Will we eventually lose our minds

bobcat48 said:
... The brain doesn't need to exercise anymore. I get the idea that it frees up our mind to do other things, but does it, or do we just spend more time addicted to the distractions? Now with the rise of AI, it can create music, artwork, poetry, design, evaluate, and even tell you what to make for dinner based on what's in the pantry. I don't know a great deal about the brain, but I do know that neurons that are not used will wither away...
Click to expand...
May be true for some that just float along in society on that kind of route, however in this era of the knee of science and technology for many that apply themselves, it will have the opposite effect of being able to cope with the increasing complexities of technology and science. I here in Silicon Valley have been up to my neck in all that continual complex change all my adult life. Have a huge advantage over most of the rest of you doing many things because of what I've fed in and done. That noted, I do shield myself from polluting and cluttering my mind from a list of things most others absorb as though it does not matter. One reason I watch so little tv, don't read political news, don't ever view porn, watch few violent or horror movies, play few video games, and often don't in public carry my smartphone around.

The old narrative of being relatively stuck with skills and knowledge levels dominated by innate IQ, has been demoted and today it is much more about neural plasticity. We are what we experience and do. If one wants to become skilled or knowledgeable at something, it is a matter of making an effort to educate, learn, using, experiencing, and then via repeating, connections are increasingly built in one's brain. Spend a lifetime building up such and it is amazing what is possible for the human brain.
 
bobcat48 said:
Nice thoughts, but it doesn't appear that we are keeping our individuality and independence from technology. We seem to be becoming more dependent.
Click to expand...
I suspect we are just getting started. What happens to humanity when AI fills all the jobs currently occupied by humans? Is AI the next step in evolution? I suspect that it is.
 

Avon said:
Strange that Bob, as at the present point in time I feel like being left to do all the thinking is making me lose the ability to think.
Click to expand...
Sorry about that. I only think I think. It's all an illusion to make me feel I'm exercising my 2 brain cells.
 
ElCastor said:
What happens to humanity when AI fills all the jobs currently occupied by humans?
Click to expand...
New and better jobs will come along, just as happened with every other technical advancement in history. Not that it won't create some discomfort and problems along the way... it will.
ElCastor said:
Is AI the next step in evolution?
Click to expand...
Kind of, it will direct our evolution. Those who are better able to adapt to it and use it will do better than those who don't. Again just like all technological innovations. I suspect development of modern agriculture has a more significant effect.
 
David777 said:
May be true for some that just float along in society on that kind of route, however in this era of the knee of science and technology for many that apply themselves, it will have the opposite effect of being able to cope with the increasing complexities of technology and science. I here in Silicon Valley have been up to my neck in all that continual complex change all my adult life. Have a huge advantage over most of the rest of you doing many things because of what I've fed in and done. That noted, I do shield myself from polluting and cluttering my mind from a list of things most others absorb as though it does not matter. One reason I watch so little tv, don't read political news, don't ever view porn, watch few violent or horror movies, play few video games, and often don't in public carry my smartphone around.

The old narrative of being relatively stuck with skills and knowledge levels dominated by innate IQ, has been demoted and today it is much more about neural plasticity. We are what we experience and do. If one wants to become skilled or knowledgeable at something, it is a matter of making an effort to educate, learn, using, experiencing, and then via repeating, connections are increasingly built in one's brain. Spend a lifetime building up such and it is amazing what is possible for the human brain.
Click to expand...
There will always be exceptions to the rule.
 
David777 said:
May be true for some that just float along in society on that kind of route, however in this era of the knee of science and technology for many that apply themselves, it will have the opposite effect of being able to cope with the increasing complexities of technology and science. I here in Silicon Valley have been up to my neck in all that continual complex change all my adult life. Have a huge advantage over most of the rest of you doing many things because of what I've fed in and done. That noted, I do shield myself from polluting and cluttering my mind from a list of things most others absorb as though it does not matter. One reason I watch so little tv, don't read political news, don't ever view porn, watch few violent or horror movies, play few video games, and often don't in public carry my smartphone around.

The old narrative of being relatively stuck with skills and knowledge levels dominated by innate IQ, has been demoted and today it is much more about neural plasticity. We are what we experience and do. If one wants to become skilled or knowledgeable at something, it is a matter of making an effort to educate, learn, using, experiencing, and then via repeating, connections are increasingly built in one's brain. Spend a lifetime building up such and it is amazing what is possible for the human brain.
Click to expand...
And creativity, some believe, is the ability to link disiplines, say bread baking to auto repair, to achieve a new truth, so that the more you know about anything and everything, the more likely it is to have a creative thought.
 
Avon said:
In the past 17-20 years when I have been posting on forums, I have always posted my age as around the 50 mark as it gets a lot more response and I post better around that age group and it was more fun. However, and I know I should not post it, but you lot really make me laff at times.
Click to expand...
No worries. I laugh at myself sometimes. The more, the merrier. :giggle:
 
bobcat48 said:
I was thinking this morning about all the smart technology we have now: Smart Phones, Smart TV's, Smart Watches, Smart Appliances, self-driving or assisted driving cars, intelligent thermostats, Smart Homes, and the list just goes on and on.
I am left wondering what that effect will have on our memory and cognition. Why remember anything when there is no need. I've even heard it referred to as the "Google Effect". We have come to depend on our devices for everything (Phone numbers, appointments, maps, reminders, and a slew of others). The brain doesn't need to exercise anymore.
Click to expand...
Watching people with their phones these days, some seem like they are actively engaged, while others seem to be in a mindless trance. Although, I don't really know what is going on in their brains. My biggest concern is all the misinformation that this technology provides. That can't be good for our species.
 
I like the new technology that’s coming out. I don’t have it all and have no plans to buy a smart home, but I have toured a few. There is such a thing as too much technology and the one home I visited had too much. Electronic blinds with remote controls, gas fireplace with remote (I have that), heated floors, heated driveway, 2 a/c’s (1 for upstairs & 1 downstairs) computerized havac system, lights on and off on demand. The appliances were somehow computerized and the inside/outside had cameras. Too much for me.
 
JustDave said:
Watching people with their phones these days, some seem like they are actively engaged, while others seem to be in a mindless trance. Although, I don't really know what is going on in their brains. My biggest concern is all the misinformation that this technology provides. That can't be good for our species.
Click to expand...
Yeah, garbage in, garbage out, as they say. There is rarely any fact checking, and even when there is, the belief very seldom gets updated by those facts. Whatever we believe and click on, more will be spoon-fed to us by the algorithms that seek out what we want to hear.
 
JustDave said:
Watching people with their phones these days, some seem like they are actively engaged, while others seem to be in a mindless trance. Although, I don't really know what is going on in their brains. My biggest concern is all the misinformation that this technology provides. That can't be good for our species.
Click to expand...
bobcat48 said:
Yeah, garbage in, garbage out, as they say. There is rarely any fact checking, and even when there is, the belief very seldom gets updated by those facts. Whatever we believe and click on, more will be spoon-fed to us by the algorithms that seek out what we want to hear.
Click to expand...

Thing is we have to remember all the tech gadgets are glorified 'tools'. If one uses them without becoming dependent on or addicted to them they can be useful. There are even video games that basically exercise the brain. When personal computers were first becoming more prevalent i limited and somewhat monitored my kids' time on them. Also told them that what my Dad told me and i told them about print and broadcast info sources was also true about online sources---pay attention to if it's a knowledgeable and trustworthy source.

My Gen Z grandson is here, He's looking at the phone from time he wakes up. He's on Aspberger's end of Autism Spectrum and doesn't read books the way the rest of the family still does. (Millennial Daughter likes reading books on her I-Pad, and i read them on Kindle when traveling) Yet somehow he's learned how to discern accurate sources for historical and scientific info. His Dad is a huge history buff (never brought HS History textbooks home yet missed a perfect grade by just a few points.

He and his twin were diagnosed at the time as having hand-eye motor co-ordination issues. but in adulthood it's clear they are also on the spectrum, neuro-divergent. Owen's history teacher told me he had no doubt if he'd been allowed to test him verbally he would aced final exam. Despite that, when he's fact checked things Liam told him about historical stuff that he had not heard before turns out Liam is correct. So i've accepted that most of his sources for info are online articles, and videos. He has the ability to retain info however he acquires it and the sense to question thing that don't make sense, which my Dad taught me was essential to being truly 'educated'.
 
feywon said:
Thing is we have to remember all the tech gadgets are glorified 'tools'. If one uses them without becoming dependent on or addicted to them they can be useful. There are even video games that basically exercise the brain. When personal computers were first becoming more prevalent i limited and somewhat monitored my kids' time on them. Also told them that what my Dad told me and i told them about print and broadcast info sources was also true about online sources---pay attention to if it's a knowledgeable and trustworthy source.

My Gen Z grandson is here, He's looking at the phone from time he wakes up. He's on Aspberger's end of Autism Spectrum and doesn't read books the way the rest of the family still does. (Millennial Daughter likes reading books on her I-Pad, and i read them on Kindle when traveling) Yet somehow he's learned how to discern accurate sources for historical and scientific info. His Dad is a huge history buff (never brought HS History textbooks home yet missed a perfect grade by just a few points.

He and his twin were diagnosed at the time as having hand-eye motor co-ordination issues. but in adulthood it's clear they are also on the spectrum, neuro-divergent. Owen's history teacher told me he had no doubt if he'd been allowed to test him verbally he would aced final exam. Despite that, when he's fact checked things Liam told him about historical stuff that he had not heard before turns out Liam is correct. So i've accepted that most of his sources for info are online articles, and videos. He has the ability to retain info however he acquires it and the sense to question thing that don't make sense, which my Dad taught me was essential to being truly 'educated'.
Click to expand...
You are so right about so many things. Certain mechanical limitations in the brain doesn't mean that there isn't marvelous stuff happening behind the scenes, and even gifted memory recall. Certainly, the glorified tools are just that. It really depends on how we use them and learning how to use moderation in all things. It can be hard to do in today's society, but balance is key.
 
bobcat48 said:
You are so right about so many things. Certain mechanical limitations in the brain doesn't mean that there isn't marvelous stuff happening behind the scenes, and even gifted memory recall. Certainly, the glorified tools are just that. It really depends on how we use them and learning how to use moderation in all things. It can be hard to do in today's society, but balance is key.
Click to expand...
Balance like moderation is an essential part of many aspects of living well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top