Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

TagAlexa

reaching out ai
White cyborg finger about to touch human finger 3D rendering
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post
Author
News
Date
March 28, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Robert Marks at The Daily Caller

Despite the confidence in new AI coming from Big Tech executives, it makes quite glaring mistakes
News
March 28, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

Robert J. Marks wrote a piece at The Daily Caller this week on artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and the manifold problems of new AI systems like Google’s Bard and older ones such as Amazon’s Alexa. Despite the confidence in new AI coming from Big Tech executives, it makes quite glaring mistakes, although Marks believes AI has its genuine uses and benefits. Snapchat’s chatbot “My AI” gave advice about how to hide the smell of pot and alcohol to someone posing as a disgruntled teenager. Microsoft’s Bing bot professed its love for a tech journalist. A Google app made egregiously racist errors. ChatGPT is also politically biased despite claiming neutrality. Marks writes, Many warn of the future dangers of artificial intelligence. Many Read More ›

talking-mannequin-boxes
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post
Author
Nathan Jacobson
Date
March 8, 2023
Categorized
Virtual Reality
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Talking Boxes

Seductive Optics and Skeuomorphic Intelligence, Part III.
Nathan Jacobson
March 8, 2023
4
Virtual Reality
There will be synthesized versions of gravelly voices, deep baritones, fast talkers, low talkers, high talkers, yada, yada, yada. Amazon has added functions to enable Alexa to whisper, emphasize a word, or mimic local slang. But as our talking boxes run their routines, they understand nothing. Read More ›
close-up-of-a-man-hand-is-using-a-futuristic-latest-innovative-technology-glass-tablet-with-augmented-reality-holograms-as-a-remote-control-of-smart-home-appliances-at-home-or-office-stockpack-adobe-stock
Close up of a man hand is using a futuristic latest innovative technology glass tablet with augmented reality holograms as a remote control of smart home appliances at home or office.
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post
Author
News
Date
September 20, 2022
Categorized
Surveillance, Technocracy
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Never Mind Alexa; Is Even Roomba Spying on Us?

No, that’s not a conspiracy theory. It’s easy and profitable today to embed monitoring apps — and people don’t seem to mind
News
September 20, 2022
5
Surveillance, Technocracy

In PC Mag’s “Best Home Smart Devices for 2022,” tech reviewer Angela Moscaritolo tells us “My house is working toward a PhD. Little by little, it’s getting smarter.” No. That house is not getting any smarter. But smart people — whom no one asked in — are getting to know way more about what goes on in it. A couple of data management scientists recently offered some thoughts about that: Back in 2007, it would have been hard to imagine the revolution of useful apps and services that smartphones ushered in. But they came with a cost in terms of intrusiveness and loss of privacy. Smart devices collect a wide range of data about their users. Smart security cameras and Read More ›

voice-recognition-machine-learning-stockpack-adobe-stock
Voice recognition, Machine Learning.
Type
post
Author
Caitlin Cory
Date
July 28, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Media
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You Can Now Hear Our Articles When You Are Driving or Sweeping Up

Curious about that "loudspeaker" icon that has recently appeared in our articles?
Caitlin Cory
July 28, 2021
3
Artificial Intelligence, Media

You may have recently noticed a new icon that’s appeared on your screen at the beginning of our articles. If you press the little black button with the loudspeaker icon, you will find our article being read aloud for you. This exciting new application – which will make it easier for our readers to enjoy our content even while driving, doing chores, or running errands – is made possible by WebsiteVoice advances in artificial intelligence technology.  WebsiteVoice is a text-to-speech application that converts blog posts and online articles into audible material. It serves over 4,000 clients worldwide in 30 different languages. Founded by Mohamad Awad and Roz Burch, the WebsiteVoice team calls itself “a group of avid readers and podcast Read More ›

robot-playing-chess
Robot Playing Chess
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
June 1, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Natural Intelligence
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Chicken Little AI Dystopians: Is the Sky Really Falling?

Futurist claims about human-destroying superintelligence are uninformed and irresponsible
Robert J. Marks
June 1, 2021
5
Artificial Intelligence, Natural Intelligence

The article “How an Artificial Superintelligence Might Actually Destroy Humanity” is one of the most irresponsible pieces about AI I have read in the last five years. The author, transhumanist George Dvorsky, builds his argument on a foundation of easily popped balloons. AI is and will remain a tool. Computers can crunch numbers faster than you or me. Alexa saves a lot of time looking up results on the web or playing a selected tune from Spotify. A car – even a bicycle – can go a lot faster than I can run. AI is a tool like fire or electricity used to enhance human performance and improve lifestyles. Like fire and electricity, AI can be used for evil or Read More ›

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Ai identify person technology for recognize, classify and predict human behavior for safety. Futuristic artificial intelligence. Surveillance and data collection of citizens through city cameras.
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post
Author
News
Date
November 6, 2020
Categorized
Data Privacy, Ethics, Global Technology, Surveillance
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The Information We Just Give Away Obliterates Privacy

Privacy may turn out to be one of the biggest political issues of the new decade
News
November 6, 2020
6
Data Privacy, Ethics, Global Technology, Surveillance

A story came to light at VICE in 2017, that the CIA spied on people through their smart TVs. Without getting into those weeds, note this conventional warning offered by manufacturers: “Please be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party through your use of Voice Recognition.” An old birdwatcher’s tip: If you can see them, assume they can see you. If the internet is wide open to us, we are potentially wide open to the internet. Here are three surveillance issues worth pondering, about the systems we take for granted: ➤ Alexa employees listen in: Amazon.com Inc. employs thousands of people Read More ›

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Technology addicted family: parents and child use laptop and mobile phones. Modern family values - Mom, dad with daughter obsessed with devices overuse social media, internet addiction concept.
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post
Author
News
Date
August 9, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy, Religion, Social Media
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If New Tech Enhances Our Lives, Why Does It Make Us Crazy?

It doesn’t have to. Let’s think this through
News
August 9, 2020
5
Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy, Religion, Social Media

It has never been easier to connect but somehow we don’t. Andrew McDiarmid, author of the blog Thinking and thriving in the digital age, asks us to consider why loneliness (and suicide) have accompanied the rise of new communications technology. And he offers a challenge: Here are just a few questions to ask yourself about each tech tool you have. Is using this tool a wise use of my time? Does it encourage me to think for myself? Does it enable me to use my God-given abilities and spiritual gifts? Does it help me accomplish what God wants me to do? Does using this tech compromise my witness to others by causing me to stumble or get distracted? Does it Read More ›

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Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
September 16, 2019
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Ask Alexa (and an anonymous crowd answers?)

Amazon is testing a crowd sourcing approach to difficult questions. How did that work out at Wikipedia?
Denyse O'Leary
September 16, 2019
6
Artificial Intelligence

Wikipedia is a classic example of how crowdsourcing can go wrong. The obvious problem is anonymity and the lack of accountability that goes with it.

Read More ›
スマートスピーカー
Type
post
Author
Brendan Dixon
Date
September 10, 2019
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Alexa Really Does Not Understand Us

In a recent test, only 35 percent of the responses to simple questions were judged adequate
Brendan Dixon
September 10, 2019
3
Artificial Intelligence
Actually, I am impressed that voice assistants work as well as they do, given the number of AI problems that were solved. But consider how much more complex the problems facing a self-driving car are. Read More ›