For those not in the know, and to put it succinctly, relativism is a philosophical vein that suggests, in extreme brevity, that everything is relative. It stands in opposition to objectivism, which posits the existence of a singular truth (often linked with monotheistic faith), arguing instead that there are as many truths as there are individuals. Figures like Aristotle and Plato once engaged in fervent debates over the concept of “the truth”.
Today, the debate continues, albeit in a new form, with computers and AI systems competitively parsing through data to unearth “the truth” within a quantum universe filled with parallel worlds, atomic bombs, and machines that are slowly surpassing human capabilities.
Ladies, gentlemen, and thoughtful robots alike, be not deceived. AI is already here, processing data at unimaginable speeds thanks to Big Data. Companies are amassing behavioral data, conducting massive and somewhat terrifying marketing studies, then inputting this data into AI systems. The goal? To tailor preferences, dislikes, and as they claim, to present you with the healthiest of advertisements and to assist in your daily life.
It’s a form of relativism powered by modern algorithms that would surely astound the ancient Greeks, had they the tools to decipher it, perhaps with the aid of Pythagorean theorems.
This Big Data and company-specific AI (because nowadays, without your own AI, youโre considered second-tier) have one primary objective: to generate more profit for the company. This is their “truth” and their ultimate goal in life.
In a world where success is measured by financial gain, imagine a race between a human being with frustrations, family, and health issues, and a machine capable of processing millions of operations per second. Pitted against each other to see who can come up with solutions to earn more money, the human loses in the blink of an eye, barely having time to sit and think. The machine, even today, is leagues ahead, finding superior solutions for nearly everything.
And above all, for earning more and more money.
That is the ultimate goal of the companies controlling these AIs.
Who would you entrust with responsibilities and decision-making? The individual burdened with the frustrations of being human, or the machine capable of crunching millions of data points for greater profits? The choice is evident, and to be honest, I would make the same decision if faced with such a power dilemma.
A top executive of a major corporation once suggested hitting that formidable button to kick off the AI race, from which there would be no turning back. If it werenโt them, it would have been someone else. Naturally, they pushed the button, as others were already doing so, and it was time to stay competitive in a race where humans shouldnโt even participate to avoid embarrassment.
This article itself will go through internet filters, land on social networks, and in a matter of seconds, be ranked higher, lower, or lost in oblivion.
How much money will this article make for the company? None, zero dollars or Scandinavian rupees. Thus, we already know what decision the machine will make and what it will offer you.
Because business must go on.
