Maybe you're right about us being at the end of the road for internet discussion, and at first I want to say "oh no," but maybe it's not a bad thing. No use continuing to pursue something once you know it won't work, and it's stupid to kill yourself trying.
I worry about your AI point, too. An imaginary perfect friend/sex bot/super advanced furby/whatever would be compelling in the short term, but ultimately it leads down a cold lonely road. I can immediately think of some acquaintances who already kind of live like this. It breaks my heart.
What do we do about it? Raise our kids so their allowance depends on the amount of broken phones they bring us?
Oh hey also could you please prove you're not an AI designed to say things I agree with?
I try to look at the bright side. It is true that many things that need discussion cannot be discussed online because people slide in moral arguments and derail it. But with an AI one can have a patient/unemotional discussion to see ho w deep the rabbit hole goes. Supposing AI can indeed converse, this will be productive.
But we have to detach social life from this. There is a role for the AI but communication is social and has other purposes. Perhaps we could communicate the results of our introspection with the AI, though
I worry about your AI point, too. An imaginary perfect friend/sex bot/super advanced furby/whatever would be compelling in the short term, but ultimately it leads down a cold lonely road. I can immediately think of some acquaintances who already kind of live like this. It breaks my heart.
What do we do about it? Raise our kids so their allowance depends on the amount of broken phones they bring us?
Oh hey also could you please prove you're not an AI designed to say things I agree with?