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2025-06-15 06:26:45 -

Barbie x HEWI Come Together to Think Pink in New Bath Line

The name, the myth, the icon: Barbie is almost synonymous with pink, the specific hues of the time responding to cultural trends across the decades. The doll – created by Ruth Handler in 1959, and distributed and produced by Mattel – has reflected and also shaped decades of American culture. Bauhaus-inspired, Barbie and HEWI have collaborated to present the Barbie x HEWI sanitaryware collection, bathed in an approachable yet sophisticated shade of pink. With a focus on celebrating individuality the Barbie way, HEWI fosters a precedent of inclusive design for bathrooms at large, ushering in a new era where all are safe and welcome.

HEWI continues to set new standards in bathroom and accessory design for almost one hundred years. Their iconic extruded door handle has extended to every facet of the bathroom, including a towel bar, shower seat, soap dish, and toilet roll holder, offering everything you might need if your bathroom needs a bit of brightness. A lovely shade of light pink accented with an approachable cream color allows the Barbie x HEWI collection to fit in with existing decor, palette incredibly important in a room made for washing and cleanliness. With a satisfying thickness sometimes absent from bathroom collections, each piece receives the signature HEWI finish, glossy and made to last even through the toughest bath times.

Barbie has been an integral part of our culture for over 65 years, offering a new perspective about what professions the doll could take part in and the roles she could play. In more recent years, inclusion has been a priority for the brand, choosing a more natural silhouette and featuring a more accurate and diverse picture of who Barbie and her friends could be. Here, this energy extends to the restroom, where the iconic Barbie pink meets the bold, Bauhaus silhouette of HEWI designs.

HEWI has been at the forefront of product design for over 90 years, challenging themselves and others to anticipate the needs of subsequent generations. With work in healthcare, public projects, hotels, and education, HEWI strives to continue to push the boundaries of materials technology, closing loops on their production processes with projects like the Re-seat collection, made out of offcuts from injection molding.

To learn more about the Barbie x HEWI sanitaryware collection, please visit barbiexhewi.com.
Imagery courtesy of HEWI.
#barbie #hewi #come #together #think

Barbie x HEWI Come Together to Think Pink in New Bath Line
The name, the myth, the icon: Barbie is almost synonymous with pink, the specific hues of the time responding to cultural trends across the decades. The doll – created by Ruth Handler in 1959, and distributed and produced by Mattel – has reflected and also shaped decades of American culture. Bauhaus-inspired, Barbie and HEWI have collaborated to present the Barbie x HEWI sanitaryware collection, bathed in an approachable yet sophisticated shade of pink. With a focus on celebrating individuality the Barbie way, HEWI fosters a precedent of inclusive design for bathrooms at large, ushering in a new era where all are safe and welcome. HEWI continues to set new standards in bathroom and accessory design for almost one hundred years. Their iconic extruded door handle has extended to every facet of the bathroom, including a towel bar, shower seat, soap dish, and toilet roll holder, offering everything you might need if your bathroom needs a bit of brightness. A lovely shade of light pink accented with an approachable cream color allows the Barbie x HEWI collection to fit in with existing decor, palette incredibly important in a room made for washing and cleanliness. With a satisfying thickness sometimes absent from bathroom collections, each piece receives the signature HEWI finish, glossy and made to last even through the toughest bath times. Barbie has been an integral part of our culture for over 65 years, offering a new perspective about what professions the doll could take part in and the roles she could play. In more recent years, inclusion has been a priority for the brand, choosing a more natural silhouette and featuring a more accurate and diverse picture of who Barbie and her friends could be. Here, this energy extends to the restroom, where the iconic Barbie pink meets the bold, Bauhaus silhouette of HEWI designs. HEWI has been at the forefront of product design for over 90 years, challenging themselves and others to anticipate the needs of subsequent generations. With work in healthcare, public projects, hotels, and education, HEWI strives to continue to push the boundaries of materials technology, closing loops on their production processes with projects like the Re-seat collection, made out of offcuts from injection molding. To learn more about the Barbie x HEWI sanitaryware collection, please visit barbiexhewi.com. Imagery courtesy of HEWI. #barbie #hewi #come #together #think

DESIGN-MILK.COM

Barbie x HEWI Come Together to Think Pink in New Bath Line
The name, the myth, the icon: Barbie is almost synonymous with pink, the specific hues of the time responding to cultural trends across the decades. The doll – created by Ruth Handler in 1959, and distributed and produced by Mattel – has reflected and also shaped decades of American culture. Bauhaus-inspired, Barbie and HEWI have collaborated to present the Barbie x HEWI sanitaryware collection, bathed in an approachable yet sophisticated shade of pink. With a focus on celebrating individuality the Barbie way, HEWI fosters a precedent of inclusive design for bathrooms at large, ushering in a new era where all are safe and welcome. HEWI continues to set new standards in bathroom and accessory design for almost one hundred years. Their iconic extruded door handle has extended to every facet of the bathroom, including a towel bar, shower seat, soap dish, and toilet roll holder, offering everything you might need if your bathroom needs a bit of brightness. A lovely shade of light pink accented with an approachable cream color allows the Barbie x HEWI collection to fit in with existing decor, palette incredibly important in a room made for washing and cleanliness. With a satisfying thickness sometimes absent from bathroom collections, each piece receives the signature HEWI finish, glossy and made to last even through the toughest bath times. Barbie has been an integral part of our culture for over 65 years, offering a new perspective about what professions the doll could take part in and the roles she could play. In more recent years, inclusion has been a priority for the brand, choosing a more natural silhouette and featuring a more accurate and diverse picture of who Barbie and her friends could be. Here, this energy extends to the restroom, where the iconic Barbie pink meets the bold, Bauhaus silhouette of HEWI designs. HEWI has been at the forefront of product design for over 90 years, challenging themselves and others to anticipate the needs of subsequent generations. With work in healthcare, public projects, hotels, and education, HEWI strives to continue to push the boundaries of materials technology, closing loops on their production processes with projects like the Re-seat collection, made out of offcuts from injection molding. To learn more about the Barbie x HEWI sanitaryware collection, please visit barbiexhewi.com. Imagery courtesy of HEWI.

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2025-06-05 08:33:23 -

Endangered classic Mac plastic color returns as 3D-printer filament

The color of nostalgia

Endangered classic Mac plastic color returns as 3D-printer filament

Mac fan paid to color-match iconic Apple beige-gray "Platinum" plastic for everyone.

Benj Edwards

–

Jun 4, 2025 6:13 pm

|

3

The Mac SE, released in 1987, was one of many classic Macs to use the "Platinum" color scheme.

Credit:

Apple / Polar Filament

The Mac SE, released in 1987, was one of many classic Macs to use the "Platinum" color scheme.

Credit:

Apple / Polar Filament

Story text

Size

Small
Standard
Large

Width
*

Standard
Wide

Links

Standard
Orange

* Subscribers only
  Learn more

On Tuesday, classic computer collector Joe Strosnider announced the availability of a new 3D-printer filament that replicates the iconic "Platinum" color scheme used in classic Macintosh computers from the late 1980s through the 1990s. The PLA filamentallows hobbyists to 3D-print nostalgic novelties, replacement parts, and accessories that match the original color of vintage Apple computers.
Hobbyists commonly feed this type of filament into commercial desktop 3D printers, which heat the plastic and extrude it in a computer-controlled way to fabricate new plastic parts.
The Platinum color, which Apple used in its desktop and portable computer lines starting with the Apple IIgs in 1986, has become synonymous with a distinctive era of classic Macintosh aesthetic. Over time, original Macintosh plastics have become brittle and discolored with age, so matching the "original" color can be a somewhat challenging and subjective experience.

A close-up of "Retro Platinum" PLA filament by Polar Filament.

Credit:

Polar Filament

Strosnider, who runs a website about his extensive vintage computer collection in Ohio, worked for years to color-match the distinctive beige-gray hue of the Macintosh Platinum scheme, resulting in a spool of hobby-ready plastic by Polar Filament and priced at per kilogram.
According to a forum post, Strosnider paid approximately to develop the color and purchase an initial 25-kilogram supply of the filament. Rather than keeping the formulation proprietary, he arranged for Polar Filament to make the color publicly available.
"I paid them a fee to color match the speaker box from inside my Mac Color Classic," Strosnider wrote in a Tinkerdifferent forum post on Tuesday. "In exchange, I asked them to release the color to the public so anyone can use it."

A spool of "Retro Platinum" PLA filament by Polar Filament.

Credit:

Polar Filament

The development addresses a gap in the vintage computing community, where enthusiasts sometimes struggle to find appropriately colored materials for restoration projects and new accessories. The new filament is an attempt to replace previous options that were either expensive, required international shipping, or had consistency issues that Strosnider described as "chalky."
The 1.75 mm filament works with standard 3D printers and is compatible with automated material systems used in some newer printer models. On Bluesky, Strosnider encouraged buyers to "order plenty, and let them know you want them to print it forever" to ensure continued production of the specialty color.
Extruded nostalgia
The timing of the filament's release coincides with growing interest in 3D-printed cases and accessories for vintage computer hardware. One example is the SE Mini desktop case, a project by "GutBomb" that transforms Macintosh SE and SE/30 logic boards into compact desktop computers that can connect to modern displays. The case, designed to be 3D-printed in multiple pieces and assembled, represents the type of project that benefits from color-accurate filament.

A 3D-printed "SE Mini" desktop case that allows using a vintage compact Mac board in a new enclosure.

Credit:

Joe Strosnider

The SE Mini case requires approximately half a spool of filament and takes a couple of days to print on consumer 3D printers. Users can outfit the case with modern components, such as Pico PSUs and BlueSCSI storage devices, while maintaining the classic Macintosh appearance.
Why create new "retro" devices? Because it's fun, and it's a great way to merge technology's past with the benefits of recent tech developments. Projects like the Platinum PLA filament, the SE Mini case, and the dedication of hobbyists like Strosnider ensure that appreciation for Apple's computers of yore will continue for decades.

Benj Edwards
Senior AI Reporter

Benj Edwards
Senior AI Reporter

Benj Edwards is Ars Technica's Senior AI Reporter and founder of the site's dedicated AI beat in 2022. He's also a tech historian with almost two decades of experience. In his free time, he writes and records music, collects vintage computers, and enjoys nature. He lives in Raleigh, NC.

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#endangered #classic #mac #plastic #color

Endangered classic Mac plastic color returns as 3D-printer filament
The color of nostalgia Endangered classic Mac plastic color returns as 3D-printer filament Mac fan paid to color-match iconic Apple beige-gray "Platinum" plastic for everyone. Benj Edwards – Jun 4, 2025 6:13 pm | 3 The Mac SE, released in 1987, was one of many classic Macs to use the "Platinum" color scheme. Credit: Apple / Polar Filament The Mac SE, released in 1987, was one of many classic Macs to use the "Platinum" color scheme. Credit: Apple / Polar Filament Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more On Tuesday, classic computer collector Joe Strosnider announced the availability of a new 3D-printer filament that replicates the iconic "Platinum" color scheme used in classic Macintosh computers from the late 1980s through the 1990s. The PLA filamentallows hobbyists to 3D-print nostalgic novelties, replacement parts, and accessories that match the original color of vintage Apple computers. Hobbyists commonly feed this type of filament into commercial desktop 3D printers, which heat the plastic and extrude it in a computer-controlled way to fabricate new plastic parts. The Platinum color, which Apple used in its desktop and portable computer lines starting with the Apple IIgs in 1986, has become synonymous with a distinctive era of classic Macintosh aesthetic. Over time, original Macintosh plastics have become brittle and discolored with age, so matching the "original" color can be a somewhat challenging and subjective experience. A close-up of "Retro Platinum" PLA filament by Polar Filament. Credit: Polar Filament Strosnider, who runs a website about his extensive vintage computer collection in Ohio, worked for years to color-match the distinctive beige-gray hue of the Macintosh Platinum scheme, resulting in a spool of hobby-ready plastic by Polar Filament and priced at per kilogram. According to a forum post, Strosnider paid approximately to develop the color and purchase an initial 25-kilogram supply of the filament. Rather than keeping the formulation proprietary, he arranged for Polar Filament to make the color publicly available. "I paid them a fee to color match the speaker box from inside my Mac Color Classic," Strosnider wrote in a Tinkerdifferent forum post on Tuesday. "In exchange, I asked them to release the color to the public so anyone can use it." A spool of "Retro Platinum" PLA filament by Polar Filament. Credit: Polar Filament The development addresses a gap in the vintage computing community, where enthusiasts sometimes struggle to find appropriately colored materials for restoration projects and new accessories. The new filament is an attempt to replace previous options that were either expensive, required international shipping, or had consistency issues that Strosnider described as "chalky." The 1.75 mm filament works with standard 3D printers and is compatible with automated material systems used in some newer printer models. On Bluesky, Strosnider encouraged buyers to "order plenty, and let them know you want them to print it forever" to ensure continued production of the specialty color. Extruded nostalgia The timing of the filament's release coincides with growing interest in 3D-printed cases and accessories for vintage computer hardware. One example is the SE Mini desktop case, a project by "GutBomb" that transforms Macintosh SE and SE/30 logic boards into compact desktop computers that can connect to modern displays. The case, designed to be 3D-printed in multiple pieces and assembled, represents the type of project that benefits from color-accurate filament. A 3D-printed "SE Mini" desktop case that allows using a vintage compact Mac board in a new enclosure. Credit: Joe Strosnider The SE Mini case requires approximately half a spool of filament and takes a couple of days to print on consumer 3D printers. Users can outfit the case with modern components, such as Pico PSUs and BlueSCSI storage devices, while maintaining the classic Macintosh appearance. Why create new "retro" devices? Because it's fun, and it's a great way to merge technology's past with the benefits of recent tech developments. Projects like the Platinum PLA filament, the SE Mini case, and the dedication of hobbyists like Strosnider ensure that appreciation for Apple's computers of yore will continue for decades. Benj Edwards Senior AI Reporter Benj Edwards Senior AI Reporter Benj Edwards is Ars Technica's Senior AI Reporter and founder of the site's dedicated AI beat in 2022. He's also a tech historian with almost two decades of experience. In his free time, he writes and records music, collects vintage computers, and enjoys nature. He lives in Raleigh, NC. 3 Comments #endangered #classic #mac #plastic #color

ARSTECHNICA.COM

Endangered classic Mac plastic color returns as 3D-printer filament
The color of nostalgia Endangered classic Mac plastic color returns as 3D-printer filament Mac fan paid $900 to color-match iconic Apple beige-gray "Platinum" plastic for everyone. Benj Edwards – Jun 4, 2025 6:13 pm | 3 The Mac SE, released in 1987, was one of many classic Macs to use the "Platinum" color scheme. Credit: Apple / Polar Filament The Mac SE, released in 1987, was one of many classic Macs to use the "Platinum" color scheme. Credit: Apple / Polar Filament Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more On Tuesday, classic computer collector Joe Strosnider announced the availability of a new 3D-printer filament that replicates the iconic "Platinum" color scheme used in classic Macintosh computers from the late 1980s through the 1990s. The PLA filament (PLA is short for polylactic acid) allows hobbyists to 3D-print nostalgic novelties, replacement parts, and accessories that match the original color of vintage Apple computers. Hobbyists commonly feed this type of filament into commercial desktop 3D printers, which heat the plastic and extrude it in a computer-controlled way to fabricate new plastic parts. The Platinum color, which Apple used in its desktop and portable computer lines starting with the Apple IIgs in 1986, has become synonymous with a distinctive era of classic Macintosh aesthetic. Over time, original Macintosh plastics have become brittle and discolored with age, so matching the "original" color can be a somewhat challenging and subjective experience. A close-up of "Retro Platinum" PLA filament by Polar Filament. Credit: Polar Filament Strosnider, who runs a website about his extensive vintage computer collection in Ohio, worked for years to color-match the distinctive beige-gray hue of the Macintosh Platinum scheme, resulting in a spool of hobby-ready plastic by Polar Filament and priced at $21.99 per kilogram. According to a forum post, Strosnider paid approximately $900 to develop the color and purchase an initial 25-kilogram supply of the filament. Rather than keeping the formulation proprietary, he arranged for Polar Filament to make the color publicly available. "I paid them a fee to color match the speaker box from inside my Mac Color Classic," Strosnider wrote in a Tinkerdifferent forum post on Tuesday. "In exchange, I asked them to release the color to the public so anyone can use it." A spool of "Retro Platinum" PLA filament by Polar Filament. Credit: Polar Filament The development addresses a gap in the vintage computing community, where enthusiasts sometimes struggle to find appropriately colored materials for restoration projects and new accessories. The new filament is an attempt to replace previous options that were either expensive, required international shipping, or had consistency issues that Strosnider described as "chalky." The 1.75 mm filament works with standard 3D printers and is compatible with automated material systems used in some newer printer models. On Bluesky, Strosnider encouraged buyers to "order plenty, and let them know you want them to print it forever" to ensure continued production of the specialty color. Extruded nostalgia The timing of the filament's release coincides with growing interest in 3D-printed cases and accessories for vintage computer hardware. One example is the SE Mini desktop case, a project by "GutBomb" that transforms Macintosh SE and SE/30 logic boards into compact desktop computers that can connect to modern displays. The case, designed to be 3D-printed in multiple pieces and assembled, represents the type of project that benefits from color-accurate filament. A 3D-printed "SE Mini" desktop case that allows using a vintage compact Mac board in a new enclosure. Credit: Joe Strosnider The SE Mini case requires approximately half a spool of filament and takes a couple of days to print on consumer 3D printers. Users can outfit the case with modern components, such as Pico PSUs and BlueSCSI storage devices, while maintaining the classic Macintosh appearance. Why create new "retro" devices? Because it's fun, and it's a great way to merge technology's past with the benefits of recent tech developments. Projects like the Platinum PLA filament, the SE Mini case, and the dedication of hobbyists like Strosnider ensure that appreciation for Apple's computers of yore will continue for decades. Benj Edwards Senior AI Reporter Benj Edwards Senior AI Reporter Benj Edwards is Ars Technica's Senior AI Reporter and founder of the site's dedicated AI beat in 2022. He's also a tech historian with almost two decades of experience. In his free time, he writes and records music, collects vintage computers, and enjoys nature. He lives in Raleigh, NC. 3 Comments

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2025-05-31 09:19:53 -

Sneak peek of Michael Maltzan's RIT Music Performance Theater construction progress

Michael Maltzan Architecture has shared a quick construction update of their forthcoming RIT Music Performance Theater project in Rochester, New York.
The 750-seat venue on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus broke ground in September 2023 and is expected to open to the public later this year, according to the LA-based firm's Instagram post. SWBR is the Architect of Record.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Maltzan ArchitectureThe photos shared show 1:1 façade mock-ups "testing scale, pattern, and finish for the custom extruded aluminum façade," as well as the construction progress of the primary structural steel system, which is now complete.
Rendering of the future RIT Music Performance Theater. Image courtesy Michael Maltzan Architecture.Earlier this year, Michael Maltzan's firm was selected as the Architecture prize winner at the 25th annual Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards.
#sneak #peek #michael #maltzan039s #rit

Sneak peek of Michael Maltzan's RIT Music Performance Theater construction progress
Michael Maltzan Architecture has shared a quick construction update of their forthcoming RIT Music Performance Theater project in Rochester, New York. The 750-seat venue on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus broke ground in September 2023 and is expected to open to the public later this year, according to the LA-based firm's Instagram post. SWBR is the Architect of Record. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Maltzan ArchitectureThe photos shared show 1:1 façade mock-ups "testing scale, pattern, and finish for the custom extruded aluminum façade," as well as the construction progress of the primary structural steel system, which is now complete. Rendering of the future RIT Music Performance Theater. Image courtesy Michael Maltzan Architecture.Earlier this year, Michael Maltzan's firm was selected as the Architecture prize winner at the 25th annual Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards. #sneak #peek #michael #maltzan039s #rit

ARCHINECT.COM

Sneak peek of Michael Maltzan's RIT Music Performance Theater construction progress
Michael Maltzan Architecture has shared a quick construction update of their forthcoming RIT Music Performance Theater project in Rochester, New York. The 750-seat venue on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus broke ground in September 2023 and is expected to open to the public later this year, according to the LA-based firm's Instagram post. SWBR is the Architect of Record. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Maltzan Architecture (@michaelmaltzanarchitecture)The photos shared show 1:1 façade mock-ups "testing scale, pattern, and finish for the custom extruded aluminum façade," as well as the construction progress of the primary structural steel system, which is now complete. Rendering of the future RIT Music Performance Theater. Image courtesy Michael Maltzan Architecture.Earlier this year, Michael Maltzan's firm was selected as the Architecture prize winner at the 25th annual Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards.

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2025-05-15 10:17:15 -

MIT Media Lab instructor Zachary Lieberman on his award-winning desire to 'sketch for the future'

The ninth edition of the Teaching with Digital Technology Awards, a student-elected program presented annually to faculty members at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology includes MIT Media Lab instructor Zachary Lieberman.
He was joined this year by his colleagues Eran Egozy, Christopher Noe, Anthony Pennes, Scott Sheffield, Shen Shen, and Eric So.
Lieberman, the New York-based artist with past residencies at Eyebeam and the Barcelona Hangar Center, was honored for his deft integrations of digital technology into the classroom, joining other past recipients like Ben Fry and Alex Kilian. Outside of academia, clients such as the hit indie band OK GO are among his many arts and entertainment sector clients.
Extruded blob digital artwork made using openFrameworks. Image courtesy Z...
#mit #media #lab #instructor #zachary

MIT Media Lab instructor Zachary Lieberman on his award-winning desire to 'sketch for the future'
The ninth edition of the Teaching with Digital Technology Awards, a student-elected program presented annually to faculty members at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology includes MIT Media Lab instructor Zachary Lieberman. He was joined this year by his colleagues Eran Egozy, Christopher Noe, Anthony Pennes, Scott Sheffield, Shen Shen, and Eric So. Lieberman, the New York-based artist with past residencies at Eyebeam and the Barcelona Hangar Center, was honored for his deft integrations of digital technology into the classroom, joining other past recipients like Ben Fry and Alex Kilian. Outside of academia, clients such as the hit indie band OK GO are among his many arts and entertainment sector clients. Extruded blob digital artwork made using openFrameworks. Image courtesy Z... #mit #media #lab #instructor #zachary

ARCHINECT.COM

MIT Media Lab instructor Zachary Lieberman on his award-winning desire to 'sketch for the future'
The ninth edition of the Teaching with Digital Technology Awards, a student-elected program presented annually to faculty members at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology includes MIT Media Lab instructor Zachary Lieberman (Media Arts and Sciences). He was joined this year by his colleagues Eran Egozy (Music and Theatre Arts), Christopher Noe (Management), Anthony Pennes (Electrical Engineering & Computer Science / Mechanical Engineering), Scott Sheffield (Mathematics), Shen Shen (Electrical Engineering & Computer Science), and Eric So (Management). Lieberman, the New York-based artist with past residencies at Eyebeam and the Barcelona Hangar Center, was honored for his deft integrations of digital technology into the classroom, joining other past recipients like Ben Fry and Alex Kilian. Outside of academia, clients such as the hit indie band OK GO are among his many arts and entertainment sector clients. Extruded blob digital artwork made using openFrameworks. Image courtesy Z...

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2025-05-13 13:57:07 -

#333;">How to Spot AI Hype and Avoid The AI Con, According to Two Experts
"Artificial intelligence, if we're being frank, is a con: a bill of goods you are being sold to line someone's pockets."That is the heart of the argument that linguist Emily Bender and sociologist Alex Hanna make in their new book The AI Con.
It's a useful guide for anyone whose life has intersected with technologies sold as artificial intelligence and anyone who's questioned their real usefulness, which is most of us.
Bender is a professor at the University of Washington who was named one of Time magazine's most influential people in artificial intelligence, and Hanna is the director of research at the nonprofit Distributed AI Research Institute and a former member of the ethical AI team at Google.The explosion of ChatGPT in late 2022 kicked off a new hype cycle in AI.
Hype, as the authors define it, is the "aggrandizement" of technology that you are convinced you need to buy or invest in "lest you miss out on entertainment or pleasure, monetary reward, return on investment, or market share." But it's not the first time, nor likely the last, that scholars, government leaders and regular people have been intrigued and worried by the idea of machine learning and AI.Bender and Hanna trace the roots of machine learning back to the 1950s, to when mathematician John McCarthy coined the term artificial intelligence.
It was in an era when the United States was looking to fund projects that would help the country gain any kind of edge on the Soviets militarily, ideologically and technologically.
"It didn't spring whole cloth out of Zeus's head or anything.
This has a longer history," Hanna said in an interview with CNET.
"It's certainly not the first hype cycle with, quote, unquote, AI."Today's hype cycle is propelled by the billions of dollars of venture capital investment into startups like OpenAI and the tech giants like Meta, Google and Microsoft pouring billions of dollars into AI research and development.
The result is clear, with all the newest phones, laptops and software updates drenched in AI-washing.
And there are no signs that AI research and development will slow down, thanks in part to a growing motivation to beat China in AI development.
Not the first hype cycle indeed.Of course, generative AI in 2025 is much more advanced than the Eliza psychotherapy chatbot that first enraptured scientists in the 1970s.
Today's business leaders and workers are inundated with hype, with a heavy dose of FOMO and seemingly complex but often misused jargon.
Listening to tech leaders and AI enthusiasts, it might seem like AI will take your job to save your company money.
But the authors argue that neither is wholly likely, which is one reason why it's important to recognize and break through the hype.So how do we recognize AI hype? These are a few telltale signs, according to Bender and Hanna, that we share below.
The authors outline more questions to ask and strategies for AI hype busting in their book, which is out now in the US.Watch out for language that humanizes AIAnthropomorphizing, or the process of giving an inanimate object human-like characteristics or qualities, is a big part of building AI hype.
An example of this kind of language can be found when AI companies say their chatbots can now "see" and "think."These can be useful comparisons when trying to describe the ability of new object-identifying AI programs or deep-reasoning AI models, but they can also be misleading.
AI chatbots aren't capable of seeing of thinking because they don't have brains.
Even the idea of neural nets, Hanna noted in our interview and in the book, is based on human understanding of neurons from the 1950s, not actually how neurons work, but it can fool us into believing there's a brain behind the machine.That belief is something we're predisposed to because of how we as humans process language.
We're conditioned to imagine that there is a mind behind the text we see, even when we know it's generated by AI, Bender said.
"We interpret language by developing a model in our minds of who the speaker was," Bender added.In these models, we use our knowledge of the person speaking to create meaning, not just using the meaning of the words they say.
"So when we encounter synthetic text extruded from something like ChatGPT, we're going to do the same thing," Bender said.
"And it is very hard to remind ourselves that the mind isn't there.
It's just a construct that we have produced."The authors argue that part of why AI companies try to convince us their products are human-like is that this sets the foreground for them to convince us that AI can replace humans, whether it's at work or as creators.
It's compelling for us to believe that AI could be the silver bullet fix to complicated problems in critical industries like health care and government services.But more often than not, the authors argue, AI isn't bring used to fix anything.
AI is sold with the goal of efficiency, but AI services end up replacing qualified workers with black box machines that need copious amounts of babysitting from underpaid contract or gig workers.
As Hanna put it in our interview, "AI is not going to take your job, but it will make your job shittier."Be dubious of the phrase 'super intelligence'If a human can't do something, you should be wary of claims that an AI can do it.
"Superhuman intelligence, or super intelligence, is a very dangerous turn of phrase, insofar as it thinks that some technology is going to make humans superfluous," Hanna said.
In "certain domains, like pattern matching at scale, computers are quite good at that.
But if there's an idea that there's going to be a superhuman poem, or a superhuman notion of research or doing science, that is clear hype." Bender added, "And we don't talk about airplanes as superhuman flyers or rulers as superhuman measurers, it seems to be only in this AI space that that comes up."The idea of AI "super intelligence" comes up often when people talk about artificial general intelligence.
Many CEOs struggle to define what exactly AGI is, but it's essentially AI's most advanced form, potentially capable of making decisions and handling complex tasks.
There's still no evidence we're anywhere near a future enabled by AGI, but it's a popular buzzword.Many of these future-looking statements from AI leaders borrow tropes from science fiction.
Both boosters and doomers — how Bender and Hanna describe AI enthusiasts and those worried about the potential for harm — rely on sci-fi scenarios.
The boosters imagine an AI-powered futuristic society.
The doomers bemoan a future where AI robots take over the world and wipe out humanity.The connecting thread, according to the authors, is an unshakable belief that AI is smarter than humans and inevitable.
"One of the things that we see a lot in the discourse is this idea that the future is fixed, and it's just a question of how fast we get there," Bender said.
"And then there's this claim that this particular technology is a step on that path, and it's all marketing.
It is helpful to be able to see behind it."Part of why AI is so popular is that an autonomous functional AI assistant would mean AI companies are fulfilling their promises of world-changing innovation to their investors.
Planning for that future — whether it's a utopia or dystopia — keeps investors looking forward as the companies burn through billions of dollars and admit they'll miss their carbon emission goals.
For better or worse, life is not science fiction.
Whenever you see someone claiming their AI product is straight out of a movie, it's a good sign to approach with skepticism.
Ask what goes in and how outputs are evaluatedOne of the easiest ways to see through AI marketing fluff is to look and see whether the company is disclosing how it operates.
Many AI companies won't tell you what content is used to train their models.
But they usually disclose what the company does with your data and sometimes brag about how their models stack up against competitors.
That's where you should start looking, typically in their privacy policies.One of the top complaints and concerns from creators is how AI models are trained.
There are many lawsuits over alleged copyright infringement, and there are a lot of concerns over bias in AI chatbots and their capacity for harm.
"If you wanted to create a system that is designed to move things forward rather than reproduce the oppressions of the past, you would have to start by curating your data," Bender said.
Instead, AI companies are grabbing "everything that wasn't nailed down on the internet," Hanna said.If you're hearing about an AI product for the first time, one thing in particular to look out for is any kind of statistic that highlights its effectiveness.
Like many other researchers, Bender and Hanna have called out that a finding with no citation is a red flag.
"Anytime someone is selling you something but not giving you access to how it was evaluated, you are on thin ice," Bender said.It can be frustrating and disappointing when AI companies don't disclose certain information about how their AI products work and how they were developed.
But recognizing those holes in their sales pitch can help deflate hype, even though it would be better to have the information.
For more, check out our full ChatGPT glossary and how to turn off Apple Intelligence.
#666;">المصدر: https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-spot-ai-hype-and-avoid-the-ai-con-according-to-two-experts/#ftag=CAD590a51e" style="color: #0066cc; text-decoration: none;">www.cnet.com
#0066cc;">#how #spot #hype #and #avoid #the #con #according #two #experts #quotartificial #intelligence #we039re #being #frank #bill #goods #you #are #sold #line #someone039s #pocketsquotthat #heart #argument #that #linguist #emily #bender #sociologist #alex #hannamake #their #new #bookthe #conit039s #useful #guide #for #anyone #whose #life #has #intersected #with #technologies #artificial #who039s #questioned #real #usefulness #which #most #usbender #professor #university #washington #who #was #named #one #time #magazine039s #influential #people #hanna #director #research #nonprofit #distributed #instituteand #former #member #ethical #team #googlethe #explosion #chatgpt #late #kicked #off #cycle #aihype #authors #define #quotaggrandizementquot #technology #convinced #need #buy #invest #quotlest #miss #out #entertainment #pleasure #monetary #reward #return #investment #market #sharequot #but #it039s #not #first #nor #likely #last #scholars #government #leaders #regular #have #been #intrigued #worried #idea #machine #learning #aibender #trace #roots #back #1950s #when #mathematician #john #mccarthy #coined #term #intelligenceit #era #united #states #looking #fund #projects #would #help #country #gain #any #kind #edge #soviets #militarily #ideologically #technologicallyquotit #didn039t #spring #whole #cloth #zeus039s #head #anythingthis #longer #historyquot #said #interview #cnetquotit039s #certainly #quote #unquote #aiquottoday039s #propelled #billions #dollars #venture #capital #into #startups #like #openai #tech #giants #meta #google #microsoft #pouring #developmentthe #result #clear #all #newest #phones #laptops #software #updates #drenched #aiwashingand #there #signs #development #will #slow #down #thanks #part #growing #motivation #beat #china #developmentnot #indeedof #course #generative #much #more #advanced #than #eliza #psychotherapy #chatbot #enraptured #scientists #1970stoday039s #business #workers #inundated #heavy #dose #fomo #seemingly #complex #often #misused #jargonlistening #enthusiasts #might #seem #take #your #job #save #company #moneybut #argue #neither #wholly #reason #why #important #recognize #break #through #hypeso #these #few #telltale #share #belowthe #outline #questions #ask #strategies #busting #book #now #uswatch #language #humanizes #aianthropomorphizing #process #giving #inanimate #object #humanlike #characteristics #qualities #big #building #hypean #example #this #can #found #companies #say #chatbots #quotseequot #quotthinkquotthese #comparisons #trying #describe #ability #objectidentifying #programs #deepreasoning #models #they #also #misleadingai #aren039t #capable #seeing #thinking #because #don039t #brainseven #neural #nets #noted #our #based #human #understanding #neurons #from #actually #work #fool #believing #there039s #brain #behind #machinethat #belief #something #predisposed #humans #languagewe039re #conditioned #imagine #mind #text #see #even #know #generated #saidquotwe #interpret #developing #model #minds #speaker #wasquot #addedin #use #knowledge #person #speaking #create #meaning #just #using #words #sayquotso #encounter #synthetic #extruded #going #same #thingquot #saidquotand #very #hard #remind #ourselves #isn039t #thereit039s #construct #producedquotthe #try #convince #products #sets #foreground #them #replace #whether #creatorsit039s #compelling #believe #could #silver #bullet #fix #complicated #problems #critical #industries #health #care #servicesbut #bring #used #anythingai #goal #efficiency #services #end #replacing #qualified #black #box #machines #copious #amounts #babysitting #underpaid #contract #gig #workersas #put #quotai #make #shittierquotbe #dubious #phrase #039super #intelligence039if #can039t #should #wary #claims #itquotsuperhuman #super #dangerous #turn #insofar #thinks #some #superfluousquot #saidin #quotcertain #domains #pattern #matching #scale #computers #quite #good #thatbut #superhuman #poem #notion #doing #science #hypequot #added #quotand #talk #about #airplanes #flyers #rulers #measurers #seems #only #space #comes #upquotthe #quotsuper #intelligencequot #general #intelligencemany #ceos #struggle #what #exactly #agi #essentially #ai039s #form #potentially #making #decisions #handling #tasksthere039s #still #evidence #anywhere #near #future #enabled #popularbuzzwordmany #futurelooking #statements #borrow #tropes #fictionboth #boosters #doomers #those #potential #harm #rely #scifi #scenariosthe #aipowered #futuristic #societythe #bemoan #where #robots #over #world #wipe #humanitythe #connecting #thread #unshakable #smarter #inevitablequotone #things #lot #discourse #fixed #question #fast #get #therequot #then #claim #particular #step #path #marketingit #helpful #able #itquotpart #popular #autonomous #functional #assistant #mean #fulfilling #promises #worldchanging #innovation #investorsplanning #utopia #dystopia #keeps #investors #forward #burn #admit #they039ll #carbon #emission #goalsfor #better #worse #fictionwhenever #someone #claiming #product #straight #movie #sign #approach #skepticism #goes #outputs #evaluatedone #easiest #ways #marketing #fluff #look #disclosing #operatesmany #won039t #tell #content #train #modelsbut #usually #disclose #does #data #sometimes #brag #stack #against #competitorsthat039s #start #typically #privacy #policiesone #top #complaints #concernsfrom #creators #trainedthere #many #lawsuits #alleged #copyright #infringement #concerns #bias #capacity #harmquotif #wanted #system #designed #move #rather #reproduce #oppressions #past #curating #dataquot #saidinstead #grabbing #quoteverything #wasn039t #nailed #internetquot #saidif #you039re #hearing #thing #statistic #highlights #its #effectivenesslike #other #researchers #called #finding #citation #red #flagquotanytime #selling #access #evaluated #thin #icequot #saidit #frustrating #disappointing #certain #information #were #developedbut #recognizing #holes #sales #pitch #deflate #though #informationfor #check #fullchatgpt #glossary #offapple

How to Spot AI Hype and Avoid The AI Con, According to Two Experts
"Artificial intelligence, if we're being frank, is a con: a bill of goods you are being sold to line someone's pockets."That is the heart of the argument that linguist Emily Bender and sociologist Alex Hanna make in their new book The AI Con. It's a useful guide for anyone whose life has intersected with technologies sold as artificial intelligence and anyone who's questioned their real usefulness, which is most of us. Bender is a professor at the University of Washington who was named one of Time magazine's most influential people in artificial intelligence, and Hanna is the director of research at the nonprofit Distributed AI Research Institute and a former member of the ethical AI team at Google.The explosion of ChatGPT in late 2022 kicked off a new hype cycle in AI. Hype, as the authors define it, is the "aggrandizement" of technology that you are convinced you need to buy or invest in "lest you miss out on entertainment or pleasure, monetary reward, return on investment, or market share." But it's not the first time, nor likely the last, that scholars, government leaders and regular people have been intrigued and worried by the idea of machine learning and AI.Bender and Hanna trace the roots of machine learning back to the 1950s, to when mathematician John McCarthy coined the term artificial intelligence. It was in an era when the United States was looking to fund projects that would help the country gain any kind of edge on the Soviets militarily, ideologically and technologically. "It didn't spring whole cloth out of Zeus's head or anything. This has a longer history," Hanna said in an interview with CNET. "It's certainly not the first hype cycle with, quote, unquote, AI."Today's hype cycle is propelled by the billions of dollars of venture capital investment into startups like OpenAI and the tech giants like Meta, Google and Microsoft pouring billions of dollars into AI research and development. The result is clear, with all the newest phones, laptops and software updates drenched in AI-washing. And there are no signs that AI research and development will slow down, thanks in part to a growing motivation to beat China in AI development. Not the first hype cycle indeed.Of course, generative AI in 2025 is much more advanced than the Eliza psychotherapy chatbot that first enraptured scientists in the 1970s. Today's business leaders and workers are inundated with hype, with a heavy dose of FOMO and seemingly complex but often misused jargon. Listening to tech leaders and AI enthusiasts, it might seem like AI will take your job to save your company money. But the authors argue that neither is wholly likely, which is one reason why it's important to recognize and break through the hype.So how do we recognize AI hype? These are a few telltale signs, according to Bender and Hanna, that we share below. The authors outline more questions to ask and strategies for AI hype busting in their book, which is out now in the US.Watch out for language that humanizes AIAnthropomorphizing, or the process of giving an inanimate object human-like characteristics or qualities, is a big part of building AI hype. An example of this kind of language can be found when AI companies say their chatbots can now "see" and "think."These can be useful comparisons when trying to describe the ability of new object-identifying AI programs or deep-reasoning AI models, but they can also be misleading. AI chatbots aren't capable of seeing of thinking because they don't have brains. Even the idea of neural nets, Hanna noted in our interview and in the book, is based on human understanding of neurons from the 1950s, not actually how neurons work, but it can fool us into believing there's a brain behind the machine.That belief is something we're predisposed to because of how we as humans process language. We're conditioned to imagine that there is a mind behind the text we see, even when we know it's generated by AI, Bender said. "We interpret language by developing a model in our minds of who the speaker was," Bender added.In these models, we use our knowledge of the person speaking to create meaning, not just using the meaning of the words they say. "So when we encounter synthetic text extruded from something like ChatGPT, we're going to do the same thing," Bender said. "And it is very hard to remind ourselves that the mind isn't there. It's just a construct that we have produced."The authors argue that part of why AI companies try to convince us their products are human-like is that this sets the foreground for them to convince us that AI can replace humans, whether it's at work or as creators. It's compelling for us to believe that AI could be the silver bullet fix to complicated problems in critical industries like health care and government services.But more often than not, the authors argue, AI isn't bring used to fix anything. AI is sold with the goal of efficiency, but AI services end up replacing qualified workers with black box machines that need copious amounts of babysitting from underpaid contract or gig workers. As Hanna put it in our interview, "AI is not going to take your job, but it will make your job shittier."Be dubious of the phrase 'super intelligence'If a human can't do something, you should be wary of claims that an AI can do it. "Superhuman intelligence, or super intelligence, is a very dangerous turn of phrase, insofar as it thinks that some technology is going to make humans superfluous," Hanna said. In "certain domains, like pattern matching at scale, computers are quite good at that. But if there's an idea that there's going to be a superhuman poem, or a superhuman notion of research or doing science, that is clear hype." Bender added, "And we don't talk about airplanes as superhuman flyers or rulers as superhuman measurers, it seems to be only in this AI space that that comes up."The idea of AI "super intelligence" comes up often when people talk about artificial general intelligence. Many CEOs struggle to define what exactly AGI is, but it's essentially AI's most advanced form, potentially capable of making decisions and handling complex tasks. There's still no evidence we're anywhere near a future enabled by AGI, but it's a popular buzzword.Many of these future-looking statements from AI leaders borrow tropes from science fiction. Both boosters and doomers — how Bender and Hanna describe AI enthusiasts and those worried about the potential for harm — rely on sci-fi scenarios. The boosters imagine an AI-powered futuristic society. The doomers bemoan a future where AI robots take over the world and wipe out humanity.The connecting thread, according to the authors, is an unshakable belief that AI is smarter than humans and inevitable. "One of the things that we see a lot in the discourse is this idea that the future is fixed, and it's just a question of how fast we get there," Bender said. "And then there's this claim that this particular technology is a step on that path, and it's all marketing. It is helpful to be able to see behind it."Part of why AI is so popular is that an autonomous functional AI assistant would mean AI companies are fulfilling their promises of world-changing innovation to their investors. Planning for that future — whether it's a utopia or dystopia — keeps investors looking forward as the companies burn through billions of dollars and admit they'll miss their carbon emission goals. For better or worse, life is not science fiction. Whenever you see someone claiming their AI product is straight out of a movie, it's a good sign to approach with skepticism. Ask what goes in and how outputs are evaluatedOne of the easiest ways to see through AI marketing fluff is to look and see whether the company is disclosing how it operates. Many AI companies won't tell you what content is used to train their models. But they usually disclose what the company does with your data and sometimes brag about how their models stack up against competitors. That's where you should start looking, typically in their privacy policies.One of the top complaints and concerns from creators is how AI models are trained. There are many lawsuits over alleged copyright infringement, and there are a lot of concerns over bias in AI chatbots and their capacity for harm. "If you wanted to create a system that is designed to move things forward rather than reproduce the oppressions of the past, you would have to start by curating your data," Bender said. Instead, AI companies are grabbing "everything that wasn't nailed down on the internet," Hanna said.If you're hearing about an AI product for the first time, one thing in particular to look out for is any kind of statistic that highlights its effectiveness. Like many other researchers, Bender and Hanna have called out that a finding with no citation is a red flag. "Anytime someone is selling you something but not giving you access to how it was evaluated, you are on thin ice," Bender said.It can be frustrating and disappointing when AI companies don't disclose certain information about how their AI products work and how they were developed. But recognizing those holes in their sales pitch can help deflate hype, even though it would be better to have the information. For more, check out our full ChatGPT glossary and how to turn off Apple Intelligence.
المصدر: www.cnet.com
#how #spot #hype #and #avoid #the #con #according #two #experts #quotartificial #intelligence #we039re #being #frank #bill #goods #you #are #sold #line #someone039s #pocketsquotthat #heart #argument #that #linguist #emily #bender #sociologist #alex #hannamake #their #new #bookthe #conit039s #useful #guide #for #anyone #whose #life #has #intersected #with #technologies #artificial #who039s #questioned #real #usefulness #which #most #usbender #professor #university #washington #who #was #named #one #time #magazine039s #influential #people #hanna #director #research #nonprofit #distributed #instituteand #former #member #ethical #team #googlethe #explosion #chatgpt #late #kicked #off #cycle #aihype #authors #define #quotaggrandizementquot #technology #convinced #need #buy #invest #quotlest #miss #out #entertainment #pleasure #monetary #reward #return #investment #market #sharequot #but #it039s #not #first #nor #likely #last #scholars #government #leaders #regular #have #been #intrigued #worried #idea #machine #learning #aibender #trace #roots #back #1950s #when #mathematician #john #mccarthy #coined #term #intelligenceit #era #united #states #looking #fund #projects #would #help #country #gain #any #kind #edge #soviets #militarily #ideologically #technologicallyquotit #didn039t #spring #whole #cloth #zeus039s #head #anythingthis #longer #historyquot #said #interview #cnetquotit039s #certainly #quote #unquote #aiquottoday039s #propelled #billions #dollars #venture #capital #into #startups #like #openai #tech #giants #meta #google #microsoft #pouring #developmentthe #result #clear #all #newest #phones #laptops #software #updates #drenched #aiwashingand #there #signs #development #will #slow #down #thanks #part #growing #motivation #beat #china #developmentnot #indeedof #course #generative #much #more #advanced #than #eliza #psychotherapy #chatbot #enraptured #scientists #1970stoday039s #business #workers #inundated #heavy #dose #fomo #seemingly #complex #often #misused #jargonlistening #enthusiasts #might #seem #take #your #job #save #company #moneybut #argue #neither #wholly #reason #why #important #recognize #break #through #hypeso #these #few #telltale #share #belowthe #outline #questions #ask #strategies #busting #book #now #uswatch #language #humanizes #aianthropomorphizing #process #giving #inanimate #object #humanlike #characteristics #qualities #big #building #hypean #example #this #can #found #companies #say #chatbots #quotseequot #quotthinkquotthese #comparisons #trying #describe #ability #objectidentifying #programs #deepreasoning #models #they #also #misleadingai #aren039t #capable #seeing #thinking #because #don039t #brainseven #neural #nets #noted #our #based #human #understanding #neurons #from #actually #work #fool #believing #there039s #brain #behind #machinethat #belief #something #predisposed #humans #languagewe039re #conditioned #imagine #mind #text #see #even #know #generated #saidquotwe #interpret #developing #model #minds #speaker #wasquot #addedin #use #knowledge #person #speaking #create #meaning #just #using #words #sayquotso #encounter #synthetic #extruded #going #same #thingquot #saidquotand #very #hard #remind #ourselves #isn039t #thereit039s #construct #producedquotthe #try #convince #products #sets #foreground #them #replace #whether #creatorsit039s #compelling #believe #could #silver #bullet #fix #complicated #problems #critical #industries #health #care #servicesbut #bring #used #anythingai #goal #efficiency #services #end #replacing #qualified #black #box #machines #copious #amounts #babysitting #underpaid #contract #gig #workersas #put #quotai #make #shittierquotbe #dubious #phrase #039super #intelligence039if #can039t #should #wary #claims #itquotsuperhuman #super #dangerous #turn #insofar #thinks #some #superfluousquot #saidin #quotcertain #domains #pattern #matching #scale #computers #quite #good #thatbut #superhuman #poem #notion #doing #science #hypequot #added #quotand #talk #about #airplanes #flyers #rulers #measurers #seems #only #space #comes #upquotthe #quotsuper #intelligencequot #general #intelligencemany #ceos #struggle #what #exactly #agi #essentially #ai039s #form #potentially #making #decisions #handling #tasksthere039s #still #evidence #anywhere #near #future #enabled #popularbuzzwordmany #futurelooking #statements #borrow #tropes #fictionboth #boosters #doomers #those #potential #harm #rely #scifi #scenariosthe #aipowered #futuristic #societythe #bemoan #where #robots #over #world #wipe #humanitythe #connecting #thread #unshakable #smarter #inevitablequotone #things #lot #discourse #fixed #question #fast #get #therequot #then #claim #particular #step #path #marketingit #helpful #able #itquotpart #popular #autonomous #functional #assistant #mean #fulfilling #promises #worldchanging #innovation #investorsplanning #utopia #dystopia #keeps #investors #forward #burn #admit #they039ll #carbon #emission #goalsfor #better #worse #fictionwhenever #someone #claiming #product #straight #movie #sign #approach #skepticism #goes #outputs #evaluatedone #easiest #ways #marketing #fluff #look #disclosing #operatesmany #won039t #tell #content #train #modelsbut #usually #disclose #does #data #sometimes #brag #stack #against #competitorsthat039s #start #typically #privacy #policiesone #top #complaints #concernsfrom #creators #trainedthere #many #lawsuits #alleged #copyright #infringement #concerns #bias #capacity #harmquotif #wanted #system #designed #move #rather #reproduce #oppressions #past #curating #dataquot #saidinstead #grabbing #quoteverything #wasn039t #nailed #internetquot #saidif #you039re #hearing #thing #statistic #highlights #its #effectivenesslike #other #researchers #called #finding #citation #red #flagquotanytime #selling #access #evaluated #thin #icequot #saidit #frustrating #disappointing #certain #information #were #developedbut #recognizing #holes #sales #pitch #deflate #though #informationfor #check #fullchatgpt #glossary #offapple

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How to Spot AI Hype and Avoid The AI Con, According to Two Experts
"Artificial intelligence, if we're being frank, is a con: a bill of goods you are being sold to line someone's pockets."That is the heart of the argument that linguist Emily Bender and sociologist Alex Hanna make in their new book The AI Con. It's a useful guide for anyone whose life has intersected with technologies sold as artificial intelligence and anyone who's questioned their real usefulness, which is most of us. Bender is a professor at the University of Washington who was named one of Time magazine's most influential people in artificial intelligence, and Hanna is the director of research at the nonprofit Distributed AI Research Institute and a former member of the ethical AI team at Google.The explosion of ChatGPT in late 2022 kicked off a new hype cycle in AI. Hype, as the authors define it, is the "aggrandizement" of technology that you are convinced you need to buy or invest in "lest you miss out on entertainment or pleasure, monetary reward, return on investment, or market share." But it's not the first time, nor likely the last, that scholars, government leaders and regular people have been intrigued and worried by the idea of machine learning and AI.Bender and Hanna trace the roots of machine learning back to the 1950s, to when mathematician John McCarthy coined the term artificial intelligence. It was in an era when the United States was looking to fund projects that would help the country gain any kind of edge on the Soviets militarily, ideologically and technologically. "It didn't spring whole cloth out of Zeus's head or anything. This has a longer history," Hanna said in an interview with CNET. "It's certainly not the first hype cycle with, quote, unquote, AI."Today's hype cycle is propelled by the billions of dollars of venture capital investment into startups like OpenAI and the tech giants like Meta, Google and Microsoft pouring billions of dollars into AI research and development. The result is clear, with all the newest phones, laptops and software updates drenched in AI-washing. And there are no signs that AI research and development will slow down, thanks in part to a growing motivation to beat China in AI development. Not the first hype cycle indeed.Of course, generative AI in 2025 is much more advanced than the Eliza psychotherapy chatbot that first enraptured scientists in the 1970s. Today's business leaders and workers are inundated with hype, with a heavy dose of FOMO and seemingly complex but often misused jargon. Listening to tech leaders and AI enthusiasts, it might seem like AI will take your job to save your company money. But the authors argue that neither is wholly likely, which is one reason why it's important to recognize and break through the hype.So how do we recognize AI hype? These are a few telltale signs, according to Bender and Hanna, that we share below. The authors outline more questions to ask and strategies for AI hype busting in their book, which is out now in the US.Watch out for language that humanizes AIAnthropomorphizing, or the process of giving an inanimate object human-like characteristics or qualities, is a big part of building AI hype. An example of this kind of language can be found when AI companies say their chatbots can now "see" and "think."These can be useful comparisons when trying to describe the ability of new object-identifying AI programs or deep-reasoning AI models, but they can also be misleading. AI chatbots aren't capable of seeing of thinking because they don't have brains. Even the idea of neural nets, Hanna noted in our interview and in the book, is based on human understanding of neurons from the 1950s, not actually how neurons work, but it can fool us into believing there's a brain behind the machine.That belief is something we're predisposed to because of how we as humans process language. We're conditioned to imagine that there is a mind behind the text we see, even when we know it's generated by AI, Bender said. "We interpret language by developing a model in our minds of who the speaker was," Bender added.In these models, we use our knowledge of the person speaking to create meaning, not just using the meaning of the words they say. "So when we encounter synthetic text extruded from something like ChatGPT, we're going to do the same thing," Bender said. "And it is very hard to remind ourselves that the mind isn't there. It's just a construct that we have produced."The authors argue that part of why AI companies try to convince us their products are human-like is that this sets the foreground for them to convince us that AI can replace humans, whether it's at work or as creators. It's compelling for us to believe that AI could be the silver bullet fix to complicated problems in critical industries like health care and government services.But more often than not, the authors argue, AI isn't bring used to fix anything. AI is sold with the goal of efficiency, but AI services end up replacing qualified workers with black box machines that need copious amounts of babysitting from underpaid contract or gig workers. As Hanna put it in our interview, "AI is not going to take your job, but it will make your job shittier."Be dubious of the phrase 'super intelligence'If a human can't do something, you should be wary of claims that an AI can do it. "Superhuman intelligence, or super intelligence, is a very dangerous turn of phrase, insofar as it thinks that some technology is going to make humans superfluous," Hanna said. In "certain domains, like pattern matching at scale, computers are quite good at that. But if there's an idea that there's going to be a superhuman poem, or a superhuman notion of research or doing science, that is clear hype." Bender added, "And we don't talk about airplanes as superhuman flyers or rulers as superhuman measurers, it seems to be only in this AI space that that comes up."The idea of AI "super intelligence" comes up often when people talk about artificial general intelligence. Many CEOs struggle to define what exactly AGI is, but it's essentially AI's most advanced form, potentially capable of making decisions and handling complex tasks. There's still no evidence we're anywhere near a future enabled by AGI, but it's a popular buzzword.Many of these future-looking statements from AI leaders borrow tropes from science fiction. Both boosters and doomers — how Bender and Hanna describe AI enthusiasts and those worried about the potential for harm — rely on sci-fi scenarios. The boosters imagine an AI-powered futuristic society. The doomers bemoan a future where AI robots take over the world and wipe out humanity.The connecting thread, according to the authors, is an unshakable belief that AI is smarter than humans and inevitable. "One of the things that we see a lot in the discourse is this idea that the future is fixed, and it's just a question of how fast we get there," Bender said. "And then there's this claim that this particular technology is a step on that path, and it's all marketing. It is helpful to be able to see behind it."Part of why AI is so popular is that an autonomous functional AI assistant would mean AI companies are fulfilling their promises of world-changing innovation to their investors. Planning for that future — whether it's a utopia or dystopia — keeps investors looking forward as the companies burn through billions of dollars and admit they'll miss their carbon emission goals. For better or worse, life is not science fiction. Whenever you see someone claiming their AI product is straight out of a movie, it's a good sign to approach with skepticism. Ask what goes in and how outputs are evaluatedOne of the easiest ways to see through AI marketing fluff is to look and see whether the company is disclosing how it operates. Many AI companies won't tell you what content is used to train their models. But they usually disclose what the company does with your data and sometimes brag about how their models stack up against competitors. That's where you should start looking, typically in their privacy policies.One of the top complaints and concerns from creators is how AI models are trained. There are many lawsuits over alleged copyright infringement, and there are a lot of concerns over bias in AI chatbots and their capacity for harm. "If you wanted to create a system that is designed to move things forward rather than reproduce the oppressions of the past, you would have to start by curating your data," Bender said. Instead, AI companies are grabbing "everything that wasn't nailed down on the internet," Hanna said.If you're hearing about an AI product for the first time, one thing in particular to look out for is any kind of statistic that highlights its effectiveness. Like many other researchers, Bender and Hanna have called out that a finding with no citation is a red flag. "Anytime someone is selling you something but not giving you access to how it was evaluated, you are on thin ice," Bender said.It can be frustrating and disappointing when AI companies don't disclose certain information about how their AI products work and how they were developed. But recognizing those holes in their sales pitch can help deflate hype, even though it would be better to have the information. For more, check out our full ChatGPT glossary and how to turn off Apple Intelligence.

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