Humans in the Loop Reading Response

While the ideas presented in “Humans in the Loop” touch on questions about how automation can be incorporated into society, I felt that it neglected a lot of the actual problems automation can pose to our technological society. The general concept that “human and AI undertake the task alongside one another” is a given. There are many other factors besides just the outcome or technical implementation of tools to consider when incorporating automation. It seems parallel to the industrial revolution when many people were suddenly forced out of tasks because automation was incorporated — this same problem should be critically analyzed and thought around so automation doesn’t make sweeping and drastic changes to millions of peoples’ lives in a negative way.

In respect to “just” art though, it also seems to be common sense that the tools we are creating shouldn’t be the sole creators of art. Otherwise, art would lose one of what I think the defining features of artwork is — individuality. If any person can just press a button and produce art, is that art anymore? If someone doesn’t have to engage in any of the design and creative processes, then they’re not the ones creating something new, something unique to their own artistic vision. In a sense, these new AI tools seem like almost a logical “next step” in our current technological advancement that should still be watched and approached with intention (like the blog post describes), but is NOT something that should overtake any industry, and people should constantly be questioning the role and impact these tools can have on others and their communities, not just if a a tool is “cool.”