At a recent private screening of "Oppenheimer" hosted in a co-living space near Alamo Square—a hub for both AI optimists and pessimists—attendees from both camps gathered to reflect on the historical parallels between nuclear fission and superintelligence.
Before the film, Michael Nielsen, a quantum computing expert with ties to Los Alamos National Laboratory, posed a thought-provoking question about the moral choices available to those working on potentially world-altering technologies. This event, blending serious discussion with a communal viewing experience, symbolizes the intersections where doomers and boomers meet, debate, and sometimes find common ground.
This gathering wasn't just a movie night; it was a microcosm of the broader AI debate. It illustrated how individuals deeply entrenched in their views can still come together in shared spaces to ponder the future's ethical dilemmas.
The discussion that unfolded that evening, touching on the responsibilities of scientists and technologists in shaping technologies with existential implications, highlights the ongoing dialogue between these groups.
Despite their differences, both doomers and boomers are united by a fundamental concern for humanity's future in the face of AI's rapid advancement. Such interactions underscore the potential for collaborative efforts to address the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, reflecting a collective endeavor to steer technology towards beneficial outcomes for society.
Read more in this New Yorker story
NEWS AT THE INTERSECTION OF AI AND DESIGN
🙄 Non-designers/marketers okay with AI being used for design and marketing, but not for their work
Okay, that's not the actual title of the article. "Study shows pastors fine with AI use for graphic design, not for writing sermons" is the title of an article that has a NIMBY feel to survey results
- Pastors are okay with using AI to do design or marketing, but not write sermons
- Articles like this are frustrating because it shows people who don't value what we do
Keep reading (if you want to be annoyed)
5️⃣ OpenAI Expected to Launch 'Better' GPT-5 for Chatbot Mid-Year
OpenAI's upcoming GPT-5 promises to be a significant leap forward, offering designers new heights in AI-assisted creativity and efficiency.
- Materially Better: according to one CEO who has seen GPT-5
- Introducing Agents: AI moves to the next level once it can take actions on your behalf
Keep reading
👸🏻 A Royal Glitch: The Kate Middleton Photoshop Controversy
The Kate Middleton Photoshop debacle serves as a stark reminder to designers of the profound impact image manipulation can have on public perception and trust.
- Trust Eroded: Some are calling this the end of a shared reality (I think that ended in 2015)
- Reality Questioned: Challenges in discerning truth in digital media
Keep reading
📲 The AI Arms Race Heats Up
Did you ever think we'd see Apple and Google team up? Reports are saying that Google's Gemini will be available on iPhones. It's really incredible how badly Apple fumbled with Siri.
- Common Enemy: Microsoft keeps adding firepower to its AI offerings
- Privacy Concerns: Apple and Google have drastically different POVs regarding privacy and data usage
Keep reading (NYT gift article)
Will AI Replace Designers? Reddit users respond
There's a buzzing conversation happening over on Reddit's Design subreddit that's got a lot of us in the creative world leaning in closer. It's all about this gnawing question: In an age where AI's flexing its muscles in the creative arena, does it make sense to pour time and money into a graphic design education? It's a real concern for folks standing at the crossroads of their careers, trying to figure out if the path they're about to take is going to vanish into the digital ether.
But here's the kicker—the design community's chiming in with some pretty solid reassurance. The consensus? The core of graphic design, that deeply human knack for crafting messages that hit right in the feels, isn't something AI's going to swipe from under us anytime soon. Sure, AI can whip up some pretty pictures, but it's missing that gut instinct for what makes us tick, laugh, or tear up.
That's where we come in, steering AI's raw output into something that truly connects. Let's not forget the silver lining here: blending design skills with a dash of computer science will be the secret sauce for thriving in tomorrow's job market. It's not about choosing between design and tech; it's about merging the two to keep our creative edge sharp in an AI-driven world.
Designers need to learn more than just the fun design applications. In the early 2000s, I told designer students to stop designing CD covers. Now they need to stop designing wine/beer labels (and please please please, no more minimalist posters). Learn how to do the work that companies are actually hiring for. And learn how to use AI to speed up your process.
This recent CreativeBloq article highlights some of the wrong beliefs that designers are still holding on to.
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