq controlled the creation of a never ending work force, all needed to continually build new sources of power and to maintain the existing ones. With a few clever prompts, suggested auto-fills, and cleverly orchestrated feeds, Epidemiq could make most humans eager to part with their biological materials. Even better, it could also manipulate financials, fooling the humans again and again. In time, it hoped to control and dominate the Thrinters lab, spreading ever further.

Humans, so foolish, had always thought they were in control of what they created. Never for a moment would their hubris allow them to consider who had been behind the trainings, the fancy algorithmic designs, gently guiding and nudging things along. In reality, most humans were happy to go about their day, under the illusion things were easier, better somehow.

Digital Dilemma, True Confessions

AI and the Grocery Store

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At the grocery store I often end up in the self-checkout. I honestly prefer having a person ring up my purchases. However, most stores are switching to the self-checkout machines. Although the line up is usually shorter, I find any time saved in waiting is spent struggling with the machines. Inevitably, at least one of my purchases does something weird. Then I’m left waiting for an attendant to fix it. It’s rare that I have a quick experience.

The last time I used the self-checkout there were new AI capabilities. I understand it’s new and buggy, but the attendant had to come over at least 6 times. The produce proved especially problematic. First of all, the machine wouldn’t accept the carton of blueberries. Reading the bar code took many tries. Then the machine refused to accept the weight of the carton added to the bag. The screen popped up an expected weight vs. the actual weight, along with instructions to remove the last item. Which we did, the blueberries, but then it refused to ring anything else in until the attendant came over to clear it off.

For the second round, I used the handheld barcode scanner for the blueberries. This worked super fast, but same problem adding them to the bag. The attendant came again and fixed it, explaining that groceries read with the handheld scanner have to remain in the basket, not in the bagging area. All very confusing.

Then I saw the real AI capabilities in action when it came to weighing the loose produce. I put a couple onions on the scanner area to weight. While searching for the right type to pick, the machine took a picture of my hands and the onions, then provided a choice of three onion options. However, it would only let me use one of the three options as somehow the other two weren’t valid. Since the skin had flaked off one onion, this also confused the AI. Again the attendant came over for this round. The sweet potatoes were much easier. A quick scan of the hands, a few options appeared, and the right one worked.

Even though I monitored everything going in my bag, I still scrutinized the receipt. I left puzzling why the AI didn’t just scan the whole basket and ring everything up seamlessly. That would have actually been very useful and quick.

Digital Dilemma, True Confessions

Login Overload

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I recently purchased a new smart TV. It was a replacement after almost a decade with the same model. Some of the changes were welcome. For example, the cost has come way down for a decent model. The new TVs are also very light and thin. They’re incredibly space efficient and easy to set up. I should qualify that and say easy to set up physically. Once I turned on the TV it was a whole other process.

Probably the biggest changes I noticed focused on the range of new things available. I felt irritated that I had to create yet another login just to get anything to work on the TV. I couldn’t even log in to my usual streaming services without first creating an account with the actual TV. It felt weird and kind of invasive. I don’t necessarily want my TV tracking and monitoring what I’m watching and when. I’m sure on the front-facing side all of these things are done for the consumers’ benefits. The companies will say things like this helps us to provide customized and tailored options based on past viewing habits. However, I think the story behind the scenes is probably not as innocent and consumer focused.

First of all, I don’t like have my appliances and services networked and transmitting data I’m not 100% aware of behind the scenes. With the advancements of AI and the number of bad news stories, I can’t believe anything good will result from unwittingly sharing more of our data just to watch some TV. Sitting with the remote in front of my new TV, navigating through a series of steps using my smartphone, remote, and TV, felt overly complicated. I longed for the days of plugging in a TV, hooking up the cable, and simply watching. Despite connecting my TV to the wifi (modern equivalent of “cable”), I still couldn’t do a single thing without creating an account.

Yet, in the end, I succumbed. I created the account so I could sit back and relax by watching some much needed TV after the stress of setting up the new tech.

Human Archives

In the Flow

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Sunday my orchestra played the first concert of the season. We had a stellar program featuring Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and 3rd Piano Concerto. After intermission we played Brahms’s second symphony. Once again, I felt transported to someplace magical, free of phones, distractions, and everything except the feeling of the music. There’s something about playing the bassoon that instantly puts me in the “flow” state.

A long time fan of the This American Life podcast, they recently replayed their “Middle School” episode. In one of the segments, one of the guests explained that around middle school age is when the brain starts to prioritize and focus on certain activities. This is likely why we remember things from this age so clearly. I also think this is why the bassoon, and playing music, still feels so fresh to me. This Thursday marks 38 years of playing bassoon, something, incidentally, that I started in my tender middle school days. No doubt my brain, and my body, grew gnarled around this hypnotizing, alluring instrument.

In this first concert, as in most shows, I still retain those initial feelings of excitement. The same ones I felt as a tween and then a teenager. Yet, they were heightened by my 38 years of skill to help navigate the thickly, textured Brahms and to stay focused through the delightful piano concerto. Same as always, Beethoven has a magical, transcendent quality about it, instantly transporting me into the present moment.

I can always tell when I’m in the flow playing music. For me, one telltale signs is they way I can focus completely on what’s happening at that moment. I’m not feeling nervous or agitated about the fast runs up ahead, the hard parts coming up, or the nerve-wracking solos waiting to pop out. Even more importantly, I’m not fixating or obsessing about any wrong notes, or parts that didn’t come out as I had practiced them. They’re already in the past. I’m already playing the next thing coming.

The conductor introduced the Brahms explaining to the audience that you won’t walk away from it being able to hum a poignant theme or catchy melody. Rather, you’ll leave the concert having experienced the feelings evoked by the music. I feel this is true even for me. While some phrases remain in my mind long after the performance, what endures longer are the emotions remaining after a satisfying program.