In a viral tweet, the author pointed out how integrating AI in every walk of life is taking the wrong direction and people agreed.
Despite AI's many daily benefits, people remain intimidated by its potential to take over human jobs. There are few fields left where AI hasn't stepped in to automate processes. For the past decade, people have expressed fears on social media about AI taking over their jobs. Recently, a Virginia-based science-fiction and fantasy author and artist, Joanna Maciejewska (@AuthorJMac), shared her thoughts on X about AI seeping into every domain. Her viral post, which garnered nearly 3 million views in less than a week, resonated with many users.
The author began her post by pointing out "the biggest problem with pushing all things AI." Maciejewska argued that AI was being directed in the "wrong direction." She implied that AI is currently automating the wrong kind of jobs. "I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes," the author explained. While she was concerned that AI was now replacing artists and writers, she also needed AI to take care of the monotonous household chores she disliked doing.
You know what the biggest problem with pushing all-things-AI is? Wrong direction.
— Joanna Maciejewska—Myth-Touched is here! (@AuthorJMac) March 29, 2024
I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.
Maciejewska further emphasized in the thread, "So, just to clarify. This post isn't about wanting an actual laundry robot. It's about wishing that AI focused on taking away those tasks we hate." She hoped AI would help with mundane tasks like laundry, dishes, and even taxes. She pointed out that the current stature of AI's development is "trying to take away what we love to do and what makes us human."
A fellow artist, Mark Humes (@MarkHumes_Art), seconded Maciejewska's standpoint, saying that with AI taking over jobs soon, people "will forget how to do things." The author replied, "Yeah. Ask random people, 'If you're traveling east, and you take a turn left, which way you're facing?' and watch them stumble and hesitate because compass and map reading are dead skills for many."
So, just to clarify. This post isn't about wanting an actual laundry robots.
— Joanna Maciejewska—Myth-Touched is here! (@AuthorJMac) March 30, 2024
It's about wishing that AI focused on taking away those tasks we hate (doing taxes, anyone?) and don't enjoy instead of trying to take away what we love to do and what makes us human.
Many agreed with Maciejewska, suggesting that AI should help with boring chores, not take our jobs. "I want AI to do the floors and windows as well. So I can write. While AI is at it, maybe be a chef also," quipped @majacompton. "We all do. It just turns out that art and writing are significantly easier for AI than washing dishes," said @rowlandgraus. "Excellent point. I agree with you. That's the way we should also develop AI for the house. Although there are some ways AI is being used in appliances, I would love it if AI cleaned the house for me so I could do what makes me happy," chimed in @lssmith216.
Speaking of AI replacing humans in the field of art, an Australian musician had an interesting take on why AI will never be able to replicate art and music as humans do. When asked, "Could ChatGPT's inability to write a good song somehow help us value creative work more?" singer and songwriter Nick Cave's response to The New Yorker was quite insightful. "The thing about writing a good song is that it tells you something about yourself you didn't already know. That's the thing. You can't mimic that," Cave explained. "AI may very well save the world, but it can't save our souls. That's what true art is for. That's the difference," he added.