Ethan and Ehlana:
Happy 30th Birthday, Josiah Palmer!
Happy 23rd Birthday, Jimmy Sheldon!
Happy 3rd Birthday, Jared Wingborough!
This has been another day with multiple birthdays that we haven’t been involved with at all, but we know that each celebration has been good; and Cassie and Michael have actually helped out with all three parties!
We haven’t done that, but we have been busy with school; lab or archives work after school; and some work in the office and a Magi lesson with Mom after dinner. We don’t really have any news from all of that action, but we got a lot done at the lab and with the family business and charity work tonight; so we’re feeling pretty good as we’re winding down our day now.
For our world news report; we’re going with a tech update. Artificial Intelligence systems are in the news for various reasons, and we’ve been interested in the economics of the industry; since there seems to be some disconnect in the markets that is possibly due to willful ignorance about the actual market forces. ‘Western’ investors, pundits, and media seem to believe that ‘our’ A.I. is better than anything else being built elsewhere – primarily in China. Our assessment is different, and while it isn’t always easy to get accurate information; we believe that China is either the true world leader in computer tech or so close to the top to make the difference irrelevant. Actually, that isn’t entirely-true; since everything being built in China is less-expensive to produce; so that factor makes everything better for them.
Our point for that position is that the competition for A.I. – and computer tech in general – could make our systems overvalued if what is available from Chinese companies is both faster and cheaper to use. Our government isn’t helping with their bans on highest-tech computer chips because that is just encouraging China to accelerate their own tech research and development. Picture their tech advantages in other fields like high-speed rail and nuclear power research being focused on building faster computers and other electronic devices; and be afraid! ;^)
That reality does scare our politicians and business leaders, but it doesn’t have to be like that; since we could change our trade policies and work with the rest of the world instead of trying to push other countries down. That is an economic war that we are going to lose if we don’t change; and we don’t expect that to happen because those leaders don’t actually care about what is best for the ‘normal’ people anywhere in the world.
Finally, while we’re on this topic; Ehlana and I want to mention that everything about artificial intelligence is over-stated. There are true advantages emerging with the tech, but a lot of the current uses are more for entertainment than serious applications. That will continue to be true until the systems can discern between true and false data better than it can right now. Yes, the computers can parse vast amounts of information very quickly, but we know from experience that answers are often wrong or deceptive because the sources are inaccurate or biased. Corrupted data cannot work for serious research or information processing; and can be disastrous for critical decision making.
We don’t need to go on about that; so let’s wrap this up with our tenth Christmas music video pick. This song is a favorite because we love the message; and hope that you will too as we move on to nap time starting right now.
Christmas Prayer – Annie Bosko
Until next time, live with love, fellow Magi of the Light!
