Some Unexpected Uses Of AI

 

There's much concern over the potential of Artificial Intelligence. To a certain extent this is understandable. But one possible benefit which hasn't been recognized, to my knowledge, would result from the use of AI in our news media to replace the humans who relate and interpret the news of the day, endlessly.

I think that ideally, news would consist merely of statements describing events that take place, with explanation as needed, but without comment or interpretation. For example, we would be informed that certain legislation is pending, was voted on and the result of the voting.  Instead of being shown the tiresome entirety of a speech or press conference, the bulk of which would consist of self-serving and predictable rhetoric, we would be advised that they took place and the subjects addressed.  Our technology is such that those few who want to hear and see the speech or press conference itself would have the option to do so.

As it is, comment and interpretation are virtually all that is provided. People appear who are asked questions about what takes place and opine on them. What they opine may be anticipated with considerable accuracy based on what network is being watched. 

Each network has its own stable of experts who expound talking points and opinions which mirror those of the owners and watchers of the networks and those politicians they support. The display of experts and pundits to recite predictable opinions or speculate along particular lines seems to be a universal practice.

As an option for those who wouldn't be satisfied by a simple description of events, generated figures could be used which would, by generated audio, pontificate or speculate regarding events as would be expected given the idealogy accepted by the network and its typical viewers. I suspect it would be a relatively simple matter to provide AI with information regarding most politicians and their interests and activities and the types of actions and occurrences taking or to take place which would result in the kind of opinions, interpretations and speculations viewers would expect  and accept which would be at least as enlightening as those now being provided by the people used for this purpose.

It's true that jobs may be lost, but I doubt anything else will be.  Since these news networks seem to thrive in their current form, it appears people won't stop watching them as I've tried to do.  As we must bear with them let's at least acknowledge their inanity in this manner