Episode 252: Stupid ASOLs

October 16, 2024

Central Thesis

"Artificial intelligence," more accurately termed "Automated Simulacra of Language" (ASOLs), is a dangerous and overhyped technology poised to cause economic harm and corrupt creative fields, particularly podcasting, by flooding the market with cheap, simulated content and draining energy resources.

Key Arguments

• The Term "AI" is Misleading: The term "artificial intelligence" is inherently biased, implying a potential for consciousness and human-level intellect in machines, leading to unrealistic expectations and fear. Jim posits "ASOL" to be more accurate.
• ASOLs Threaten Creative Professions: LLMs automate aspects of creative work, threatening the business models of actual creators, particularly podcasters already struggling in a saturated market.
• ASOLs are Economically Precarious: The leading ASOL companies are deeply unprofitable and reliant on unsustainable funding models, including high-interest credit and investment from ethically questionable sources.
• ASOLs are Resource Intensive: ASOLs consume enormous amounts of energy, requiring significant computing power and driving controversial energy investments like the restart of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant.
• Simulated Content is Inauthentic and Destructive: The proliferation of ASOL-generated content, such as a computer-generated podcast discussing ADHD, devalues genuine human expression, trivializes sensitive topics, and jeopardizes the livelihoods of real creatives.
• The Industry's Jargon is Inaccurate: Professionals within the computer industry misuse the term "compute" as a noun instead of a verb, demonstrating a broader failure to communicate effectively and potentially hindering understanding.

Notable Passages

• "As long as the word intelligent is part of its descriptor, no one will likely be unbiased enough to decide its fate. "
• "Being the weakest link in our last crashed economy, he's blunt about what assholes might very well do. I think it's important to explain how precarious things are and why we are in a trough of magical thinking. Even worse, I want to highlight the potential human cost of an asshole bubble implosion."
• "This recording is a piece of shit. It's a turd. And it's stinkin' up the podcast landscape."
• "We humans need to do creative things, not just to be entertained by them. Making things brings light to our lives. So, fellow humans, including you, my dear listeners, remember the words of Dylan Thomas. Do not go gently into that good night. Rage against the dying of the light."

Rhetorical Approach

Jim uses a blend of sardonic humor, personal anecdote (his time as a mariner), etymological digressions (the origins of "head" and "poop deck," the noun/verb distinction of "compute"), name-calling and invented terminology ("ASOL," "micro-surf's"), and appeals to creative integrity to build his argument. He often adopts a ranting, impassioned tone, presenting himself as a champion of real creative work against the encroachment of automated simulacra.

Connections

• Episode 240: There Are No Accidents (referenced for the Italian slang "salami")
• Ed Zitron's article "The Subprime A.I. Crisis"
• Dylan Thomas's poem "Do not go gentle into that good night"