Question

Evaluate your reaction to the quote: “this is a strange frontier, without precedent in the ... Question: Evaluate your reaction to the quote: “This is a strange frontier, without precedent in the history... Evaluate your reaction to the quote: “This is a strange frontier, without precedent in the history of humankind. The new regime will creep in silently and unnoticed, as if on cat paws, while you marvel at how the modern world grows ever more convenient, customized to you, and efficient. But behind the scenes, enormous synthetic intellects will be shaving you the thinnest slice of the benefits that you are willing to accept while reserving the lion’s share for.” Note: The image comes from Carl Sandburg’s poem “Fog”: The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.” (need more details and a few good examples please)

Answer 1

My reaction to the quote “this is a strange frontier………” is that of shock and disbelief. This is because there are so many aspects in our lives that are allowing us to live in an apparently more comfortable manner and more convenient manner while taking away some of the benefits entitled to us in a manner so slowly that we hardly notice them. The quote forced me to think about several different recent technological advancements that have made our life easier. We have incorporated these advancements as an integral part of our lives due to the current level of satisfaction and convenience that it provides us. But we fail to factor in the long term ramifications of these developments in our lives as the negative impacts our too small today to make us realize them. Also the benefits that we derive from these advancements are actually only a very small percentage of the benefits that can actually be transferred to us.

Take for example the recent trend of coupons popping up in our smart phones. If you are searching for an airline ticket then you will receive advertisements and pop up coupons from different online travel marts offering attractive discounts on bookings of flights, hotels, spas etc. While they are bringing relevant opportunities to your attention the authority to design the opportunities and incentives now rests in the hands of machine and not human beings. As such the machines will often lure you to select less than optimal choices by offering you alternatives that are attractive and increases the value proposition being offered to you but is not an option that will maximize your value proposition. For instance the popup coupons in your phone may lure you to book a hotel that provides a street view room while a hotel with a lake view room was also available. Thus the coupon is making you select an alternative that is not the most beneficial to you or that satisfies your needs to a maximum or optimal level.