I will never forgive them for what they did to the computer11.12.25

“I will never forgive them for what they did to the computer."
ED ZITRON

Zitron argues that a significant form of computer abuse stems from the misleading portrayal of AI capabilities [1] [2]. He contends that much of what is marketed as "artificial intelligence" is, in reality, sophisticated pattern matching and data processing, rather than genuine intellect or creativity [2]. He highlights instances where AI-generated content, such as images or videos, exhibits fundamental flaws like "hallucinations" (e.g., monkeys with three arms, people merging into gelatinous blobs, or nonsensical text in images) [2]. Zitron emphasizes that these are not merely "bugs" that will be fixed with more data, but rather inherent "features" of how these models operate, as they lack true understanding or the ability to differentiate between concepts [2]. He points out that despite billions of dollars invested, these core issues persist, leading to a cycle of over-promising and under-delivering [2]. This misrepresentation, he suggests, is a form of abuse because it deceives the public and investors about the true state and potential of the technology [1] [2].

Another key area of concern for Zitron is the abuse of social media platforms, exemplified by Elon Musk's management of Twitter (now X) [2] [3]. Zitron details how Musk's tenure has led to a significant degradation of the platform, characterized by a massive increase in bot activity (e.g., "pussy in bio" spam) due to the firing of trust and safety teams [2]. He views this as an abuse of the platform's integrity and its users' experience [2]. Furthermore, Zitron criticizes Musk's rebranding of Twitter to X, arguing it destroyed immense brand value for no discernible positive outcome [2]. He also highlights the financial mismanagement, such as the "degenerative revenue policy" where the platform effectively pays users more than it collects from their subscriptions, and the inability to attract advertisers due to the chaotic environment [2]. Zitron suggests that this mismanagement is a form of abuse because it undermines a once-vital public square and demonstrates a disregard for the platform's long-term health and its users [2] [3].

Zitron also touches upon the broader economic and societal implications of this tech-driven abuse [1] [2]. He notes that the tech industry, particularly since the mid-2010s, has prioritized profit extraction (e.g., through online advertising) over genuine innovation and user benefit [2]. This has led to a situation where companies make vast sums of money without necessarily contributing positively to society, and in some cases, actively harming it (e.g., through data privacy issues or the spread of misinformation) [2] [4]. He warns about the potential for a massive "AI bubble" where over-investment in unproven AI technologies could lead to an economic downturn worse than the 2008 recession if consumer demand doesn't materialize [1]. This, he implies, is a systemic form of abuse where financial speculation and hype overshadow responsible technological development and economic stability [1] [2].

In summary, Ed Zitron's arguments about computer abuse center on the deceptive marketing of AI, the destructive mismanagement of social media platforms, and the broader economic and societal harms caused by a tech industry driven by profit and hype rather than genuine innovation and user welfare

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18514750-this-is-how-you-pitch

Anonymous

I will never forgive them for what they did to the computer11.12.25

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