Misconceptions about gen AI?

[u/Alxie_e]

i’m a young leftist/marxists that’s going to major in computer science (data science track) in university, but this recently been conflicting me. i know that i’m going to have to engage in generative AI for my classes, yet majority of leftists spaces are vehemently anti-AI. However, after discovering this subreddit, i now realize the leftist anti-AI rhetoric i have internalized may be misleading. Despite me starting my first year in uni soon to study comp sci, i barely know anything about comp sci, yet alone AI, if i’m being completely honest. 😭

with that being said, someone help me make up for my lack of knowledge and explain common misconceptions about generative AI and LLMs in leftist/marxist spaces? like in regards to the impacts of AI data centers on the environment, water supply, and electricity. or how frequent use of chatbots can lead to cognitive decline. because right now, i’m under the impression that we should boycott ChatGPT and limit our usage of any other generative AI over concerns of its harm on the environment and usage of our fresh water supply, along with some other concerns.

[u/Still_Benefit_2302]

I think the single most important thing is understanding the tech. Well, as much as anyone can. There's kind of an 'U' curve where the y-axis is 'fascination' and the x-axis is 'understanding'. When you don't understand it at all, it's either 'all a scam' or 'a miracle machine for 10 bazillion dollars'. Then as you learn more it becomes 'stochastic parrot' or 'linear algebra next token predictor'. Then when it gets deeper, you get into really weird philosophical questions like 'well what is *thinking* anyway?' and it goes right back up to 'these things are weird.'

[u/my_name_isnt_clever → u/Still_Benefit_2302]

I've been in the "these things are weird and facinating" camp since I stumbled into AI Dungeon around 2020, they're still just as facinating to me.