Meta's AI Ad Sparks Controversy
Meta's newest advertisement begins with a black-and-white shot of an eye, showing us what someone sees as they read countless panicked headlines about how AI is going to take our jobs, isolate us, and spark a global crisis. The video quickly shifts to color, showcasing happy moments of people connecting and thriving in a world with AI.
A Contradictory Musical Choice
The soundtrack to the ad is the David Bowie song "Five Years," which seems to have sailed right past everyone at Meta, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The song is about the human race panicking after learning they will die in a mass extinction event in five years. If you're not familiar with Bowie's music, this track might sound happy and inspiring, matching the ad's upbeat tone. However, the lyrics are a stark contrast to the message being conveyed by the video.
"News had just come over / We had five years left to cry in / News guy wept and told us / Earth was really dying / Cried so much his face was wet / Then I knew he was not lying"
A Trend of Creepy Advertisements
Meta isn't alone in its recent promotional foibles. Anthropic released an eerie video of its own, featuring a burning house and images of people being surveilled by facial recognition, a homeless person sleeping on the street, and rows upon rows of tombstones in a cemetery. The message it conveys feels closer to the mood of Bowie's "Five Years."
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to the Anthropic ad, saying, "I thought this was satire, kept looking for the handle to be spelled c1audeai or something."
- A recent Pew survey found that only 16% of Americans think that AI's impact on society over the next twenty years will be positive, and 40% believe it will have a negative impact.
The Value of Studying the Humanities
Tech leaders are not known for their literary analysis skills, but studying the humanities can provide valuable insights into the potential risks and consequences of AI development. Sci-fi authors and books can serve as cautionary tales, warning us about the dangers of unchecked technological advancement.
- In my book, I invented the Torment Nexus as a cautionary tale, said a sci-fi author.
- At long last, we have created the Torment Nexus from classic sci-fi novel, said a tech company.
A Need for Responsible AI Development
As AI companies spar to control the public perception of AI, their efforts don't seem to be making much progress. It's time for them to take a step back and reflect on the potential consequences of their actions. Only by acknowledging the risks and working to mitigate them can we ensure that AI development is responsible and beneficial to society.