What do you think of the AoS forum?

[Tim]

Can't stand AI, it's yet another new technology that will lead to the ruination of mankind!

New technology is great, until it gets misused...

Marco.

I have a visceral hatred of AI Marco and won't use it - Barry seemed to think you can't avoid it, but I'm having a bloody good go!

I ditched Microsoft over 4 years ago, stopped using Google over a year ago and I don't use WhatsApp or any other 'tech bro' social media apps. I still don't have a TV and have zero smart devices in my home. If something needs an app to use it, I won't buy it. I'm happy to be an AI Luddite

[Barry]

I have a visceral hatred of AI Marco and won't use it - Barry seemed to think you can't avoid it, but I'm having a bloody good go!

I ditched Microsoft over 4 years ago, stopped using Google over a year ago and I don't use WhatsApp or any other 'tech bro' social media apps. I still don't have a TV and have zero smart devices in my home. If something needs an app to use it, I won't buy it. I'm happy to be an AI Luddite

Did I say that? Clearly you can avoid AI as you have, but 'apps' on smartphones can be useful. We use several: from WhatsApp to talk to my partner's family in Cameroon, to looking at the timetable for local buses, or posting on this august Forum.

[Tim]

I agree Barry, some apps on phones are very useful, I use Signal instead of WhatsApp which is exactly the same functionally, the only difference being Signal don't collect any user data like Meta do. The core code is the same as it was developed by the same guy, Brian Acton.

I know I sit outside the norm when it comes to using tech, I just dig a bit deeper before I click accept. I try to keep my phone as a phone and rather than use an app, I use my computer instead which I have total control over - that's becoming outside the norm these days too as a lot of people use their phone for everything. It's not as convenient using a PC but I prefer it that way and yes, I do know that's odd . . . but I am odd

[Pigmy Pony]

I agree Barry, some apps on phones are very useful, I use Signal instead of WhatsApp which is exactly the same functionally, the only difference being Signal don't collect any user data like Meta do. The core code is the same as it was developed by the same guy, Brian Acton.

I know I sit outside the norm when it comes to using tech, I just dig a bit deeper before I click accept. I try to keep my phone as a phone and rather than use an app, I use my computer instead which I have total control over - that's becoming outside the norm these days too as a lot of people use their phone for everything. It's not as convenient using a PC but I prefer it that way and yes, I do know that's odd . . . but I am odd

Disagree with that - I don't find using the PC at all inconvenient, or odd - much easier to navigate, quicker, and I find the content easier to control. I have no plans to move any of my PC tasks over to my mobile phone, including posting on here

Sent from my HP PC using two fingers.

[Tim]

Hmm, I'm not sure my PC would fit in my pocket so I could use it down the beach to do something, that's more like what I meant Steve . . . but yeah I much prefer to use a PC.

My friends and family think that's odd

EDIT:

I should perhaps add my dislike for AI isn't so much AI, which if used correctly could be of great benefit to humanity, but unfortunately it's not in the hands of people who see it that way. So I'm not against AI at all, it's the dick waving tech companies who are vying to be at the top. I'm hopeful we may see some sense and put proper guardrails in place, instead of the no rules race that's going on right now.

[Macca]

Disagree with that - I don't find using the PC at all inconvenient, or odd - much easier to navigate, quicker, and I find the content easier to control. I have no plans to move any of my PC tasks over to my mobile phone, including posting on here
.

Likewise. Often don't even bother to take my phone with me if I go out. I notice when I'm on the train I'm usually the only one not staring intently at their phone. I mean, what's wrong with looking out the window?

I got the train from Liverpool to Crewe a while back and it was very busy, had to stand in the area by the doors. This did give me a chance to see what some of the people were so engrossed in. One youth was watching the cricket. Another was scrolling through designer sportswear for sale.

[Macca]

EDIT:

I'm hopeful we may see some sense and put proper guardrails in place, instead of the no rules race that's going on right now.

No chance.

[Barry]

I prefer to use my laptop when posting here, as I can open several pages at a time and 'cut and paste' between them; something I cannot do with my smartphone. However my version of Word on the laptop does not have an automatic correcting spell checker, nor can I readily type accented characters, or those from, say, Cyrillic or Greek.

Being a wireless laptop, I might have difficulty using it on the beach.

[Macca]

However my version of Word on the laptop does not have an automatic correcting spell checker, nor can I readily type accented characters, or those from, say, Cyrillic or Greek.
:

I can see how that would be a huge limitation

[Tim]

No chance.

Yeah, I think you're right Martin.

I was trying to be positive as I get told off all the time about my negative views on AI, but as one of the lead developers of OpenAI said, after he left when they released ChatGPT for the general public (can't remember his name), "We've fucked up big time" I really do think we have.

I leave my phone at home all the time - I love it. I'm very tempted to get a basic Nokia and never take the smartphone out of the house, as long car journeys could be tricky without some kind of way to summon help. But going out locally, I never take my phone.