You have probably come across countless news articles, interviews, and videos discussing the future of AI lately. Some of these pieces have warned about the potential risks associated with AI, such as it is taking over our elections or posing a threat to society. Other articles suggest that AI research should be stopped or at least paused for six months. However, much of the fear and concern about AI is being propagated by Elon Musk, who was one of the first people to explore AI and invested millions of dollars into AI research through his companies like Tesla and Space-X. Musk recently created a new AI company called X.AI and announced that he is developing his own AI chat program to compete with Google and Microsoft. He claims that his GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) program will be called “Truth GPT” and will be like Trump’s “Truth Social” program. Musk even went on Fox News to discuss his plans and stated that he could catch up to Google and Microsoft within six months. However, many people are skeptical of Musk’s claims and wonder how he could level the playing field so quickly. Some speculate that Musk is painting AI as dangerous and promoting fear about its potential risks to slow down the progress of his competitors. Musk hopes that by getting people to demand that Google and Microsoft slow down their AI development, he will have the time he needs to catch up. In my opinion, we should not give in to fearmongering and allow AI research to progress naturally. While there are potential risks associated with AI, it also has the potential to bring about significant benefits and advancements in many fields. We should continue to research and develop AI while being mindful of its potential risks and taking measures to mitigate them. Chat GPT is a language model developed by OpenAI, based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture. It was designed to understand and generate human-like language in a conversational setting. Chat GPT is one of the largest and most advanced language models to date, with the ability to understand and generate text in a wide range of languages and topics. The GPT architecture is a type of neural network that uses unsupervised learning to pre-train the model on a large corpus of text data. This allows the model to learn the underlying patterns and structures of natural language, and then generate new text that is similar in style and content to the input text. Chat GPT has been used for a variety of tasks, such as generating conversational responses, summarizing text, and answering questions. It has also been used for creative tasks, such as writing stories and poetry. Overall, Chat GPT represents a significant step forward in natural language processing and has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with computers and other digital devices. Here are some of the articles, videos, and news reposts about Elon Musk’s attempt to warn people about problems that do not exist. 4/5 AI Robot terrifies officials, explains our illusions, with Elon Musk. 4/29 Elon Musk and others urge AI pause, citing ‘risks to society’. 3/29 Elon Musk joins hundreds calling for a six-month pause in development. 3/30 Elon Musk among experts urging a halt to AI training. 2/15 Elon Musk warns of AI’s impact on elections, call for US oversight. 2/15 Elon Musk co-founder of “ChatGPT” creator “OpenAI” warns of AI society risk. 4/17 Elon Musk calls on all AI labs to immediately pause for at least 6 months the training of AI systems. 4/1 Elon Musk signed letter demanding AI research from experts come to a halt. 4/18 Elon Musk talks “TruthGPT” and AI ambitions in Fox News. 4/14 Elon Musk creates new artificial intelligence company X.AI. 3/30 Elon Musk joins call to stop AI development.
Month: April 2023
Mississippi OKs more state policing in mostly Black city
Mississippi's Republican governor has signed a controversial bill expanding the authority of a state-run police department in Jackson, the state's majority-Black capital city as part of a wider effort to undermine the authority of local Black leaders in the state. Mississippi's Republican governor has signed a bill on Friday to extend the authority of a state-run police department in the majority-Black capital city of Jackson, prompting expected legal action from the NAACP. The majority-white and Republican-controlled state House and Senate approved the legislation. Jackson is governed by Democrats and is a Black city with around 83% of residents being Black. The governor has stated that the Jackson Police Department is severely understaffed, and he believes that the state-run Capitol Police can provide much-needed stability. The state has ignored requests for funds to repair the city's water system, which left tens of thousands of people without running water following a near-collapse of the system that is now under the control of a federally appointed manager. Governor Reeves has vetoed several spending proposals for other projects inside Jackson, including $1 million for parking at the city's convention center and $2 million for downtown infrastructure. The new law will establish a temporary court within the Capitol Complex Improvement District inside a portion of Jackson. The courts will handle misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and initial appearances for some criminal charges. Most municipal judges are appointed by city officials, including a Black mayor and a majority Black city council. However, the judge of the new court is not required to live in Jackson and will be appointed by the Mississippi Supreme Court chief justice. The current chief justice is a conservative white man. New prosecutors will be appointed by the white state attorney general. The Capitol Police is run by a white chief who answers to a white public safety commissioner who, in turn, answers to a white governor.
Alabama secretary of early childhood education forced out over ‘woke’ teacher training book
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced on April 21, 2023, that she had replaced her director of early childhood education due to the use of a teacher training book. The book was written by a nationally recognized education group and contained language about inclusion and structural racism, which the Republican governor denounces as teaching “woke concepts.”
In a statement, Ivey said, “The education of Alabama’s children is my top priority as governor, and there is absolutely no room to distract or take away from this mission. Let me be crystal clear: Woke concepts that have zero to do with a proper education and that are divisive at the core have no place in Alabama classrooms at any age level, let alone with our youngest learners.”
The governor’s office cited two examples from the book in a press release. One example discussed white privilege and that “the United States is built on systemic and structural racism,” while the other claimed to teach LGBTQ+ inclusion to four-year-olds. However, an analysis of the book’s contents by the Alabama Reflector revealed that it only instructs teachers to be aware of these issues when teaching but does not instruct them to teach the concepts directly.
Ivey’s criticism of the book is part of a growing trend in which politicians influence curriculums, claiming that some teaching concepts are “woke.” Alabama currently ranks 39th in reading and 40th in math in the nation among fourth-grade students, according to a report from the National Assessment of Education Progress, as reported by WHNT
Separation of Church and State
(The ongoing battle for freedom)
Texas public schools will be forced to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom under a bill passed by the state Senate Thursday.
Senate bill 1515 was introduced by Republican Phil King, who has said it “will remind students all across Texas of the importance of the fundamental foundation of America.” The bill now heads to the Republican-dominated House for review, and will go to the Governor’s desk upon approval.
Legislators also passed Senate Bill 1396, which would require schools to set aside time for students and staff to read the Bible. Both bills follow the 2021 policy that required schools to display “In God We Trust” signs donated by community members.
The laws clearly contradict separation of church and state, which has even some conservative Christians concerned. John Litzler, general counsel for the Texas Baptists Christian Life Commission, told the Senate that he and his organization oppose using taxpayer money on religious education.
Litzer also cited content in the Commandments which may not be appropriate for young children, that goes against the state’s own recently implemented content standards.
“I should have the right to introduce my daughter to the concepts of adultery and coveting one’s spouse,” Litzler said in a committee hearing, via The Texas Tribune. “It shouldn’t be one of the first things she learns to read in her kindergarten classroom.”
Texas lawmakers recently approved legislation that bans “sexually explicit” books from school libraries, and mandates parental consent for “sexually relevant” books.
The ACLU of Texas called the recent bills an “example of failed priorities and failed leadership.”
“The U.S. Constitution expressly prohibits the entanglement of church and state, and the Texas Constitution guarantees the freedom of worship,” David Donatti, an attorney for the ACLU of Texas, told The Washington Post. “Whether we choose to belong to one religion or none at all, people of all faiths and creeds should together resist the state’s endorsement of one particular religion.”
Published by “The Advocate” on April 23, 2023
Transgenders – Is it a Choice or Genetic Defect
With all the backlash with transgenders, people have failed to begin to understand the causes. Everybody thinks that transgender is a choice, like being gay was a choice. They were wrong about gays and they could be wrong about transgender.
The current scientific consensus is that being transgender is not a choice but rather a complex interplay of biological, environmental, and cultural factors. While the exact causes of transgender identity are not fully understood, researchers believe that genetics, hormones, and brain structure may all play a role.
There is evidence to suggest that being transgender may have a genetic component. For example, studies have found that there are genetic variations associated with sex hormone receptors and other genes related to sex differentiation that may influence a person’s gender identity. Additionally, twin studies have shown that there is a higher likelihood of one twin being transgender if the other twin is also transgender, suggesting a genetic influence.
The sex of an embryo is determined at the moment of fertilization when the sperm carrying an X or Y chromosome fertilizes the egg. However, the physical differentiation of male and female genitalia occurs later in fetal development, typically during the 16th to 20th week of pregnancy. Genetic defects, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia and androgen insensitivity syndrome, can cause a female (XX) chromosome to develop male genitalia, or a male (XY) chromosome to develop female genitalia. These conditions are typically diagnosed through genetic testing and physical examination by a healthcare professional. Treatment may involve hormonal therapy or surgery, depending on the specific condition and individual circumstances.
There are several genetic conditions that can cause a person with female chromosomes (XX) to develop male genitalia. One such condition is called congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), which is an inherited disorder that affects the adrenal glands. In CAH, the body is unable to produce enough cortisol and sometimes aldosterone, leading to an overproduction of androgens (male hormones). This can result in the development of male genitalia in a female fetus or infant.
Another genetic condition that can cause male genitalia to develop in a person with female chromosomes is called androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). In AIS, the body is unable to respond to male hormones (androgens) due to a genetic mutation. This can cause a person with XY chromosomes to develop female genitalia or a person with XX chromosomes to develop male genitalia.
The causes of transgender identity are likely complex and multifactorial, and there is still much to learn about this topic. While there may be an increase in the number of people identifying as transgender in recent years, and the increased visibility and acceptance of transgender individuals, researchers have increased their study into the genetic or biological defects during pregnancy.
