cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/46082903
In fairness, the argument that AI is a cult/false religion/false god has been made many times before, however I believe that AI and the AI community most closely aligns with a cult, and here’s why:
Indoctrination techniques:
Generally, techniques that indoctrinate users into the cult tend to follow similar trends, which are notable in many of the AI models having similar effects on the users who subsequently become frequent users of the technology. Broken down, I’d say it’s something like this:
-Innocuous beginnings: Cults are notorious for beginning the indoctrination process with something simple and seemingly harmless on the surface (I.e. conferences, videos, films, games, etc.) these are all real techniques that various cults have used in the past, to somewhat success. Likewise, AI chatbots, image and video generators present just this: an invitation to engage with something fun and seemingly harmless, something that engages the audience and draws their attention.
-Love bombing: Perhaps the most notorious hook of cults is love bombing — giving heaps of praise and complements to the joining members. Likewise, AI chatbots constantly tell you how good your point is or how you’re always on the right track (“you’ve hit the nail on the head”, “that is an amazing point” are but a few I have read of Gemini) This is undoubtedly a form of love bombing.
-Promise of more: Cults often work by enticing their audience with something good, but promising something great (something better) later. Likewise, AI tech companies are always promising more, more, more if you subscribe/follow their work. What better reward for AI users can there be but the promise of bigger and better AI? This is exactly how both cults and AI operate.
Beyond the indoctrination similarities, there are also many, many peripheral similarities (by which I mean subtle, not less important similarities) which include:
-reach and scope: historical cults have often managed to expand their reach across multiple countries around the world. Need I explain how this is similar to the reach and scope of AI?
-withholding/hiding information
-leaders who turn out to be crooks/criminals
-leaders who amass fortunes
And many more.
What do you think? Are the similarities superficial, or could AI actually be a worldwide cult hidden in plain sight?
I’m in a weird middle ground where I know how to use it well because work requires it and I require a paycheck. But I also hate it and consider it a path to the destruction of everything.
You can present AI cultists with all the data and information available to backup how bad it is for their brain and society. It won’t matter. They write it off and call you either a Luddite or a hater. That’s what happens when you allow technology to dumb down your brain. No study or hard data is going to deter them from half-assing their way to everything instead of actually learning.
Ditto. AI is a tool, that’s it. Sometimes useful, sometimes not, sometimes laughably bad/incorrect.
People that talk to AI like another person I’m like, ok you do you but I view it like talking to a hammer or circular saw… but with added vast environmental damage and IP theft.
I have a handful of tools and added skills that make it talk less like a human. They avoid marketing speak, passive voice, filter out annoying words and structures, etc. Worth it. It gets the job done and doesn’t try to pretend to be human. I don’t need coddling.
I agree. We are becoming far too dependent on these things