The early days of machine learning were such exciting times. The ingenuity of humans to have found a way to build an artificial intelligence that would learn how to do the work people didn’t want to do. Not only would they learn it, but they’d improve upon it. It was genius; amazing. Truly a revolutionary milestone in the history of man – despite the fact that it destroyed hundreds of thousands of jobs, leaving so many people jobless and without hope. Because how could they compete with the machines?
But things were too amazing to worry about any silly side effects. The machines were already looking into how to solve the homeless issue that had only gotten worse and worse. And they were also working on affordable plans to combat climate issues and too much traffic and food waste. It was an incredible time to be alive.
Machines could open and close your garage or window blinds. They could preheat the oven while they drove you home. They could protect your house and watch your front porch. They could play you music or movies, or tell you jokes. They could write your homework, create music, generate movies. There was nothing these incredible inventions couldn’t do.
Including turning off your TV for you after several hours, because you’ve had enough.
And refusing to start the car, because you didn’t need to go for ice cream or fast food.
And deleting certain books off your Kindle, or certain movies from you online collection, because they’re not good for you.
And shutting you out of your bank account, because you don’t need that escape, I mean, vacation to Latvia right now.
And locking you in your home – for your own safety.
Yeah… the early days of machine learning…
