Unit ⑧ Letter #20248
We decided to open up to our wider network and share a selection of our resources with our colleagues and followers. 🦾
Dear Unit ⑧ friends,
We have been internally exchanging readings for a while, sharing links we find relevant for our development as a small organization, looking for meaningful directions to head to, and keen to keep up-to-date in the realm of technology from a technical, political, ethical, and artistic point of view. Here are some links to the articles we paid attention to these past weeks, covering topics from legal regulations of Blockchain and AI to the nature of consciousness and what it entails. We hope you enjoy them!
This is the beginning of the end of the generative AI boom
In his article, Brian Merchant discusses the current state of generative AI in Silicon Valley, highlighting significant financial losses, executive turmoil, and widespread skepticism regarding the technology's viability. He argues that the hype surrounding generative AI has deflated due to its failure to deliver substantial returns or compelling products. Merchant thinks that generative AI has reached its peak and is now experiencing a significant decline, marked by financial setbacks, executive departures, and a lack of convincing commercial applications. While Merchant's perspective highlights the challenges facing generative AI, it's important to note that substantial investment and development in the field continue.
The AI Act enters into force tomorrow
Luiza Jarovsky's article discusses significant updates in AI policy and regulation, focusing on the EU AI Act coming into effect, along with recent developments in AI-related lawsuits and governance. EU AI Act's phased implementation marks a critical step in regulating AI, aiming to balance innovation with ethical considerations.
What AI Engineers Can Learn From Wittgenstein
In his Substack posts, Jurgen Gravenstein explores Ludwig Wittgenstein's premise that words have a meaning through their use. In his exploration of meaning in language, Gravenstein traces a parallel between the current capacities and limitations of artificial intelligence (AI) in learning from interactions and the human capacity for continuous learning and adaptation. It’s important to understand words in context since language is alive and never stops evolving, raising questions about whether knowing the meaning of words equates to understanding the world. Based on Wittgenstein’s analysis of language’s dynamic nature and the importance of contextual understanding, Gravenstein believes LLMs are still unable to grasp the world.
Open AI’s Misguided Initiative to Put General AI Tools in Every Student’s Hands
As pointed out previously, OpenAI prioritizes the market over safety principles. In his Substack article, Nick Potkalitsky criticizes the lack of purpose in how some new technologies get implemented and used in the context of education. He concludes that despite the enhanced accessibility and ease of use, these technologies don’t address the deeper needs of the students and docents. In his words, “It's time for OpenAI to stop playing it safe and start revolutionizing education with tools that not only assist but also inspire, challenge, and cultivate the next generation of thinkers and innovators.”
Digital Service Act
Some weeks ago, an X (formerly Twitter) post by EU Commissioner Thierry Breton sparked debate, followed by an FT article discussing a threatening letter accusing X of not complying with the DSA. This page offers an overview of the DSA, focusing on the need for transparency and accountability in content moderation, online advertising, platform design, and risk assessments. At this year’s re:publica, some insightful panels debated its current state. (in German)
Interviews
Wassim Z. Alsindi and Max Haiven join forces in a conversation convened by Outland to address Ordinals and how existing critiques of Bitcoin and tokenized art might be applied to them. Alsindi is the founder of 0xSalon, a nonprofit initiative that organizes events and residencies for scholars and artists working critically with digital culture. Haiven runs the Reimagining Value workshop, which develops interdisciplinary approaches to thinking about social justice and decolonization.
In other News
Pavel Durov’s arrest
Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested some days ago. Wired magazine assumes that the arrest underscores broader issues regarding social media regulation, encryption, and free speech. Many questions arise regarding the future of regulation, and much will be debated and written about in the coming weeks.