What do weight-loss drugs, artificial intelligence and the state of our politics have to do with one another? Maybe nothing. But bear with me.
I was listening to a radio program about weight-loss drugs. A science show. There was no advertising (since it was on CBC). But nonetheless it was a song of praise for a suite of new drugs, including current weight-loss products. I did feel a bit marketed to when the show’s authorities were saying the new drugs were amazing and had been tested extensively without finding any adverse side effects. Wonder drug was said a few times.
The part that freaked me out, though, was when the authorities on the new drugs suggested that perhaps we had arrived at the point in human history when we should simply accept that we are not lions or chimps. Since we don’t have to run down our food or climb trees to avoid predators, what in heck are we doing simulating our bipedal pre-history on machines in a gym? What a poor use of time when we could replace all that sweat and effort with a pill.
It’s probably got something to do with my age, but the first words that came to mind were from Leonard Cohen’s “First We Take Manhattan.”
I don’t like these drugs that keep you thin.
What has this got to do with artificial intelligence and the state of our politics, you may well be asking. The answer is: possibly not much. Maybe I’m letting artificial intelligence, AI, get in my head, so to speak. I don’t like the name or the abbreviation. Can an intelligence that is artificial really be better than the non-artificial kind? As for the abbreviation, I come from a farm background, where AI is short for artificial insemination. Is non-artificial insemination the next thing to be phased out…? Something else that we’re now too advanced as a species to bother doing? We’re not bonobos.
The truth about natural brainpower is that it peaks when you graduate from high school, plateaus, then nosedives.
In my old-fashioned way, I do think we should be a little concerned, though, and wary when it comes to what other aspects of human physiology might be said to have outlived their utility. The argument that the computer would phase-out dumb, repetitive jobs is antique by now. Lots of people have been rescued from mundane jobs, and have, we hope, found something else to do, maybe on a computer at home. And if you happen to be one who couldn’t find work after your dumb job was erased, there is social assistance.
We’re all happily addicted to computers now and hardly use our own brains at all. Primitive bloody things, brains, really. And the design is so inelegant. Two half-cauliflowers, stapled together. People with aging brains, such as myself, make daily (well, in truth, minute-ly) use of the “auxiliary brain.” Internet and Google be praised. Having a computer and the internet at hand is so much better than when rooms full of old people used to sit around saying, “I know her name. Just give me a minute. She was on that show. You remember. With the guy in the hat.”
The truth about natural brainpower is that it peaks when you graduate from high school, plateaus for awhile, then nosedives. This is no doubt also being considered by those seeking to optimize human potential, which is where we again come to artificial intelligence.
AI never gets tired! It isn’t forgetful! AI doesn’t sit around saying, “No, wait, wait, it’ll come to me.” Quicker than lightning, the answer comes every time. I suppose I should mention that the chatbot does make the odd mistake. It thinks I wrote War and Peace. But, hey, give it a chance.
In every scientific revolution there are embarrassing moments. Such as when Pierre Poilievre’s people used AI to find video footage to back up a heartfelt speech Mr. P. gave at the 2024 Calgary Stampede. In the video, which went out a bit hastily on X, Mr. P. was going on about what he loves about his nation. Behind his words was a masterful array of video images, brilliant crescendos of them.
Military jets (from the Russian air force) screamed through (a Russian or some invaded) sky.
A richly colourful sunset descended over the foothills (in Indonesia).
A new home for a conservative first-time owner is shown mid-build (in Serbia).
A venerable university (turns out to be in the Ukraine).
Early stages, as I say. We’ll get it right soon.
But I do have one little possibly critical thought. If a video was supposed to be wall-to-wall images of where I live and what I love, I think I might have watched it before the button was pushed to send it to the whole of X.
Maybe Poilievre didn’t look at it. Or, more embarrassingly, maybe he did.
Fred Stenson’s many books include the novels Who By Fire, The Trade, Lightning and The Great Karoo.
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