AI invented a Dana 30

[bigwalton]

I saw mention of "Perplexity.ai" today as an new AI-powered internet search engine that was going to threaten google.

I thought I'd try it out (I'm trying to stay somewhat current on AI stuff for the day job)

I asked it a slightly trick CJ-8 question: "What rear axles were available in the 1984 Jeep Scrambler?"

Most here know, the answer was only one—the AMC 20, and it got that correct. But wait, there's more!

There were suggested/related search queries below the reply to my initial query. I did nothing to generate these, Perplexity suggested them.

One of the PERPLEXITY SUGGESTED QUERIES is shown in the screen grab... I clicked through.

Four issues:
1) As the first query's response correctly points out, only the AMC 20 rear axle was available in this model/year Jeep.

2) There is no such thing as the Dana 30 axle that it describes, it's only a front axle.

3) Not only is the response to the second, suggested query an utter fabrication and/or completely wrong, but the fact that it got the answer to the first should have precluded that it even suggested the second! It JUST told me that the second query and the resulting answer are 100% logically impossible.

4) Let's assume someone who doesn't know any different takes this incorrect information and puts it out on the web as content. They've just created another "source" reaffirming incorrect information that the next AI large language model will "learn" on. (I'm honestly a little worried even writing it out here, so I left all the text in the screen grab.)

This "knowledge death spiral" is what scares me to death, and it is perfectly summed up in this one screen shot.

Until AI is smart enough to prevent itself from making errors like this, we are in very, very dangerous territory.

 

[Belizeit]

A lot of bad info out there for these super computers to sift through and figure out what to hand back out. I’m a little more worried about when they figure out the launch codes and what happens then. There is going to be a lot of good associated with it, but there are a lot of bad characters out there and what will they do with it.

 

[bigwalton]

A lot of bad info out there for these super computers to sift through and figure out what to hand back out. I’m a little more worried about when they figure out the launch codes and what happens then. There is going to be a lot of good associated with it, but there are a lot of bad characters out there and what will they do with it.

See, that's just it.

I think everyone is afraid of a terminator scenario, but the actual danger is what I'm talking about here. It's not even that there's "bad characters" it's simply that bad info is going to proliferate uncontrollably and we'll never be able to walk it back. Hence my reference to "death spiral". Society will undo itself at some point, it won't take AI having launch codes.

 

[Belizeit]

100%. A lot of bad info it has to sift through. Bad info everywhere. And artificial intelligence. Not real intelligence.

 

[ag4ever]

I am worried that the ”bad info death spiral” is not just limited to AI. I have seen that trend with our younger workforce in general.

AI, and the propensity for our younger workforce to rely on it as a shortcut, will significantly impact society in a very negative way.

 

[Scott_P]

I am worried that the ”bad info death spiral” is not just limited to AI. I have seen that trend with our younger workforce in general.

AI, and the propensity for our younger workforce to rely on it as a shortcut, will significantly impact society in a very negative way.

I agree, it's a little scary on both fronts. Yesterday during the AT&T "outage" I wondered how many people could not get to their destination without their phone telling them where to go! To be fair there are still a lot of the younger work force out there that a smart as shit, just hope they are willing to use what's between their ears and think for themselves.

DDS! Dumbing down of society

 

[Kim Dawson]

Like the Mocking Jay. It will repeat whatever it hears, true or false.

 

[spankrjs]

Idiocracy.

Very prophetic movie.

 

[Oakley]

Idiocracy.

Very prophetic movie.

Every time I see politicians speak I think of that movie

 

[timo439]

Now we have to worry about the Death Wobble AND the Death Spiral? My brain just exploded.

 

[Bad Karma]

We were all screwed before AI, now we are just screwed harder.
Even though artificial intelligence is... artificial... There isn't much ACTUAL intelligence left in the world.

 

[barrys]

I couldn't make it through the original post in this thread without being confused by all the terms and "stuff".

 

[gpassida]

I agree, it's a little scary on both fronts. Yesterday during the AT&T "outage" I wondered how many people could not get to their destination without their phone telling them where to go! To be fair there are still a lot of the younger work force out there that a smart as shit, just hope they are willing to use what's between their ears and think for themselves.

DDS! Dumbing down of society

I have three children. Ages 24, 22 and 20. As a former Scoutmaster, I spent time teaching them how to use paper maps. My son is good - he is an Eagle Scout and just finished 4 years in the Marine Corps. Whenever we go on a family trip, I select a different "navigator" for the day. (wife is included) And they have to use the paper map to tell me how to get there and the total miles on the route. I tell them the destination city. They have to look it up on the map and tell me the route. Figuring out there was an "index" with grid numbers was eye opening for them. Without me pointing that out, they would just keep looking over this huge California paper map. I finally had to tell them there is something else on the map to get them started. They are now pretty good at it. They also want to use the calculator on their phone to add up the mileage to the destination, but I make them do it in their head. Once we get close to the destination, we will use Google or Apple maps as we don't have city street maps (remember "Thomas Guides") I did show them once you can go to a gas station or bookstore and get a local street map just so they know they are available.

And most people don't know that if we get into a major fight with China or another peer military, it is likely that the Government will use the "Selective Availability" feature of our GPS Satellites. They can drastically reduce accuracy or even disable civilian use of the GPS network so enemy forces can't use it as a targeting system. So when you and your family need it most, it might not be there...

For Christmas a few years ago, I gave them all "Get Home" bags for their cars or Jeeps (oldest daughter has a TJ, wife has a YJ). In that bag is the best paper California map I could find. We all sat down and went through everything, its intended use and how to actually use it. The goal with these is to "Get Home" where they have more ways to survive and protect themselves. Here are the contents:



The itemized list and my instructions to them are also attached.

FYI - my kit has much more...