Can you tell when the A.I takes over? What does it feel like, really? Is it like this? I don’t know. There’s something coming from somewhere and I don’t know how to get to it.”
She was right to keep that and another comforting statement in mind as she spoke at the funeral. Before now, Fussell had been often ignorant of the complexities of emotional suffering. She believed everyone else shared her opinion and belief that H.R. had not loved his wife and children. But when she heard the words “deep sadness” after he buried his wife, she felt real grief that grew.
I would never assume H.R.’s children were not responsible for his behavior. And I think about it all the time, even while I write this. That he would suffer depression, physical illness, lack of an intimate relationship. I can’t help but think that what we told each other—and what is told by news reports—about him—”This kind of thing happens all the time”—is just wrong.
At his memorial service, an A.I. is described as “a robot that learns through trial and error and doesn’t have emotions.” To that, I say: are we really going to be satisfied if the A.I. picks the highest paying job with the best insurance company (and doesn’t even ask) or the most beautiful young woman on the planet (and doesn’t even inquire)?
How exactly did we do it? If our children and husband are A.I.s, who came up with the notion? A hypothetical, of course. But I bet this reality of our lives: It is easier for us to just agree on what we don’t want and agree to do the best we can with it. At least that’s how I do it.
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Trudy Lieberman is a longtime contributing editor to the Columbia Journalism Review. She is the lead writer for CJR’s Covering the Technology Industry section, which is produced in collaboration with Washington Technology magazine. She also blogs for Washington Technology. Follow her on Twitter @Trudy_Lieberman.
Trudy Lieberman is a media reporter for CJR.
Everything after the first sentence “Can you tell when the A.I takes over?” was generated with an A.I.
Can you tell?
And who is Trudy Lieberman and why is she an A.I target?
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