what Am I to do?
the question seems to be, “what’s left to do in software?”
“From a certain point onward there is no longer any turning back. That is the point that must be reached.”
— F.K. The Trial.
the imperative underlying computing has long been
“i must try to see if i can get the computer to do this thing it can’t seem to do.”
and the corollary:
“i must try to get this computer to do this thing everyone wants it to do cheaply and quickly.”
and now… no imperative.
with the advent of large language models (the latest goal post moving definition for “AI”) it seems that computers now can do anything you can think up, and rather easily, rather cheaply and rather quickly.
language destroyed the imperative. language, at scale, compiling, composing and contradicting itself arrived at a quick, cheap and easy way to search between humans and computer languages.
discover discovered.
and now… You Just Choose.
i am left only to make choices for myself about what i find interesting or compelling or fulfilling. with no exogenous, “invisible hand” market nor technical force, pushing me ever towards a “do it to find out if it can be done” i must now just choose.
i am you. am i? or am i just one of those folks who’s just really good with computers?
naw, i was on Trial, just as you are now. you must now go to The Bank and withdraw all your previous knowledge, your procedures, your doings. failure to do so will result in penalties.
you now must choose.
the computer makes possible anything you desire or need. cheaper, faster, easier.
what do you want?
and higher quality, too.
but you’ll have to stand trial before yourself to understand this all.
“AI is anything that can do what want cheaper, faster, and more easily than you.”
— RFS, 2023, The Bank.
the computer, as judge, you, as jury, and ai, as you, are now in trial, on trial, not trying.
good luck.
