Black Mirror, AI & Thinking for Ourselves

Remember watching Black Mirror and thinking, “Well, that’s disturbing. At least it’s all made up.”

Yeah, about that.

Where to start? Okay, a few weeks ago, I posted about Wild Stories With Joshua. A video claimed three women died hiking in Death Valley. I couldn't verify the story, and Reddit users even questioned whether Joshua himself was AI.

Apparently, now we have to fact-check the storyteller too.

I JUST WANTED A HIKING STORY.

After that, my YouTube FYP served up three more videos about AI. And BOY, do I have thoughts.

Moreno Diz investigated Alpha School, where kids spend two hours a day learning with AI.

Hassan Khadair discussed an AI video that allegedly invented details about his best friend's death.

And sixteenleo reacted to an AI movie with millions of views and a plot that made The Bold and the Beautiful look like Shakespeare.

Three videos. One very tired brain.

Back to Alpha School.

I came across a report about teens wearing heart-rate monitors while watching videos of their parents criticising them.

I'm sorry, WHAT?

I have ADHD and was bullied at school. I studied elementary education for two years to help kids like me.

Turns out I hated teaching. Too much classroom management and making kids sit still. Frankly, I understood the kids.

I understand why alternative schools exist. Education needs to change.

But are we teaching kids to question AI, or accept what it tells them?

Speaking of authority, here's a story from my teaching days.

I wanted my students to make their own Mother's Day cards. Creative, colourful, whatever they wanted.

My cooperating teacher insisted every card look identical, down to the message and flower.

WHY?!

It's easy to follow authority. AI makes it easier for everyone to think, write and sound alike.

I wanted every kid to make their own flower. I still do.

Then there's Hassan. His best friend died. A REAL person with family and friends. According to Hassan, an AI video invented details about his death.

Where's the empathy? The fact-checking? And what responsibility does YouTube have?

And that AI movie?

I studied art history and fashion design. My dad makes documentaries, and my sister edits films.

As sixteenleo pointed out, the movie couldn't even keep its character names and story details consistent.

If we're replacing a film crew with AI, could someone at least check the script?

Look, I use AI. I brainstorm, experiment and test ideas with it.

Give me a production budget? I'm hiring creatives.

And yes, I rewrite posts endlessly to sound like ME. My opinions, humour and questionable pop culture references.

I don't want us turning into Pluribus, all sharing one mind. (Great show, btw.)

AI is a tool. It shouldn't do our thinking for us.

As RuPaul said, “Stop trying to fit in when you were born to stand out.”

So stand out. Be that weird-looking flower.