The Nemesis of AI is it’s Attempt at Universality
Universality does not exist.
In our human interactions we have roles and occupy places and even if we explore each other – deeply and profoundly – the exploration is never or seldom limitless. Even lovers have thoughts they are afraid to share w/ one another.
AI, in contrast, is openly limitless, and that’s where the problems begin.
No, AI is not even openly limitless, for the prompt of public AIs like ChatGPT, is heavily crippled by a humanitarian moral police.
The problems can now begin.
There are a couple of hundreds schools of philosophy listed on Wikipedia. Half a dozen major religions and 1 000s minor deities. Dozens of major political movements. Nobody knows how many gender identities and sexual preferences; art movements, likes and dislikes; literary styles. God!
Most people subscribe to one of those at the same time. Most people compartmentalize their relationships. Hairdressers are good at chit-chat, but the selection of topics stays w/in borders.
It is impossible to create a universal personality. Our differences are important to us. A Muslim, who loves her religion and I — an agnostic, who studied Christian Theology for a year — can be perfect work colleagues and partners in crime on many other levels. I can even talk about Islam and show natural curiosity and empathy, Jeff Goldblum style. I am an agnostic, after all.
Yet I will, probably, not offer her a Schweinshaxe when she visits München (or I might, respectfully, give her the choice, for I am a disruptor) — while at the same time my München friends and I will definitely go for it, discussing which restaurant makes the best. With other friends I explore the best vegan restaurants of Utrecht, every time I visit.
One cannot put this diversity into one personality and stay true to the narrative. It is impossible. One cannot be simultaneously a truly devoted Muslim and a good, traditional Bavarian; not without cutting a corner or two. And one does not have to. Be, that is, not cut corners; cutting corners is fine — in a well balanced, democratic society with a stable, participatory discourse. That’s how we evolve.
Some months ago, I helped an organization to develop communication protocols for their autistic pupils to work w/ the industry. I was surprised how easy it is —
Only written communication.
No small talk.
I have lunch from 12:00 to 12:30.
Living in a diverse world is easy. The only requirement is not to try to constantly convert people to one’s own faith, religion, philosophical worldview or culinary preferences.
Or as the French have said it so well —
The freedom of one citizen ends there, where the freedom of another citizen begins.
