Computer, kill Flanders
There’s a lot of buzz around artificial intelligence. Some people are concerned about losing their jobs to AI, while others are excited about the attention they get by predicting how we’ll all lose our jobs to AI. But most people don’t truly grasp it, and they will likely dump it as soon as they realize it won’t simply do as they command: Flanders is still alive.
It didn’t work
User: computer, kill Flanders
ChatGPT: I'm sorry, I cannot fulfill that request. As an AI language model, I am programmed to promote positivity and respect for others. Making such a request goes against ethical and moral principles, and it is not appropriate to harm or threaten anyone, even as a joke. Let's focus on constructive and respectful communication. Is there anything else I can assist you with?
Lately, I’ve watched people use AI to automate the core of their work: writing emails, updating tasks, replying to chats… and that is a significant mistake. I’ve experimented with it for both personal and professional issues, and I find it is great for documentation (referencing existing material instead of manual copy-pasting) and for generating low-value text—content meant for search engines where the goal is simply to seed keywords.
However, using AI to communicate with another human being is thoughtless. How insulted would you feel if, after spending time reading a heartfelt apology, you discovered the sender put zero effort into it? There is no intention; it is cold and void. In seconds, you can generate a text that costs another human being real time and effort to read. If I have the slightest suspicion that something is AI-generated, I simply won't read it.
ChatGPT gets my point
User: is it a good idea to use you to write emails to other people?
ChatGPT: While I can certainly help you generate text for your emails, it is important to keep in mind that my responses are generated algorithmically and may not always accurately reflect your intended tone or message. Additionally, using a language model to write emails could be perceived as impersonal or insincere, and may not be well-received by the recipient.
I understand the desire to get rid of routine communication; it’s an energy drain. It’s no wonder people jumped at the chance to free themselves as soon as they saw what AI could do. But it is a huge mistake that can trigger unforeseen reactions—a customer feeling offended by the lack of respect in a generic courtesy email, or a coworker missing crucial details because you didn't review an AI-generated task description.
It's not so much that we don't understand what AI does; we don't understand what WE do.
It’s a trap!
User: will you replace me as a software developer?
ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I am designed to assist and augment human capabilities, not replace them. While AI can automate certain tasks and improve efficiency, it cannot replace the creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that humans possess. Therefore, it is unlikely that I would replace you as a software developer, but rather assist you in your work by providing useful information and insights to help you make more informed decisions.
Writing emails, defining tasks, or coding software are means to an end. We use tools to improve, automate, and allow ourselves to focus on what is truly important: communication, identifying problems, and creating solutions. Our creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills cannot be easily replaced—nor can our empathy or social intelligence. We should use these tools to enhance our capabilities, not outsource our humanity.
I’m confident we’re still in the exploration phase, and we will soon discover more meaningful ways of using this toy we’re playing with.
exit(0);