The AI industry is a grift so big that it's really hard to explain it to people not familiar with the tech industry.

Yes, Google is perfectly aware their AI-powered search is way worse than their "classic" mode.

Yes, Apple knows their integration with chatGPT is flaky and ads nothing useful to their products. And

They.

Don't.

Care.

Because the goal is not making their products better, the goal is to ride the hype wave so the investors are happy and their stock price keeps growing.

That's almost entirely what's powering the AI industry.

It's a multibillon dollar grift. One so big and so obvious that most people think they have to be missing something, that they don't understand something that makes everything to make it makes sense as a business.

No. That's everything. It's pure snake oil selling.

@javi

All while adding to the power needs of datacenters that puts coin mining to shame (not that nvidia is complaining).

@Frances_Larina @javi
Let's see how Nvidia is doing, say, 12-18 months from now.

@freediverx @javi

That's what people said as the blockchain / bitcoin madness was dwindling, too. Except we're nowhere near peak AI as far as sales go since AI computing centers are still being built. But even if the AI trend collapses the way blockchain did (and I hope it does), Nvidia can always go back to paying attention to graphics.

@Frances_Larina @javi
And while generative AI has more practical utility than crypto, we’ll still have this to contend with:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/13/hey-look-over-there/#lets-you-and-he-fight

Pluralistic: Bullies want you to think they’re on your side (13 Mar 2024) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

@freediverx @javi

I really don't think company decision makers care if quality drops, even precipitously. All that maters is investor returns. Over the last 5 years or so, we've already seen drastic drops in the quality of so many goods and services. AI is merely an accelerator, but a very efficient one. And let's not forget the strangely ignored influence of hedge funds and private equity companies.