Full Disclosure

The past several weeks (months?) have found me (lost me?) silent for two major reasons, one deeply personal and one related to writing. Both need to be addressed so that we can proceed with my modest writing efforts.

First, sometime last winter (you know the one that never took place) I was reflecting on my grandchildren, Micah who mows my lawn, Landon who plays piano because of the magic of the hamburger, Vivian who crochets at a world-class rate, these three Bill Jr.’s children, and Devin’s, Erin, who is now married in Kansas City, her sister Sarah in Phoenix, her sister (who manages a popular hamburger store in Omaha), and her sister Molly, who recently graduated from high school (even the fallen-away English teacher has not let the preposition escape). Before I digress further, why did I mention my grandchildren? A good question.

As I was thinking about them one day last winter, I realized that I had never been together with all of them in the same room at the same time. Therefore, I suggested we have a family reunion. I did not realize the magnitude of such an undertaking. You see, I am a dreamer, and dreamers are not always the best completers. It requires a significant amount of effort to organize an event of that scale. Thank you, Martha and my daughter-in-law Kim, for taking on the challenge and doing most of the hard work. I am starting to digress again. The reunion turned out to be a wonderful weekend. A distraction from writing, yes. ut one of the highlights of my life. Thank you to everyone in my family.

Although it was a great experience, it did take a considerable amount of already depleted energy, before, during, and after.

I have also been grappling with the challenge of authentically portraying a robot’s “thoughts” in Spenser’s Choice, particularly in a conversation between Spenser and a robot about how robots feel. Initially, I engaged in extensive research, which consumed considerable time. Because being a feeling human myself made it difficult to assume a robot’s point of view, I decided to directly address the issue by consulting a popular AI chatbot to ascertain how a robot would express feelings . The resulting dialogue is now incorporated into the latest segment of Spenser’s Choice. This decision proved beneficial as it reinforced my belief in the potential of AI as a valuable tool. However, I believe that creators should acknowledge the use of AI in their work, as it becomes increasingly difficult to discern the distinction between a piece composed by a human and one assembled from fragments by a chatbot. This is a pertinent question in our era, when authenticity is under scrutiny at every turn. The significance of this issue is exemplified by the following observation:

“Genuine Human” is a recently adopted tagline by KOA Radio in Denver. I believe this is in response to the need to assert authenticity in the context of the AI revolution.

AI is here. This is not a groundbreaking revelation. No spoiler alert is necessary.

AI possesses remarkable capabilities, which we can observe daily in our data searches. However, how can we ascertain the veracity of the information we obtain? As Ronald Reagan famously stated, “trust but verify.”

But how can we achieve this?

If you are of an advanced age (as I am), you may recall the practice of having meat identified by a blue stamp on the meat itself, indicating that it was “USDA Inspected.”

Will every piece of data now require a declaration of “AI Produced”? Or will every work not produced necessitate the certification “Genuine Human,” with severe penalties imposed on those who fail to comply? Ah, the dreaded government solution.

Will a new law serve as the solution? In my opinion, a law can only achieve two objectives: it will be obeyed by law-abiding individuals and it can establish penalties for those who are not. Laws do not prevent crime; they merely define it.

Will artificial intelligence have a profound impact on humanity akin to the printing press, dividing individuals into distinct belief systems, such as Protestantism and Catholicism? This phenomenon could potentially benefit both parties. For instance, as a Catholic, I would not have fully comprehended the depth and richness of the scriptures without the printing press, which made them accessible for personal reading. and professional training However, my access to scripture serves as a tool rather than an ultimate goal. I still draw inspiration from the profound depth and richness of the Church’s tradition.

Although the following analogy may seem a stretch, I employ it in particular due to its relevance to the subject of artificial intelligence. A chainsaw possesses numerous beneficial applications, (none of which are suitable for frightened teenagers in unfamiliar surroundings at night). Nevertheless, even in the hands of a skilled sawyer, it can be a hazardous tool.

So, you might ask, what does this analogy have to do with the price of tea in China (even without tariffs)? Good question..

My title for this essay is “Full Disclosure” because I must acknowledge that my next scene in Spenser’s Choice was significantly influenced by artificial intelligence. As has been my practice recently, this segment of the story has been delayed, partly due to the energy expenditure caused by my cancer treatment and partly because I encountered challenges in authentically portraying a conversation between a human and a robot. Ultimately, I decided to seek professional assistance and request that ChatGPT generate the dialogue from the robot’s perspective. This approach proved to be highly effective, akin to using a chainsaw for a specific purpose. I believe I retained my creative instincts and gained valuable insights into the thought processes of robots.

Today,I began a course that delves into the history and future of artificial intelligence. This course will enhance my understanding of the subject matter, which will be beneficial for my writing and overall well-being. It is intriguing that the course is taught not by a technical instructor but by a philosopher, who is a seeker of wisdom rather than just a seeker of information or data.

Long live Sophia!

Happy 250th Independence Day!

Happy 150th Birthday, Colorado!

Happy Birthday, Martha!

(As you can see, even your old fallen-away English teacher has to resort to exclamation marks at times. [See previous essay on such].)

Thank you to those readers who have let me know you enjoy these verbal meanderings. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.