I stalled and observed. I practically did nothing yesterday—well, except for a quick half-hour shopping trip. For the first time in about four years, I didn't contribute anything to Hive, not even a comment.
It's not that I couldn't have quickly put together a 500-word post and collected automated votes, but I simply didn't feel like it. I granted myself a break from everything and just leaned back to observe the world. The world isn't what it used to be. Friendship isn't the same either.
People seem to exist in their own little bubbles, eyes glued to their smartphone screens nearly all day. Occasionally, these bubbles merge. But in the grander scheme of things, we're becoming what the algorithms dictate.
Why spend a small fortune on the latest iPhone when you already have the previous model? There's no need, but I have a friend who shelled out about $1,500 for the new iPhone 15 Pro Max. It's essentially the same as the 14th model, which is pretty much identical to the 13th model, and just a minor upgrade from the 12th.
I've contemplated newer Samsung models myself. I'm a die-hard Samsung fan, and I love the Android experience. The only reason I'd consider switching from my Galaxy S21 to a new model is battery life. After two years of heavy use, it's not as reliable as before.
However, design-wise and in terms of features, it's largely similar to the latest model, the S23 (not the S23 Ultra). I abandoned the idea of getting a new one fairly easily. Charging it for a bit during the day should suffice to ensure it lasts the entire day with no worries.
Now, back to algorithms. It might sound funny, but algorithms significantly influence our lives. Decisions about botox, fake body modifications, transgenderism, always being the first to do bizarre things for the sake of an audience, or taking sides in every conflict (which there seems to be no shortage of in recent years)—these choices are highly influenced by algorithms.
AI is no longer a novelty. It was initially introduced to the masses primarily through smartphone cameras enhanced by AI. We're on the verge of a digital era where AI will play an integral role. Will it spell our doom? I can't say. AI is what we train it to be, or more accurately, what its creators train it to be.
For instance, ChatGPT tends to lean toward wokeism and provides relatively conservative responses. I mostly use ChatGPT for translation, proofreading, or as an alternative to Google. However, I'm fully aware that ChatGPT's database only extends up to the year 2021.
Enter Grok, Elon Musk's latest AI model. Grok is set to be integrated into Twitter and will have real-time access to news and all the data Twitter provides. In my view, Grok is vastly superior to ChatGPT. Although Elon mentioned that Grok has a sense of humor, it won't be available to all Twitter users, only to premium+ subscribers. This move doesn't surprise me—Elon didn't acquire Twitter for charity. He sees it as a business opportunity.
This business venture is shaping up quite well. Incentives to go premium are increasing, and Twitter's future revenues will diversify further. Elon Musk aims to transform Twitter into the "everything app" that could potentially revolutionize the global financial system. While that may be a lofty goal, he's likely to turn Twitter into a highly profitable enterprise.
Algorithms are governing our lives, not just political figures like Joe Biden or anyone else. Even if most of us aren't directly affected by conflicts like the war in Ukraine or Gaza, we immerse ourselves in these disputes. We choose sides, become vocal, and sometimes even resort to violence.
Observing the human species is quite the spectacle, and the continued integration of technology promises even more excitement. So, I'm back to being active on Hive. I don't regret taking a day off yesterday, and there might be more breaks in the future. But I can't help but feel that something is amiss when I'm not engaged on Hive. It's nice to be a passive observer every now and then, steering clear of involvement in almost anything.
Thanks for your attention,
Adrian
