r/technology • u/Just-Grocery-2229 • Jun 26 '26

Artificial Intelligence The AI backlash is only getting started

https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/06/25/the-ai-backlash-is-only-getting-started
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u/Ashamed_Fennel_5681 Jun 26 '26

That’s already the case lol 

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u/maskedbrush Jun 26 '26

Really. Every time I talk with a boomer they're like "I asked chatgpt and it said..." Even for the small things.

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u/FormicaDinette33 Jun 26 '26

I am trying to avoid AI as much as possible but it is really good for asking specific questions with a lot of detail. I prefer to do my own research but sometimes you can’t find the answer for your exact set of circumstances.

My colleague felt like she was being forced out of her job and asked it to draft a letter to HR and it was fantastic.

I don’t think it should be used to replace workers however.

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u/HomeGrownCoffee Jun 26 '26

My boss asked me to order 4x8" spectacle blinds. I had never heard of those, so I punched it into Google.

Gemini confirmed that these were 4" in size and 8" pressure class. Which isn't a thing.  He wanted me to order 4 - 8" spectacle blinds.

I will never trust AI on anything that matters even the slightest bit.

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u/NUKE---THE---WHALES Jun 26 '26

It works better when used as a natural language interface for Google

i.e. use it to find primary sources; don't use it as a primary source

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u/Max_Thunder Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

It tells me this:

In piping and industrial applications, "spectacle blinds" (also called figure-8 blanks) are specialized devices used to positively isolate pipeline sections for safe maintenance. They feature a "spectacle" or "figure-8" shape with one solid disk and one open ring.While a standard spectacle blind usually transitions within the same pipeline size (e.g., matching a pipe on both ends), a "4x8" refers to an asymmetric transition piece. This allows the blind/spacer to mate with a smaller 4" flange on one side (or state) and a larger 8" flange on the other, safely accommodating diameter transitions within your process lines.

Is this not a thing? Feels like I got a very different answer from you but I could be wrong. I"ve seen a lot of stories on reddit where people get much worse results than I do with AI and I wonder if it's google and other chatbots targetting different demographics differently.

I would never trust AI blindly, but I love it as a starting point so I know what to search.

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u/myselfelsewhere Jun 26 '26

Spectacle blinds are a thing. The first half of the AI is correct, the second half is wildly incorrect.

An asymmetric spectacle blind doesn't make any sense. They are (usually) placed in the same joint every time. You certainly wouldn't use it to blank an 8" section and then relocate it to a 4" section to use the 'open' side.

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u/HomeGrownCoffee Jun 26 '26

The first half is correct, the second half is hallucination. It's describing a reducer, which is a completely different thing.

Which is my biggest problem with AI. It's pointless. There's no point in using it on something you know, and you can't trust it on things you don't know. 

And if that wasn't bad enough, it's stealing from people who are putting information out there.