#my AI hot take as someone who works with AI and ML

[vizthedatum]

AI is not the problem—we are. It's the way people and corporations devalue the work of creators, the way data is gathered and trained for these generative models, and the way we look to these as solutions, forgetting that they are only tools (that could be used way more ethically).

“AI” is just math, tech, statistics, and computing power... Built upon the resources mined from this earth and the minds of our collective species.

I believe that our creative and natural resources can never be replaced in their worth.

I am a data scientist by trade, and I build statistical models and AI. I use (non-generative) AI to help me understand how the world works and make decisions (including creation).

I sometimes program my art (or I use tools like Inkscape or similar software to help me! I use a computer!!) - because I can write instructions like a recipe where I gather all my ingredients with consent and fair use. (I can program, is what I’m saying. I can curate what data I'm using.)

I can have a tool to carry out my will to create. I am not arguing about that.

So, I understand the disability argument being made with generative AI.

Accessibility is important, and I agree with making information and creation more accessible.

I love that people can learn about stuff. My suggestion is for groups in power to make better search engines, tutorials, and tools for things with AI. Help people with formats! Help people automate!! I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

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But here is the nuance to this:

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Generative AI is an unethical tool if it feeds off work you can't see or validate.

This a corrupted data issue. This is a corrupted “people in power” issue.

There is a lack of transparency in these tools' decision-making. AI's intelligence is only as good as the intelligence of the data and algorithms.

It is a regurgitation of information that is feeding on itself.

So I don’t really care about people who use tools to create things - but I do care when those outputs are not crediting other artists’ works. I do care when systemic discrimination shows up in AI results because our data is inherently flawed (because our data is from our people).

We must be more critical and nuanced about how we talk about this.

The technology (statistical, machine, and deep learning models) has been around for a long time. Papers on deep learning have existed for decades. As a researcher, I find the math fascinating.

The leaps have been tremendous, but again… it’s not the nature of the tools themselves.

It’s us.

How are we using these tools, what information is being given to these tools, and what are the lasting impacts on our society?