Convenience is a hot commodity. Here’s how to decide when it’s actually worth it.
Despite the widespread protests over data centers and Flock cameras, the viral videos of people pranking bots in job interviews, frustration with slop, and rage at tech CEOs’ rightward lean, AI is spreading. According to the Pew Research Center, about half of American adults have used a chatbot, and around a quarter do so daily. […]
Convenience is a hot commodity in today's society, with AI adoption spreading rapidly. According to the Pew Research Center, about half of American adults have used a chatbot, with a quarter doing so daily. This adoption has outpaced that of home computers or the internet. Despite mixed feelings among users, many accept AI as the least-bad option or simply inevitable.
The ease of adoption often makes it difficult to give up these tools, even as their downsides become apparent. New technologies tend to move from novelty to necessity quickly, and the future they promise often falls short of the marketing hype. While we may have language to describe the problem, solving it requires more than nostalgia and anger.
The widespread use of AI and other conveniences has led to increased convenience, but also frustration, rising costs, exploitation, environmental damage, and a K-shaped economy. To avoid falling for false conveniences, it's crucial to recognize them for what they are and assess whether they truly offer value or simply replace or disrupt existing, good tools.
Written by urgent.news from Vox's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
