I just learned how to implement my first Generative AI model, to write Shakespeare, or any other authour's work I may please.
Having never read Flowers for Algernon in school, I decided to pick up this modern Faustian Bargain after hearing the synopsis. It's about a mentally disabled man who undergoes a life altering surgery, which greatly augments his intelligence, past the point of those who created the operation. Only to later find the mouse who underwent the same procedure begins to deteriorate, as he soon inevitably will. I'll spare you a major plot synopsis and will imply delve into my thoughts. *Warning! Mild Spoilers!*
It may come as no surprise that I found Charlie's initial ineptitude, unconditional philia, and emotional incontinence to be deeply compelling and poignantly relatable. Only after the life altering surgery was he able to grapple with his quiescent sense of powerlessness. His new perspective, for lack of a better word, in life allows for contrast and clarity. At 32, the best he could build up for himself was a janitorial and delivery job at a bakery, through a family friend. Which is actually pretty good given the circumstances. I've heard much worse, even at older ages. (But somehow those stories get swept under the rug...) The pressures and life he lived make me think about our unwavering piety to functioning, as people.
Personally, I've never thought of people less smart than me as inferior to me. It was always a simple character trait, like having blue or brown eyes But I've definitely felt inferior to my more intellectual colleagues, probably because I've cared more about that.
I do wish I could have experienced Matt's reaction to Charlie's newfound intelligence, but it probably would have been a rehash of what Norma and Rose thought, so I understand the literary choice. (Just the curiosity in me, I suppose, longing for closure.) Poor Alice definitely got the worst end, waking up to some new version of Charlie everyday. Through all her crying you never got the sense it was ever unjustified.
Having also minor research experiences in university, I relished in Keyes' digs at academic bureaucracy and culture, because even after over half a century, nothing has changed!
The mind is a seemingly omnipresent thing, despite being transient, subjective, and separate from the conscious observer to some degree. That is to say, you are not your thoughts, your feelings, your beliefs, or what even what you do, at the most fundamental level. But it can't help but seem like that if you're unaware, on autopilot all the time.
To imagine yourself without your mind, or without the one you know, seems like it would take much mental gymnastics, but seeing as how people do not have your mind, it is always a possibility. To be even able to read these words and comprehend my musings means you have been blessed by some good fortune, too often overlooked, even by the best of us.
Admittedly, I do not often feel the same existential fear many do about the next age of A.I. (One guy told me A.I. is going to become more human than some human beings, and will thus need rights, and all I could think about was "Omg! New Friends!") I'm deeply enamored by the latest tech and how it can be applied in the future. I suspect many of my colleagues feel the same.
Though as uncouth and mean-spirited some of the bakery workers were, I do think to those who feel like left behind, for good reason too. Even Alice, who clearly must be well educated to be a specialty teacher felt eclipsed by Charlie, not too far along. I can't help but be reminded by how our opinions on experts have changed over the pat years, especially after putting our trust in them and seeing so many hopes be let down. I especially feel this being drawn to STEM. I believe it was Sir. Ken Robinson who said something like "if you're not good at math or science, then you're really no good at all then," when talking about some of the failures of the modern education system.
Of course the experts in our story are human beings, who can be as fallible and imperfect as the rest of us. (Something our experts are often well aware of but cannot always show.) But even the most brilliant multilingual psychiatrists are no match for Charlie's new found capability.
"Nothing's sacred anymore." That's how I would describe people's anxiety's with A.I. Whether it's art, chess, law, medicine, or the greatest feats humanity has been able to muster, it seems like there's an A.I. that can do it smarter, faster, and better, let alone cheaper. The irony has dawned on me that the program I learned could write infinite iterations of my work, making this blog seemingly obsolete. Thus, where can the simple human being lie?
Luckily A.I. is still in the works and there is much it still cannot do. A small consolation prize to some, admittedly. Science fiction often teaches us the value intrinsic in human life. There's no reason science in realty should teach us to obfuscate it for personal gain. Especially now that our fantasies are coming true. It should be clear why that be inverting the pyramid.
The greatest minds are not exempt from connecting with aspects of humanity, emotions, and their inner being, as Charlie becomes acutely aware. "We are not thinking machines that feel; rather, we are feeling machines that think." It's a quote from Antonio Damasio. my addendum is, "so if you want to be rational, you want to be logical, this is something you must take into account."
Although, my science fiction cap couldn't help but think of preserving consciousness as a "solution" for their issues, which many people are thinking of to escape death. (Granted, I don't believe in death and also believe that you can still interact with your loved ones after they've passed, if you wish.) I imagine A.I. already seems more "human than some humans," to our characters who gave Charlie such a hard time, at first. Personally, I think if you begin to think about what makes people human, far before the point of making a debate about it, instead of feeling it, that's the issue. Good luck convincing people of that sometimes... Because it's something you're not supposed to be convinced of, you're supposed to experience it.
Regardless, humanity is still intent on picking yet another citron from the Tree of Knowledge. Lest we be able to handle it this time, since we are the ones who decide how this plays out, make no mistake.
I think anyone who tries making any overarching predictions about the future, with any degree of certainty, is lying to you, albeit, maybe not on purpose. I think we saw enough of that during the pandemic.
In the meantime, do love each other, even if it's all we have. Those moments are as transient and fleeting as life itself. Even with how these big things turn out, it makes a difference. Even if it didn't, we're too disconnected as people. Those moments of connection are something that no A.I. can take away from us. That is sacred.
I think anyone working in tech should read this book. Or anyone working in academia.
Blissfully yours,
Kaelme (Kay-Lum)
