There are at least three major concerns for a government that is clearly betting Britain's future on so-called artificial intelligence (Mainstreaming in British veins: Labor announces large-scale public rollout of AI, 12 January) ).
First, as Professor Shannon Valler of the University of Edinburgh points out in his book, AI mirrorgenerative AI is not creative. It only looks backwards. It can only remix and recreate what we did before: the same mistakes, failures, and biases that got us into the mess we are in now.
Second, there is the issue of resources. According to one study, the same work performed by an AI system can use 33 times more energy than a traditional program. Around a third of Ireland's electricity is already used in data centres. How much AI can Earth provide?
Third, if extremely austere and limited government resources are directed toward the transition to AI, we are actually addressing pressing problems such as poverty, poor public health, and environmental degradation. It won't. Changing the process itself does nothing to achieve results.
You could also add privacy and data management concerns, security, resilience and concerns that follow the last government's clinging desperately to the rhetoric of “leading the world”. Instead of aiming to “defeat” other countries, why not focus on achieving healthy, functioning democracies and societies?
Natalie Bennett
Green Party, House of Lords
According to your report, Labor's adoption of “renewable energy and small modular reactors” is not intended to replace energy sources that meet our current needs, and therefore if we It appears to be aimed at helping us transition to a more humane and sustainable way of life on our fragile planet. Instead, it aims to power “energy-hungry AI systems” and put them on par with the world's biggest technology companies.
So much for addressing the root causes of climate change. It is rooted in an obsession with growth and the endless increase in consumption required to sustain it. This is why our most beautiful valleys and landscapes are being destroyed by miles of giant steel towers – making Microsoft and other companies that already have great influence over our lives even richer and more dominant. The rest of us must accept the risks that AI poses to our lives and safety.
christopher tanner
St Ives, Cambridgeshire
The government has great faith in AI as a way to improve the UK's economy and living conditions (Why Starmer and Reeves are Pinning their Hope on AI to drive in UK, 12 January).
The Treasury could benefit from seeking advice from a well-known search engine on how to improve and fund public services. The first recommendations in that AI brief are to increase investment in public health, youth services and welfare, and to increase taxes. I'm not holding my breath.
philip ward
sheffield
Unfortunately, most of us do not want to participate in a Labor general election at the altar of AI. We foresee jobs being lost and personal information being shared with some of the more unsavory characters on the planet. Palantir, chaired by billionaire Peter Thiel, a Trump ally, already runs a federated data platform for the NHS. How long will it take for our friends at UnitedHealth to access the details to claim our health insurance? Rachel Reeves might dream she can now ask Alexa how to “grow” her economy However, we mere mortals can recognize snake oil when we smell it.
Insightful AI commentator Helen Beetham wrote: “Despite the AI, known bias and colonial historyits usage is completely predictable target woman and A minority seeking violenceto erode democratic debate and denigrate human rights. and despite The toxic politics of AI owners and CEOsinclude Blatant attack on higher education – People will still walk around a herd of elephants to get to the bright box labeled “AI” in the corner of the room. ”
kevin donovan
Birkenhead, Merseyside
It is encouraging that AI is now being used to find potholes, as it is clear that Congress has had a very difficult time finding potholes despite the genuine information they have received in the past. That's it.
Gil du Bouley
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
