Hi everyone,

With all the issues that have gone on in the last couple of years, I think we are all due some better conditions.

Many people I speak with around the world have said that they think 2023 will be the year that things turn around and get better. I get that feeling also.

As the holidays recede and become fond memories and the first month of the new year is coming to a close, here is wishing the very best for a wonderful 2023 for everyone here.

As some of you may have noticed, I have been interested in what artificial intelligence has to offer us.

Here is a question I ask and the response.

The question "In what ways should we try to be kinder to everyone"?

The AIs response

Member
Being kinder to everyone involves more than just expressing kind words. It involves taking the time to truly listen to others, show genuine empathy, and even try to put yourself in their shoes. Practicing kindness also means being honest and treating people with respect, regardless of their background, beliefs, or opinions. Here are some helpful tips to make kindness a habit:


-Express appreciation. It doesn’t matter how small or large the gesture, expressing appreciation is a great way to show kindness. Whether it’s telling a coworker that their idea was great or thanking a friend for supporting you, words of appreciation will go a long way.


-Give compliments. Compliments can make someone’s day, so why not make it a habit to give them out? Whether it’s a compliment on someone’s outfit or a kind word about their performance, it will make them feel good.


-Share your resources. If you have something that someone else might need, offer it to them. This could be a book, a tool, a skill, or knowledge. Anything you can offer to help another person will be appreciated.


-Be generous with your time. Spending time with someone can make them feel loved and appreciated. Make sure to be considerate of the other person’s schedule and be mindful of their needs.


Practicing kindness can be difficult at times, but it’s important to remember that a small act of kindness can make a big difference. By taking the time to spread kindness, you can make the world a better place.

Perhaps these "machines" are wiser than we assume.

Billy

There is no doubt that their words are 'definitely worthy'.

Since that reply came from AI, I will follow along and be artificially nicer this year.

The AI's words are good.

I'd add...

Small random acts of kindness go a long way beyond their immediate worth.

Try to leave people the space to be or to do what they like, so long as it's fair, honest and good.

Don't confuse carefully curated data with actual wisdom. :-)

Let me sum this up by live buy the golden rule.

One of the biggest benefits I am getting from exploring AI and other people's responses to what the AI produced is a positive change in my own thinking. To paraphrase Isaac Asimov, my assumptions are my windows to the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.

Comments from other people have me going back and looking up the definition of words I "assume" I know the meaning of. That activity has further illuminated how difficult it is to interpret and fully understand what other people mean by their choice of words. I think that is particularly true for the seriously aberrate form of language that has been developed to facilitate texting, for example.

I find today's world to be contentious and hyperpolarized, and people are becoming less tolerant in general.

I will take action by word and deed to promote tolerance, compassion, understanding, and cooperation.

We are very fortunate to have an inclusive community here at the BIAB forum, where ideas can be freely expressed about music and other related subjects.

Billy

"If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is: Infinite." — William Blake

I remain struck by the experience of using ChatGPT to compose that stunningly humane "get well card" for you. My pre-generation thinking was, well, this is just for chuckles and yucks, let's see what the bot has to say ha ha ha. But once I had that elaborate benediction in front of me, I found it expressed what I might have tried to say myself, only much, much better. So I posted it, without even bothering to mention its "artificiality", which didn't seem especially relevant.

And so we have "computer aided compassion", and it is not at all ridiculous.

Well...thanks, Mark, for the kind words, no matter how they were generated. I also have been impressed with how the AI responds to such queries.

I don't, in general, make too many distinctions in where or who information comes from. I try to be very diligent in not forming preconceived notions about someone based on my own bias. That is not an easy task.

An emphatic human could warn me of an oncoming car as I tried to cross the road. An AI could do the same thing. The value is in the message, not the messenger.

I believe we humans have always held ourselves in higher regard than our actual circumstance support. How long have we held on to the belief that we are the center of the universe and that the entirety of creation was formed specifically and exclusively for our benefit?

How often do we proclaim the particular type and style of music that we grew up with and are enamored of is the only truly "good" music?

I believe AI to be a disruptive technology that will change the way many of us create music. I don't think AI will destroy any of our passion for music or our propensity to be creative.

Nothing new can actually take away any of the beauty of the past. I love old cars, and pushbutton AM radios, but my current car is relatively new and has satellite radio.

Whatever the risk or rewards of AI may turn out to be for the type of music creation we do through BIAB, it is here it is now and will only increase.

Billy

For a little perspective, here is a photo of who we are.



That is us...the famous "Pale Blue Dot."

Billy

There is artificial intelligence and there is divine intelligence.
It's like DOS running on a computer thinking it's all powerful but it has no idea that it's running in a VirtualBox under Window 10, Windows 10 knows DOS is running on it but DOS has no idea there is anything beyond DOS.