AI – Holding up a mirror

Artificial intelligence consists of displacing human genius outside itself, and creating new sacred places, new sacralisations that will require, as in every major mutation – and this one involves extropy – its share of scapegoats on the altar of progress and that of tekhnè. Man created God in his own image, suggesting that it was the other way round. The same is true of AI, whose nascent cosmogony and future mythologies will be written on the (screen of the) digital pantheon. The battle of the Titans Musk / Zuckerberg is a perfect illustration of this. The technique, which has become a sacramental technology*, absolves humans of a long-conquered logos and leads them towards the age-old promise of a radiant and free future…

 

If we look back at our human origins, it is almost impossible to date this revelation precisely. Depending on whether the evening paradigm is governed by love, technical mastery, cooking, clothing… weapons, the dates vary by tens of thousands of years, or even hundreds of thousands.

The myths, from Gilgamesh to the most recent, all evoke an almost identical concept, invoking a Big Bang to illustrate the birth of the world and an appearance « as if by magic » to designate the time of humans, or time and humans. And what does it mean to be human? Depending on culture, latitude and longitude, political, technological and societal developments… the definition of what it means to be human varies enormously from one country to another.

Artificial intelligence – or AI – may offer us a way of answering this question. Not by asking « one of them » this question, but rather by turning the question, or the subject of this question, towards us. Of all the things that surprise and astonish the various researchers, thinkers, experts… right down to the most peculiar gurus, the question of mirror inversion is never asked. What do I mean by this?

 

It is never said, sometimes even hinted at and then immediately avoided, that in the end the major break with the past offered by AI comes down to the mirror being turned upside down. We are no longer Narcissus mirroring himself in the reflection offered by the lake, we have become the lake and AI can mirror itself in us at will. We have held up a mirror to an entity that emanates from our consciousness and yet frees itself from that same consciousness. And in a narration that is as astonished as it is fearful, we are hypnotised by the demiurgic power that is born and grows infinitely in our eyes. All we can do now is reflect (transitive verb) the demiurge that is dawning as we try to maintain a position that can be summed up as that of revealing agent.

The essential discourses that emanate from reflections on this subject are essentially confined to the technological aspect of the matter. Ethics is beginning to be entrusted with this mission, and the cries of outrage raised here and there cannot stem the lightning progress of AI – how could they? The Promethean temptation will strike us down, and if we owe to the eponymous god « the science of assembled letters, the memory of all things, the labour that gives birth to the arts  » we have just entrusted artifice with the task of perpetuating the myth through transvasement.

The few hundred, or thousands, of researchers working on this transfer are like gods whose pantheon can be summed up in the GAFA and whose power can be summed up in a fraction of a century. If a human being is born with a genetic and cultural heritage inherited from a thousand years of evolution, AI aggregates without limits the data and tools that could give it independence in the future, the near future, even the very near future. Unless we cut off all the electricity networks to inhibit connected tools. We have fallen, as Camus feared, into a certain nothingness, enslaved and powerless: « Today’s man has chosen history, however, and he could not and should not turn away from it. But instead of enslaving himself to it, every day he agrees a little more to be its slave. It is here that he betrays Prometheus, that son of « bold thoughts and a light heart ». It is here that he returns to the misery of the men that Prometheus wanted to save. « They saw without seeing, they listened without hearing, like the forms of dreams… » Who will be the next Prometheus?

Who will be the next Prometheus? He will embody truth and justice, beauty and sacrifice, the arts and technology for the whole of humanity, for the children of the future, so that they can still taste the joys of soft grass.

The ontological break offered by AI is as profound and powerful as that thing that appeared in uncertain times and that we call humanity. By delegating our ability to think about the world to (Promethean) technology, whose derelictions have been operating in a lazy fashion for several decades now, humanity has capitulated. We will surely have to find the Sarah Connor who can stand up to the gloomy omens of the future. Time is running out, and Phanes must be laughing from the bottom of his silver egg.

 

* Bigelow, the man who coined the word technology, was a fervent disciple of the engineer John Etzler, author of a bestseller published in 1833 under the title The Paradise Within the Reach of All Men, Without Labor, by Power of Nature and Machinery. Within the reach… This paradise will be on earth and not in an inaccessible beyond, here is millenarianism… All Men, here is democracy; by power of nature and Machinery, here is technology. – Jacques Dufresne, Encyclopaedia of Agora

 

Definitions of Chat GPT

1) How do you define the origin of the human being?
ChatGPT: The origin of the human being is a complex and fascinating subject that has been the subject of numerous studies, debates and theories over the years. The scientific view is that humans evolved from common ancestors with other species, mainly primates, over a period of several million years. This theory is known as evolution.
Human evolution is generally understood as a story of progressive development from single-celled organisms to the appearance of the first primates, then the first hominids and finally Homo sapiens, the species to which we belong.
One of the key elements of human evolution is the process of natural selection, which favours traits that are advantageous for survival and reproduction. Over time, these traits accumulated and led to the emergence of characteristics specific to the human species, such as our bipedalism, our developed brain and our ability to use tools.
It is important to note that this scientific perspective on the origin of the human being is based on fossil evidence, genetic studies, anatomical comparisons and other related scientific disciplines. However, there are also other perspectives on the origin of the human being, including religious beliefs and mythological accounts, which vary according to culture and tradition.

2) What is the epic of Gilgamesh?
ChatGPT:
The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest literary works known to mankind. It is based on Sumerian and Akkadian legends and tells the story of Gilgamesh, legendary king of the city of Uruk in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), around the third millennium BC.
The epic is composed of twelve clay tablets bearing cuneiform inscriptions. It recounts the adventures of Gilgamesh, a powerful but tyrannical king, and his friend Enkidu, a savage man created by the gods to rival him. The two heroes embark on numerous quests and exploits, including the search for eternal life after Enkidu’s death.
The Epic of Gilgamesh touches on many universal themes, such as friendship, death, the search for meaning and the human condition. It also offers a valuable insight into Mesopotamian culture and society at the time, with references to gods, rituals, customs and beliefs.
The importance of the Epic of Gilgamesh lies in the fact that it influenced many other later literary and religious works, including the Bible. Parallels can be seen between the story of the Flood in the epic and that of Noah in the biblical account. The epic is also a valuable record of the evolution of human literature and thought over time.

3) What is time?
ChatGPT: Time is a complex concept that plays a fundamental role in our understanding of the universe and our everyday experience. On a general level, time can be defined as a measure of the sequence of events, changes and movements in the universe.
From a scientific point of view, time is considered to be a fundamental dimension of space-time, as described by Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. According to this theory, time is intrinsically linked to space and is influenced by gravity and speed. There is a close relationship between time and space, forming a continuum in which events unfold in sequential order.Time can be measured in units such as seconds, minutes, hours, days, years and so on. These measurements allow us to quantify and compare time intervals.
Philosophically speaking, time is still a subject of debate. Complex questions are raised, such as the nature of time, whether it is linear or cyclical, and whether time is real or simply a construct of our minds.
In our everyday experience, we perceive time as a dimension that flows continuously, where past events are behind us, the present is our immediate reality and the future is yet to come. However, the subjective perception of time can vary from person to person and can be influenced by factors such as age, emotion, cognition and context.
In short, time is a multidimensional and complex concept, both scientific and philosophical, which is essential to our understanding of the universe and our existence.

4) Aeschylus, Prometheus in Chains,

5) Artifice: Process invented to improve a technique, an art, a way of doing or being, to add refinement. CNRTL – national centre for textual and linguistic resources

6) Prométhée aux enfers by Albert Camus

 

Analysis by ChatGPT

The text you’ve shared seems to address the issue of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on humanity. Here are some observations and thoughts on the text:

Human origins and diversity: The text raises the question of human origins and refers to the diversity of perceptions of humanity across time and space. It highlights the variability of the definition of the human depending on culture, technology and society.

Mirror reversal and the role of AI: The text suggests that AI represents a mirror reversal, where we are no longer the only ones to mirror ourselves in technology, but where AI can also observe and interact with us. He highlights the fascination and fear associated with the growing power of AI.

Technological and ethical aspects: The author mentions that current discussions on AI are mainly focused on technological aspects, but that ethics are beginning to be taken into account. However, it is suggested that ethical concerns are not enough to halt the rapid progress of AI.

Prometheus and enslavement: The text refers to Prometheus, the mythological figure who brought fire to humans and was punished by the gods. It suggests that humanity, by delegating its ability to think about the world to technology, has enslaved itself and betrayed Prometheus. He stresses the need to resist the domination of AI.

The future of humanity: The text raises the question of who will be the next Prometheus, representing truth, justice, beauty and sacrifice for the future of humanity. It underlines the importance of preserving the ability to enjoy the joys of life for future generations.

In summary, the text raises questions about the impact of AI on humanity, highlighting both the fascinating possibilities and the ethical concerns. It invites reflection on the complex relationship between humanity and technology, and on the need to preserve our autonomy and humanity in the face of the rapid advance of AI.