A New Inquisition
EXPLORING THE “A.I. SLOP” HERESY
Having being baptised heretics for their coverage of Nvidia’s new DLSS 5 photorealistic lighting technology, the team at Digital Foundry have been led to the gallows by angry internauters. Branded collaborators to big tech A.I. overlords, even seeming staunch allies have sharpened their pitch forks and joined the medley of anti-A.I. clerics marching the fabled troop to their online deaths. All nuance has been lost as enthusiasm is no longer being distinguished from fanaticism. This being said, this would be akin to expecting a perfectly harmonised symphony from online mobs rather than the cacophony of a rowdy bunch. Accusations of being bought and paid for by Nvidia for their latest analysis are being slung forth without regard to the crew’s high pedigree and accomplishments in the gaming sphere. It does seem that there is an undercurrent of deeper societal issues masked by these outbursts of wrath against anything A.I. related. It is worth noting that today’s youth don’t have a religion. Empty vessels rife for the filling may soon turn into instruments of destruction under this new inquisition. A new papal conclave issuing weighty letters for swift execution to any who positively acknowledge A.I.
…even seeming staunch allies have sharpened their pitch forks and joined the medley of anti-A.I. clerics marching the fabled troop to their online deaths.
Watching the video, one does get a sense of Digital Foundry’s excitement at the new technology and what has been accomplished by Nvidia’s software engineers. This being said, in their analysis they do cast forlorn shadows on the desecration of artistic intent on a game’s visuals by the technology. Noting that the final output may be controversial. Nevertheless, the video is a balanced review of the technology, its strengths, weaknesses and possibilities regardless of one’s particular visual tastes. Sadly, in their giddiness to update the world on their latest findings, they seem to have run afoul of rampaging online mobs. The video proof positive of carousing with the purported daemons of A.I. The comment section naught more than a public shooting gallery where internauters are expressing their disgust at the crew and banishing them to internet damnation. The video has also been massively downvoted by viewers. While it is true the visual changes made by Nvidia’s technology have given the reviewed content the “A.I. Slop” look, the reporting by Digital Foundry is simply an analysis of the technology. An experienced view at what the technology is and isn’t doing, not a manifesto declaring their love for A.I. Unfortunately, this is present day and internet mobs have fully converted to this new religion and way of life.
Microsoft doesn’t have infinite money just as shareholders don’t have boundless optimism for the witchcraft of A.I. promises.
A lot of the anger and negative perception of A.I. by many has been brought about by the negative consequences of A.I. companies gobbling up shared resources that are also used in consumer products. In particular, the RAM shortage has incensed many as consumer electronics now cost more as these have been diverted to feed voracious data centres. All in service of unproven future technology currently in its infancy. Many companies have gone all in on A.I. to the detriment of other sectors of their product portfolios. Offering services no one asked for while delivering worse products to consumers. Windows 11 devices and very soon Microsoft Xbox consoles prime examples of this trend. The harder CEOs and companies have tried to sell this new technology to consumers the worse the rejection has been. This is now manifesting in anti-A.I. crusades on the internet where anything tangentially related to A.I. is deemed anathema without a second thought. Digital Foundry and others the latest victims of this maelstrom of anger and resentment.
Sooner or later they will stop imbibing the potions being spoon fed to them by covens of marketers…
Once helpful Youtube channels have turned into nonstop anti-A.I./anti-Corporate rallies. Every other video decrying the evils of corporate greed, billionaires, A.I. and anything in-between. A love for the congregants but spite for those outside. A.I. is a useful tool. So much good can come from it. It will either succeed or fail on its own merits regardless of how much big tech companies push it. At present, there is very little being offered in terms of real world practicality. We are being sold hopes and dreams, not reality. These will vanish sooner or later to reveal the nightmares couched in the haze of ambiguity. Economic realities are hard to avoid. Microsoft doesn’t have infinite money just as shareholders don’t have boundless optimism for the witchcraft of A.I. promises. Sooner or later they will stop imbibing the potions being spoon fed to them by covens of marketers and realise companies have swum right into a witches brew of uncertainty and wide scale consumer rejection. Meanwhile, it behoves all of us to not seek out effigies to pin our A.I. frustrations on.
Video companion piece here.
Image credits in order of appearance: Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay; Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay; Image by Pandanna Imagen from Pixabay