The Dangers and Ethics of AI



How do we save ourselves!?

This is actually a very difficult subject to discuss. While you can't quite tell in that photo, I was actually attending a medieval feast over Yule. Which is exactly what this all feels like. Living in medieval times and being ripped from our realities without our consent. 

Our assignment this week is all about AI prompting. The image I created above was created by Google Gemini, using the prompt "Create an image of me worrying about AI tearing my hair out." I then had to upload an image they wanted me to have them transform, and that's what Gemini came up with. The only tweak I had to make was they had the "AI REPLACES ALL JOBS" image twice, so I asked them to replace it with "AI DATA CENTERS DESTROYING THE ENVIRONMENT." What's nice about Gemini is you don't actually have to be all that detailed in what you ask it, and you will still get very good responses. Meaning, yes, I use Gemini. On a somewhat regular basis. And that makes me feel like a huge hypocrite.

You see, my spiritual and friend community despises AI. They are the medieval luddites by choice, for very good reasons. AI steals creative works without compensating the artists and writers. It has already destroyed the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of creators. Perhaps millions by now. AI also destroys the environment with the data centers being built, destroying rural communities at the same time. Water gets sucked dry, energy prices rise, all while also increasing the coffers of billionaires. 

Speaking of billionaires, corporations are laying off hundreds of thousands of workers and replacing them with AI. It's not just a doomsaying portent. It's already happening. Oracle just laid off 30,000 workers this week, with no warning, just so they can put the money towards more AI projects. Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block, laid off 40% of his workforce to reconfigure it to be an "intelligence". 

How do I reconcile all of the damage and harm being caused by AI and still use it? I work in tech. I'm getting a degree in EdTech. AI is everywhere and in everything. There's no way I can get away from it. So, I got all of my beefs out, and now I suppose I will tackle the assignment.

Different AI agents work in different ways.

First, you have to find each AI agent's "speciality". Do you want to code? Simplify a workflow? Create marketing materials? Help with research? Or just a good, all-around agent? More and more AI agents are showing up all the time. So if you want to just get a good idea of what an AI agent can do for you, stick with one of the most popular and go from there.  I chose Google Gemini.

Let it learn about you.

Here's a tip. The more you converse with Gemini, the more it learns about you, and the more it can contextually provide help as you continue on. I don't recommend having a conversation with it. It's best use is for brainstorming and research. You want to use it as a PARTNER, not as a tool to do all of your work for you. I mean, the people out there saying Prompt Engineering is important? That actually bugs the crap out of me. Because the way they are saying you should do it is you are basically telling the AI agent everything you want it to do. You are this for this audience saying it in this way and presenting it in this manner. I don't need to tell a computer all of that. I do agree with one thing, though. Do tell the agent what you need in as much detail as possible to START the brainstorming and research process.

Storytelling prompts

For example, I used the following image creation prompt:

I want to create an image of the Royal Carribbean Mariner of the Seas during a Star Trek Cruise to help manifest the money to pay for said cruise. I want it to act like a magickal talisman to help manifest the funds to afford the cruise.

This is the image it generated:


I mean, that's a pretty insane image, isn't it!  Gemini always loves to give reasoning behind why it does what it does and provided the following explanation:

To help you visualize and manifest this experience, I’ve created a "magickal talisman" in the form of a commemorative coin. This image focuses on bringing together the core elements of your goal: the Mariner of the Seas, the icon of Star Trek, and a symbolic representation of the wealth and funds needed to make the voyage a reality. May it serve as a powerful visual reminder for your journey.

Now, why would it come up with something so intricate and powerful with the prompt that I used? I mentioned the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Mariner of the Seas. I mentioned Star Trek. I mentioned I needed money, and that I wanted to use the image as a magickal talisman to help manifest money. What you don't know is what Gemini drew on in our past exchanges to help inform what the image should look like.  You see, I am also the leader of a Druid Grove. We've had many exchanges in the past about various Druid Rituals. So Gemini knows what flavor the image should take. I had recently gotten help with creating an Eostre ritual and learning more about the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc runes, which Gemini incorporated into the image.  Some of the runes showing are made up, but that B on the coin? That is Beorc (Berkana) and is a prosperity manifestation rune. 

Could other AI agents come up with something as intricate and evolutionary as what Gemini can do? I don't know. I just know that in the months I have been using Gemini, it's gotten to know more about who I am and what I need. I am still very careful in what I ask. I am always very critical of the results. I always question and fact check. You NEED to with any AI agent that you decide to use. Whatever AI agent you decide to use, choose carefully how you use it. Do NOT use it for emotional support. Do NOT use it for medical diagnoses. Pay attention to the news and how AI is affecting all of us. We need to be so incredibly careful. We will be able to make it through this.


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