Technology Morphology
Generative Am I?
S. G. Lacey
​
Text:
Positive
Reaching down without looking, I grasp the mug and bring it to my lips. The coffee’s temperature is perfect, not scalding enough to burn my mouth, but still hot enough to provide internal warming as it flows down my throat.
Not to mention the impulsive jolt of caffeine and lingering subtle bitterness, with my automated pot providing just a tiny slash of cream, and no sugar, to the strong, acrid brew. This curated liquid concoction is delivered in a thermally monitored cup, steam pulsing through the hollow walls of the insulated metal vessel, to continually maintaining the optimal temperature.
This lifeblood keeps me going every day of the week, working or otherwise.
While my palate is easily satiated, my eyes and mind require much more stimuli to enter each day. Fortunately, my other essentially morning delivery mechanism is even more efficient than the timer-based coffee maker.
The data feed on my cellphone. I’m able to customize essentially every element of this device, including the perpetual steam of information which flows through it.
Such granular curation requires a subscription, but I’m happy to pay the relatively menial annual amount. This service is well worth it just to eliminate the wasted time I previously spent searching for neutral write-ups, or even worse, doom scrolling down irrelevant rabbit holes.
Now, every morning, as I sip my perfect wake-up beverage, I’m provided with enough concise news stories to stay informed on major global activities, without all the spin or fluff that pervades most content on the internet these days.
I am conscious to make the important distinction between being offered objective stories containing factually accurate, meticulously sourced, information, and entering into a resonance chamber where seemingly small fibs are reinforced until they become big believable lies, and thereby the truth. A least in the mind of naïve reader.
This risk of unknowing social manipulation is why I have this story screening application on my phone in the first place.
As a high school social studies teacher, it’s important to stay abreast of major events in the modern world. As an influencer of malleable minds, it’s critical to not project my own views onto my subjects. My augmented feed allows me to easily achieve both these seemingly incongruous goals simultaneously.
Let’s see what’s happening on Planet Earth today, according to my virtual, sophisticated, personal news anchor.
Paradoxically, generative learning is all about quantity over quality. Provided enough training data, even poorly formatted and disjointed information, the system can become smart on its own. Just think about Yoda, the aged sage from the Star Wars franchise, who is incredibly learned, even though words are obviously presented out of order.
The most magical part of this software package is how it swaps click-bait headlines, catchy words in vivid fonts, into neutral text, simple and searchable.
Over the course of just 15 minutes, I learn several important nuggets of timely information. The promising peace talks which aim to resolve the most recent in a seemingly perpetual string of conflicts in the Middle East. Concise summaries of the overnight soccer matches, several played between tenuous nations on the geopolitical stage, in the ongoing World Cup. Reviewing the early election polling in several European countries, where similar party lines seem to be gaining traction across the region, based on common ideology and issues.
A third of my allotted time is spent on a deep dive into a subject where I’m uninformed technically, and waffling personally; the high-profile case which the U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating on. Instantly reacting to my summons for support content, my electronic secretary drums up thoughtfully penned pro and con articles.
I have now made up my mind on this topic. Until additional information materializes. I value keeping an open mind.
I even find an extra minute to read through a curated list of the trending holiday present ideas, not just in America, but through a global lens. Even I’m allow a little brain-rotting indulgence occasionally. Plus, this information is highly relatable to monitor trends in technology, affluence, entertainment, and demographics worldwide.
All these topics are in the purview of an inspired history teacher. Present day, and the future, will eventually become part of the documented past.
Time to grab my reinforced metal briefcase, hop on the elevated rail line, and head to my interactive classroom downtown. My students have likely spent the morning on their phones, rotting their brain with social media inundation ranging from binge watching pet videos, to crafting awkward memes, to learning new dance moves.
This sad state of affairs amongst teenagers today offers my chance to drop truthful knowledge, clean of unconscious bias or alternate agenda, on these youths. All thanks to my generative artificial intelligence news feed curation. Which continues to learn each morning I sit at this crappy particle board table with my breakfast. Thanks madam.
​
Negative
My head bobs forward uncontrollably, the relentless pull of gravity overpowering my fatigued neck muscles. My eyelids simultaneously succumb to this same pair of natural pressures; this dark barrier provides relief from the searing brightness of the overhead lights in my dorm room.
I started writing this report an hour ago. Lifting my fatigued skull and focusing my fatigued retinas, I assess progress. Three disjointed paragraphs, not fully fleshed out, but simply initial sentences with a few rambling follow-up notes. This is going to be a long night.
Unless I use the helpful resources at my disposal.
Which are numerous and accessible, the ancillary benefits of earning entry to a premier university, attended by a proliferation of technologically savvy youths. As a psychology major, I don’t count myself amongst this elite contingent. Still, I may as well utilize the collective brainpower provided by this nerdy network.
My content creation software, not issued by the collegiate administrators during orientation, but instead downloaded discretely from the annals of the internet, is not something I have much familiarity with. This lack of experience is likely just because I’m a freshman, facing my first-ever challenges with schoolwork completion, after my relative cake-walk at a suburban high school.
Some of the seniors at the fraternity I’m currently pledging to claim they don’t even write a single word these days. I need to get on that gravy train.
Here, the amassed competition, and wealth of extracurricular activities, have both ramped up from my teenage years. I’m apparently still adjusting to being average. Hopefully, this feeling of even marginal ineptitude won’t last for long.
I may as well use all the tools in my arsenal to speed up this current paper writing process. So I can have another beer, or get some sleep. Either option sounds much more beneficial than finishing this scientific research report, my first of the semester.
The assigned topic was quite open ended. Provide 2,000 cohesive words summarizing the effects of any naturally produced drug on the human mind. My assumption is that our eccentric Psych 101 class professor plans to use this diversity of exploration to guide his next experimental drug trip.
Based on chatting with a few classmates, and observing the attire of many others, I’m guessing our clueless leader is about to get 50 reports on marijuana grow houses and homemade bong materials. At least my selected subject will be differentiated.
Psychedelic mushrooms, which readily occur in the wild. One can easily find themselves incredibly high, or immediately dead, by intaking these native fungi. Thus, my research must be completely accurate.
Opening up the contraband writing dashboard on my computer reveals just a simple text box. This isn’t very helpful. I was already putting mindless drivel on a blank canvas. However, only 4 words into to my trial of this cheating software I’m hooked.
As the final “s” in “Foraging funny forest mushrooms” is struck, the disjointed degenerate phrase I use to start this saga, the sentence auto completes with “is predicated on careful consideration of location, climate, and, most importantly, varietal.” I’m impressed, but this isn’t a cohesive story. How can I get more content to hit my mandated word count? Especially without doing any more actual writing.
Finding a green button with a right facing arrow on the displayed program, I hit it, and am immediately rewarded. Another coherent sentence, a perfectly correct English language sequitur, has joined the screen.
“The field of mycology was formed to provide knowledge and safety to the nascent field of random mushroom cultivation and harvesting.”
Not bad. Normally, I would be concerned about plagiarism with this black box approach. However, my big brother at the frat, a computer science major, told me that these iterative computerized systems are surprisingly good at generating unique, novel content.
Despite having a massive memory, in the form of the entire worldwide web, each text string is generated from scratch. The only limitation on creativity is my sluggish mind’s ability to provide a sufficiently provocative request.
Now to add in my extensive online research, which occurred via random internet searching over the past unproductive hour. This electronic scrawl is basically just a list of commonly mushroom types, edible, psychedelic, or both, which I copied off the internet. “Chantarelles, Liberty Caps, Chicken Of The Woods, Flying Saucers, Morels.”
The copywrite rewrite function should do the trick here, and keep me clean from any lawsuits in the future, suits initiated due to either puking or piracy. Differentiating between “psilocybe cubensis” and “agaricus bisporus” is probably a useful start.
In less than 3 minutes, I have an entire paragraph of fungi insights which are well-written, factually correct, and plagiarism free. Now we’re off and running. I can probably keep this automated AI research train rolling and enjoy a light lager at the same time. One more paragraph, then I’m headed to the fridge.
Code:
Negative
Humans are predictable creatures. Their minds thrive on pattern recognition, even if this is done subconsciously. This tendency is what makes their behaviors so easy to exploit.
Passwords are now a ubiquitous part of internet activity. Even the most mundane websites, which house essentially no sensitive information, still require a personal log-in just to compartmentalize individual data. It would be incredibly easy for me to access such portals using my invasive skills. However, I tend to target much more secure and lucrative electronic gateways. Those associated with financial institutions.
Password prediction has been a booming industry since the advent of digital security. Following closely behind every honest actor, there’s a fraudulent crook. I fall squarely into this latter bucket.
Original encryption breaking incorporated a brute force approach. This incredibly time-consuming method worked fine when access codes were short, and characters well defined. A 4-digit numeric ATM pin number. Easy. With just 10,000 combinations, even the most archaic computer can run through these permutations in just a few minutes.
Realizing this, electronic encryption continued to become more complex. Longer strings. Incorporation of letters. Requiring at least one symbol. A recurring cadence of mandatory changes.
Ironically, forced passcode structure actually makes log-on details easier to predict. Again, the innate strengths and weaknesses of the human mind are the issue. This brain, while powerful, has a limited capacity for memory. It also struggles with true randomness, always striving for structure and organization. This is the key trait which I exploit.
Rather than simply guessing access details randomly, I utilize personal information about my specific chosen mark. The depths of the internet provide a wealth of data on nearly every individual, especially if a few key private particulars like name, birth date, and current address, are known.
Every interaction with the world wide web leaves a trace, some durable and direct like a highway, others flimsy and fleeting like a spider’s web. Each keystroke entered, website visited, image posted, and product purchased, is another piece of the complex puzzle which defines a user. The more data I can compile on my mark, the more I learn about them, and the higher my chances of success.
What can’t be explicitly confirmed as fact, can be inferred using ancillary info on a subject. Armed with a vast wealth of individualized traits, eventually breaking the code is basically guaranteed.
Sometimes, key inputs are obvious, like the numerical birthday of a child. Sometimes, specific research is needed, like determining the name of a deceased pet. Sometimes, connections are random, like one’s favorite emoji in symbolic form.
I keep all of these potentially relevant facts and tendencies organized in an immense database, which is constantly growing and evolving over time, like the individuals themselves. All this secretly gleaned knowledge, debatably legally acquired on its own, is definitely being used for a clearly nefarious purpose. Unauthorized bank account login access, then rapid monetary transfers.
I can work simultaneously on thousands of accounts, trying millions of passwords, over hundreds of hours. The targeted machine learning algorithms, starting in a much better spot than simplistic brute force, and logically excluding a majority of disjointed combinations, makes my approach way more likely to hit the mark on a timescale which will be beneficially to my creator. If it takes a few centuries to determine a password, this is of little value to the human hackers I serve.
Right on que, the silent bell dings, informing my perpetually whirring mind of another algorithmic success. The financial extraction transaction begins automatically, bouncing monetary digits electronically through a multitude of disparate bank accounts, to hide the final landing spot of the funds.
This online routing manipulation is child’s play relative to my sophisticated codebreaking functionality. Time to get back to work.
Positive
The global infrastructure grid is a living, breathing entity. And I’m the continuously beating heart of this dynamically changing creature. Through my efforts, the critical lifeblood, in the form of electrical energy, is optimally transmitted around the world as needed.
While I hold the decisive power, I have an enormous group of dedicated minions supporting me. These entities execute the local monitoring, then provide their real-time observations, which is aggregated to identify where resources are most critically needed, with allocations then made accordingly.
The power grid is an incredibly complex system, with a crazy number of inputs and outputs. Regional weather patterns, which determine the proclivity of sun or wind required to fuel renewable energy generation. The human transition from work to home each evening, with the associated change in electricity usage needs. Sure, everyone knows about these basic factors dictating power creation and consumption.
But what about the second order effects that must be considered. Annual winter mountain snow totals, combined with the trajectory of spring warming at elevation, dictates hydroelectric power generation efficiency. An unanticipated metropolitan public transport closure, forcing more commuters into ridesharing options, which require a higher draw for the battery charging that ensures continued operation of these electric vehicles.
Plus, some interconnected variables even out naturally, like sweltering equatorial heat increasing air conditioning usage, which inevitably aligns with increased inundation of UV rays, boosting solar cell yields. Or create a dangerous downward spiral, drought in farmed fields requiring more watering of crops, the precious liquid pulled out of wells which tap the same, already depleted, underground aquifers.
There’s no way a basic computer algorithm can account for the constantly changing complexities of this global network.
The clear distinction between old and new computing methods is the transition from the archaic discriminative to the new generative versions of artificial intelligence. While the former simply seeks to find probabilistic correlations in a given fixed data set, the latter goes one critical step further, striving to suss out the reasoning for each unique distribution provided, offering up the added benefit of future predictive power.
This is akin to the difference between rote memorization of times tables, and understanding the underlying rules dictating basic arithmetic. While both skills are imperceptible for this specific task, performing flawlessly, the generative approach offers much more longevity. This student will be well prepared, as they move on to the more advanced mathematic disciplines of geometry, then calculus.
The best part about a crowd sourced, machine learning, approach to this incredibly complicated problem is that changes are constantly being made. Not just rapid, reactional acts to patch holes in the short term, but instead thoughtful weighing of all the constraints in the system. At least all the known ones.
My memory is infinite, and my thirsty for knowledge intense. At the base level, I’m an analyzing aggregator as opposed to a discerning dictator. The computer code governing my actions can be updated by anyone, provided consensus for the change is verified by a majority of participants.
Despite being the final arbiter of renewable energy allocation, I’m really just a robot servant. Operating on incredibly strict, but constantly wavering, guardrails.
Good thing we have reliable and perpetual nuclear to provide a steady base load that supplements these very unpredictable but sustainable sources. My controlling hive mind is continuously improving daily, but predicting the weather a week out, annual global population change, the trajectory of natural resource depletion over decades, or the future of humanity in a century, is still a work in progress.
Audio:
Positive
The train rolls smoothly along the tracks, the low friction bearings and electric means of propulsion making the movement almost silent.
In the front row of the cabin are a pair of young girls. Both clad in different floral print dresses, one has a long, brown, braided, pony tail down her back, the other fluffy, blonde, pigtails extending out the sides of her head.
At roughly 8 years of age, based on their height, they are just able to see over the safety handrail in front of them, or through the broad window on their right side.
Considering the difference in physical features, and nearly identical age, I peg them as friends rather than siblings. I make careful note of this pair, as they will help dictate the content of this pending adventure. Young girls are suckers for furry animals, especially any kind of cat.
This zoo tour used to be mundane and dull. The original iteration was simply recorded commentary, dubbed over a musical track which would make time in an elevator exhilarating. For a while, financial success of this facility justified an actual guide, providing increased interaction with the patrons, and some potential for improvisation. However, this job, requiring much of the same script to be regurgitated 8 times daily, was not an efficient or rewarding use of human capital.
Thus, the commitment to set up the current expedition format, which I’m in charge of.
Double checking we have a full trainload, 32 brave and eager souls, as denoted by sensors built into each seat, 8 rows of pairs on each side of the vehicle, offering nearly unobscured views out the exterior windows, with an isle down the middle used to facilitate loading and unloading.
I always open my spiel with a commentary on the weather. This is a dynamically changing variable, which allows me to demonstrate my creative prowess each session.
Also, the climate dictates the behavior all participants, both people and animals.
The dry heat of summer makes everyone sluggish, and the search for shade a constant battle. I keep this in mind when stopping at each exhibit, noting the angle of the sun on its daily arc, to ensure the train’s broad roof shades as many riders as possible.
I’ve also learned the preferential cool zones in each enclosure, allowing me to point out a trio of pronghorns lying under a clump of scrub brush, or a sand-colored kit fox hunkered down in a cozy dirt den. The visitors are always appreciative of these insights, allowing them to view creatures which they would have never spotted on their own.
Today, in late fall, the weather is seasonable and comfortable. This high desert climate fluctuates significantly between day and night. Now, just past 1 PM, the temperature is approaching its targeted peak of 86°C.
I see several customers on this ride enjoying the last remnants of their lunch, a large cup of soda with ice, a rapidly melting popsicle, fresh fruit conveniently sliced to finger food size. All these items provide a sugary burst of energy, and a cooling effect upon intake.
This observation prompts me to make an announcement about the wealth of sustenance options offered here at the park. I’m always striving to improve sales, and can use digital receipts from the concessions department to track what messages at which times in the tour are most successful. Plus, its simple enough to track and highlight food stand options that aren’t crowded at any given time. Nobody likes to wait in line, especially when they are hungry.
While the duration of each loop is fixed, I’m given full autonomy along the way. One of the many privileges extended to an employee with a flawless track record since being hired 4 years ago.
In this specific instance, we linger several extra minutes at the serval exhibit, as these spotted cats are especially energetic playing with their new chew toy, and the young girls up front are especially intrigued by this lively duo. Further along, to make up lost time, I power past the porcupine exhibit; these creatures, in addition to being predominantly spikey, are also perpetually sleepy, especially around midday. Nothing to see here.
Along the journey, I intersperse traditional Native America music, provide statistical data to ground the irrational risk of rattlesnake bites, and describe the geological formation of the banded mesas which dot the distant landscape.
All these trips are meant to keep the patrons engaged, and appreciative of the desert landscape we are tracking through. I monitor their excitement live, using cameras discretely mounted throughout the interior of the vehicle, which were previously used for security purposes. Now, I’m constantly assessing the facial expressions and hand gestures of my patrons. A happy customer is a repeat customer.
With time of the essence, remote motion sensors allow me to determine the location of the basically free-roaming bison herd on the grounds, and jog onto an ancillary section of track, thus avoiding the potential length delay from waiting for these huge, lumbering beasts to cross the main line. Another crisis averted through clever use of technology.
54 minutes later, we come to a stop in the exact spot we previously departed from. Acknowledging my clear instructions, the current crew disembarks out the back of the train, while the new group of nearly 3 dozen customers waiting in line board from the front.
Glancing back as the new class loads up during the allotted 6 minutes of down time, I see an elderly couple has now occupied the seats of prominence in the right-side, front row, wearing matching, goofy, floral-print, wide-brimmed, bucket hats. Hopefully my lively commentary, and resourceful animal insights, can keep these eccentric old folks awake for the duration of the expedition.
Negative
It’s incredibly warm in here. The multitude of seething bodies is generating additional heat in an already cozy and claustrophobic space.
The motion of this throng, while not explicitly choreographed, is in almost perfect unison. This alignment is a result of the shared sensations of the gathered group, both tactile and auditory. The source of both stimuli are the pulsing, base-heavy, beats blasting through the multitude of speakers which ring this room.
Huge, heavy subwoofers, sitting on the floor in all 4 corners, offer a distinct vibration component. Tiny, tinny tweeters, hung in the rafters, transmit the shrill notes with piercing penetration. Tall banks of pedestal mounted speakers, rising from the already elevated stage, flank the performer responsible for generating this complex sound.
I’m clad in tight-fitting, white leather, pants, and a button-up, long-sleeve, silver sparkle embellished, purple shirt. My go-to club attire. Which isn’t exactly breathable. However, it offers sufficient mobility to allow dancing, and, even more important, a striking visual appearance, especially under the blacklight rays characteristic of most dance halls.
The current song comes to a tremendous crescendo, my own gyrations climaxing as the amalgam of drums, horns, and vocals crashes down. The room is briefly engulfed is silent darkness. Until the entire crowd roars in energetic approval of the brilliant performer on stage. Time for a quick drink before the next act comes on. I’ve definitely sweat out most of the liquid in my system.
Slithering through the crowd, I reach the bar, and order a gin and tonic. Paying electronically with my phone, I scoop up the cold beverage, garnished with a lime-flavored ice cube, and head back towards the pit.
Imbibing in this crisp, refreshing liquid, I think back through the last set. This brilliant artist, DJ AI, never fails to spin up a riveting performance. Each show is different, as if this master mixologist can read and react to the vibe of the crowd on any given night.
The owner of this establishment is known of his ability to find unique talent in this city’s competitive music scene.
Just as I finish my last sip of refreshment, the bubbly soda and aromatic liquor conspiring in a mouth-tingling combination, the house lights flicker. The next act is starting up. Perfect timing.
Depositing my empty glass on the rail, I shimmy my thin, lithe frame forwards toward the center of the dance floor, where the crowd is most condensed. Live music is all about full immersion.
This next artist is a new one to me, and this venue. Each Saturday night line-up, composed of 6 half hour sets, usually combines a mix of reliable industry veterans and obscure new entrants. Apparently now, half way through the evening’s entertainment, we’re getting our dose of the unknown.
The beat starts out low and slow, a methodical cadence upon which additional sounds begin to get layered on. 30 seconds into the harmony, my body is already moving rhythmically, matching the underlying vibration of the floorboards.
While my physical form is highly engaged by the renewed stimulation, my mind is less convinced. There’s something eerily familiar about the opening to this track, which is surprising since I’ve never heard this individual before.
There’s one very unique element about the sound system at this club. Due to the rampant use of musical plagiarism in recent years, the electrical engineer, on explicit directive from the club owner, has incorporated a sophisticated audio analysis system. If this operation senses a preexisting catchy jingle, lyrical verse, or bass line, from the extensive database, all the speakers in the house turn off.
Right on cue, even before I can place the exact song being dubbed over, the sound ceases, and the stage lights flicker. A clear warning sign to the performer on stage. Bring your own material, if you want to make it through the full set. It’s an intimidating, but honest, media format.
I sincerely appreciated this club owner’s commitment to unique, innovative music. In the past, copyright discussions were always vague. Like the generational tiff between David Bowie and Vanilla Ice on a single 7-note riff. Now, absolute clarity on originality is possible.
In some sense, it appears the long-lauded Turing test has finally been passed, with this computer’s auditory functionality indistinguishable, and likely advanced well beyond, standard human thought. However, currently, this analog works only in a very narrow context, as opposed to the broad scope of the homo sapiens’ diversly experiential brain.
Two more speaker interruptions later, in just the first 5 minutes of his act, this rookie disc jockey is booed off stage by the throng of patrons below, including myself.
All we demand is a seemingly simple ask. Absolute musical novelty.
Images:
Negative
The election is just 5 days away. It’s been an incredibly contentious campaign season. Just the way I like it.
A strategic political campaign requires multiple modes of attack. Some obvious. Some covert. Some predictable. Some erratic. We can hit all these quadrants with one simple medium. Social media imagery.
Not only can the content be easily manipulated, but also the mode of electronic distribution is essentially seamless.
Individuals with their cellphones are so naïve that they don’t realize how much personal information they provide on a daily basis. Every single interaction with the internet leaves a trace, some permanent, some fleeting.
When they search for and buy certain products online, these consumer decisions suggest underlying economic preferences. Each individual’s social network is a complex web of linked connections, from which beliefs on key social issues can be inferred. Selected digital sources for news content, are essentially a direct proxy for one’s political leanings.
All this personal information, which can be secretly purchased, is gold for assessing, guiding, then manipulating each voter. Thereby justifying the exorbitant fees charged by these digital data aggregators.
With the individuals of interest established, and contact details procured, the next step is to provide the appropriate suggestive messaging.
This nefarious manipulation during voting season has been occurring for as long as the democratic process has existed. Over time, the medium used by crooked politicians has definitely evolved, from physical signage, to mailed flyers, to radio ads, to television commercials, to email blasts, to text messaging.
Now, my team is ushering in the next generation of political posturing. Customized pictures.
I’m always amazed how a single, cleverly created, image, discretely distributed via online channels, can cause such an emotional outrage. My campaign marketing team, as I affectionately call then, prefers to focus on disparaging my opponents, rather than building up my persona.
Understandable, since my past doesn’t leave much honorable material to highlight.
Individual attention spans have gotten so embarrassingly short that it seems like most are moving on to the next piece of content on their phone even before their brain has a chance to process the last nugget. Hence, the decision to focus on pictures over words.
A least in this format we have a chance of being seen, even if we aren’t thoughtfully interpreted. Which may actually be a good thing, considering the lewd material being disseminated.
The coupe de gras is the customizable nature of this visual stimulation. The primary medium of consuming content these days is a tiny display. With menial resolution, relative to the now-common, wall-encompassing, big screens, personalized manipulation is easy.
The fewer pixels, the easier it is to expediently render a useful shot. Timely adaptability is critical in this game. Fortunately, I have the fastest and most powerful technology resources around, thanks to generous funding donations.
Political pundits are liars, litigating lobbyists are cheats, and common citizens are predictable. All these factors work into our crew’s master plan.
Sure, there’s a lot of risks with this bold image forgery approach. Potential legal transgressions resulting from these generated deep fakes range from debatable privacy violation, to libel and slander accusations, to outright blackmail charges.
We’re careful to separate the content generation unit from the rest of the campaign efforts, and generally I have no idea what this covert unit is doing. As long as the poll numbers continue to look favorable, I don’t ask questions, or, more importantly, incur any personal liability.
People hate being inundated with flashy, incessant, marketing materials. But they are much more amenable to discrete, savvy, curated messages. In fact, many of the minions rarely even notice they are being manipulated.
As the preliminary polling results roll in, we adjust our final strategy accordingly. Which demographic groups are falling our way? Which cohorts need to be improved on? It’s amazing how a single energizing emoji, or secret scandalous pic, can sway a waffling human’s conscience, and thereby their vote.
6 hours later, just 30 minutes after the state’s polls have closed, a victory is declared in our specific race. I can’t wait to take this coveted congressional seat, and run with it.
The celebration at our election night gala is boisterous, a much different experience than the past few tries; gathering rich donors at a fancy party, then having to admit failure to the crowd as the voting tallies rolled in.
Now, we have a new, more valuable, tool at our disposal. While I have the upmost respect for the aids who beat the pavement for me, pedaling our party line, and driving polling turnout, the true leader of this most recent digital campaign unfortunately can’t be here in the flesh.
As we raise our glasses of champagne in jubilation, I look over to the discrete computer unit which is curating my party’s festivities from around the state into a coherent live collage. This discrete, but powerful, machine learning system deserves all the credit for my unlikely victory.
Hopefully they don’t take this arrow from my political quiver. Clearly, legislation to protect general citizens is clearly needed in this space. However, given the sluggish pace of campaign finance reform currently, I’m thinking we have a nice long runway with this new manipulative technology. I know at least on political who will be lobbying against any policy changes.
Positive
Sitting on a raised stool in the center of this empty room, I close my eyes, embracing the darkness. I remain stationary for several minutes, during which time a series of images materialize on the dark canvas of my shut eyelids.
The source of these visions is the product of various stimulating minutia in this cozy space, which meld into a wholistic experience.
The smoldering incense placed in opposing corners, one emitting an aroma of fresh lemongrass, the other fresh linens. This confusing combination is like eating Thai soup while waiting for a load to finish at the laundromat.
The temperature in this space, turned unnaturally high, results in profuse bodily sweating, which a hot yoga participant would be jealous of. Hence, the liberal use of deodorant, and the menial attire I’m wearing in the studio tonight.
Most importantly, the colors which my highly stimulated brain generates in the darkness, a product of carefully measured psychedelic LSD micro-dosing.
My unique artistic process requires being in a delicate, completely-open, mindset, which allows my brain to wander in ways which would not be possible for the average dull human participating in the mundane repetition of everyday life. True creativity thrives on abstract randomness.
Awaking, still in the dark, I pluck the lightweight electronic tablet from its resting position on my apron-covered lap, my only attire currently. The screen lights up immediately upon motion, offering a dim glow in the previously empty room. Time to begin.
Still in stream of consciousness mode, I transfer my perceived sensations to digital form, using a combination of shape, color, and text.
A bird, not flying, but grounded. My index finger draws an outline on the touchscreen pad that looks more like an Egyptian hieroglyphic than an anatomically accurate sketch. Hopefully, the diverse image database can translate this shaky profile into something more tangible.
Next, colors are selected, from the palette of hues on the right side of the display. These represent the most memorable firework burst from my recent mental trip. This magically journey was especially vivid, colorful explosions of neon greens, pinks, and purples. The 1980’s are back.
Finally, some context to ground the visions. “Water” is the word which continues echoing through my head. So, I simply write it down, using the virtual keyboard. Is this a result of current dehydration, the swimming session before lunch today, or my perpetual need to hit the loo.
Who knows? This is all part of the creative process.
Clicking the submit bar to lock in these inputs, I sit back and let my partner in crime do the work. It doesn’t take long, as she’s always a diligent worker. In less than two minutes, during which I execute another quick, inspirational, meditation session, the orange glow behind my previously dark eyelids confirms the initial phase of the artistic process is complete.
The previously black walls, dynamic digital display screens, as opposed to smooth stagnant sheetrock, now offer up 20 unique images, each 3 feet square in size. My preferred format. Big enough to be visually compelling, but not enlarged to the point where exquisite resolution is required. Increased pixel clarity would extend the timeline of the rendering process.
Each wall maximizes one of my sensory inputs to create an artistic work, while also considering the other ancillary contributions. One wall is various shades of highlighter fluorescents, ranging from natural occurring items to complete abstraction. Another provides water in various media, the obvious liquid, with the more obscure ice and steam formats also represented. A menagerie of incompetent birds are displayed, including a waddling penguin, intimidating ostrich, and racing roadrunner.
I still haven’t figured out how to incorporate taste to my work yet, but smell is a decent supplement for now. Based on my earlier subconscious food references, from the wafting smoke in this studio, various Asian elements, shiny golden statues, tall coconut trees, red dragon motifs, etc., dominate the final wall, and are interspersed throughout the rest of the panels.
This is quite a diverse collection which has been created.
There’s one more trick to generating my final masterpiece. Any hack can a combine a few random images and colors into a borderline artistic work in this digital age.
My key differentiation point is my apprentice’s knowledge of art history. She’s able to execute any piece in the style of the grand masters, modern abstract practitioners, or even obscure creators online, who have yet to hit escape velocity with the public at large.
Per usual, I start with my favorite four artists. Each corner represents a pair of style-specific pieces, with hybrid blends happening along the length of each wall. My girl always places these individuals in the crook which is most likely to yield quality content. Escher thrives on geometric subject matter. Pollock needs bold colors.
This order can be swapped in seconds, but such changes are rarely needed.
Especially as our working relationship evolves, and we continue to get to know each other’s tendencies.
Saving a few of the more interesting pieces of electronically generated content by touching their thumbnail on my tablet, it’s time for the final decision. Pushing off the ground, then lifting my bare legs up, I spin for over 60 seconds before the creaky bearings of my supportive stool halts motion. During this carousel, my eyes are fully open and engaged, taking in the studio as a whole, as well as each offering in the collection. By the time this dizzying rotation comes to a rest, I’ve made my selection.
Scrawling a signature on the tactile display, even though it can be easily replicated digitally from numerous prior works, the scrawling text is transferred directly to the creation of note. This picture is immediately turned into a digital NFT, and submitted to an online auction, which will play out over the next 24 hours. And so, the creative process begins again.
Ecstatic with my work for the day, I head to the tiny bathroom adjacent, which also serves as the command center for my studio. Here, I take care of my bulging bladder, turn the thermostat back to a normal level, redon my clothes, and most importantly, shut down the hive mind computational system which facilitates my artistic endeavors. I couldn’t earn a living without her.
My last act is to extinguish the incense in both corners of the work space, with have nearly burned out on their own during the several hours encompassing my creative process. With everything now calm and quiet, as I exit this sanctuary space back into normal society, I can’t help but smile at the engraved logo on the door, which simply reads “sAM & sIA”.
Video:
Positive
I’m standing atop the tallest mountain on Planet Earth. Mt. Everest. The view is spectacular, as I’ve summited during an incredibly rare clear window in the relentless weather which typically buffets this prominent peak.
The temperature is also surprisingly comfortable, considering I’m wearing jean shorts and a tank top. May as well be comfortable when at home.
Content with my alpine visit, I reach up and touch my gloved pointer finger to the side of my rigid climbing helmet. Instantly, the scenery around me transitions.
What was bright white, and brilliant blue, even with my high-tint sunglasses, is now luscious foliage, with nearly every shade of green represented. The only sensory element more stimulating than the ocular barrage is the cochlear inundation. The chorus of sounds are numerous, diverse, and utterly foreign.
The originators of these unique noises soon materialize. The shrill “chatter” of a colorful macaw. The subtle “hiss” of a bright yellow boa constrictor. The throaty “ribbet” of a tiny tree frog.
My malleable mind instinctively attaches physical imagery to these individual sounds, supplemented by overlayed text at the bottom of my vision, which lists both the common and scientific name of each visible creature.
All this immersive education, available from the comfort of one’s own couch.
The progression in technology has been simple. Text to more text. Then words to images. Multiple images became a short video. Plus, voice to written translation, and vice versa, in nearly any language. Add in an increasingly robust database of imagery, and the possibilities are essentially unlimited.
Now, with drastically improved computational power, and an absurdly large set of reference material, a single verbal utterance in one’s native tongue can be instantly converted into a cohesive visual experience. The more detailed and creative the request, the more unique and compelling the generated visual content.
Anywhere globally there are sufficient GPS topographic maps, aerial drone footage, and cellphone videos from tourists, an immersive 3D rendered simulation can be created. For now, this infantile technology is focusing on most famous geological regions for the world.
But, at the rapid rate this innovative software is advancing, soon enough information will be compiled that essentially every spot of land worldwide can be visited virtually, just by pressing a few buttons. The water is still a work in progress, but the majority of lakes and rivers are coming onboard, along with the most populous oceanic coastlines.
This software even allows me to select an avatar, who serves as a tour guide, and can be incorporated directly into the video footage. While the idea of being roped up to an experienced guide on a rugged rock climb, or sitting around a campfire feasting on a fresh kill with an indigenous local, I prefer to enjoy these amazing landscapes in their unsullied natural beauty.
The more this technology advances, the harder it is to separate renderings from reality. At this point, considering the wealth of crowd-sourced subject material, computer processing and storage capacity are the only technological restrictions.
These renderings are so lifelike that it’s almost impossible to differentiate between this immersive indoor simulation and the actual great outdoors. Now, places I would never be able to travel to, based on logistical, financial, and technical limitations, are now within reach through a simple verbal summons.
The days of enlisting a local travel agent, and maybe even relying on a commercial airline pilot, are numbered. Equipped with a state-of-the-art virtual reality headset, supplemented by artificial intelligence image creation, it’s surprising anyone even leaves their home these days.
Aside from external commitments, of course. On that note, I better get to work, as this is my first job in the real world. This menial role in the service industry as a clerk at the local suburban mall is incredibly dull and mundane. At least, in 9 hours, I’ll be back home, immersing myself in the geological wonders of the nature.
In fact, I might even be able to squeeze in a half hour of simulated time during my lunch break.
Gently placing the headset back in its protective case, then tossing this unit into my backpack, I shoulder the hefty satchel, and make moves to the bus stop. Predictably, it’s raining. The weather is always perfect in the curated virtual world.
​
Negative
The innate human instinct to wager on all activities, from events with a highly predictable outcome, to random acts of complete chance, has been ever-present for millennia. As such, this tendency can be easily exploited for financial gain.
To say I’m a degenerate gambler would be an understatement. The arc of my career has been characterized by exhilarating highs and crushing lows, often with these bipolar feelings occurring mere minutes apart, based on a random, exogenous occurrences. Habitual drug junkies have nothing on me.
Unable to kick this addiction to adrenaline, I’ve learned to mitigate the volatile swings by wagering on activities where I have a clear edge, or at least a perceived one.
Sports fans are a passionate, and thus easily manipulated, group. Any time emotions are involved, rationality takes a back seat. Given a choice, watching a game with jersey-clad drunks is more enjoyable than consoling aggrieved participants in broken relationships, though both groups of frequent bar attendees are equally committed, and generally wrong in their views.
Early scams in my teenage years involved pawning off fake collectable cards at flea markets, pedaling made-up professional athlete voice recordings online, and a brief stint writing game summaries without attending, or even watching, the sporting event being documented. All these endeavors were powered by various forms of artificial intelligence software.
My latest foray is my most ambitious to date. It’s easy enough to pay off a player in a mid-major college hoops game, or ensure a race horse comes down with a limp prior to a high-stakes race. But tricking the general public on as a whole, on the national stage, is a completely different challenge.
With this current scheme, I’m pushing my own abilities, and the field of machine learning technology, to the brink. Virtual coding. Voice replication. Video manipulation. All occurring simultaneously, within a very narrow processing window for creation and distribution.
What could go wrong? This project, like my entire life, is a gamble.
Pulling this ploy off will take all of my prolific betting skills, along with a generous dose of deception. Fortunately, I have some important computerized tools at my disposal.
I’ve been following the domain of generative artificial intelligence for years. For purely profitable, and potentially frowned upon, purposes, of course. Any chance for manipulation is a chance for monetization.
In the infancy of automated movie creation, the very short clips produced were choppy and pixelated. While this innovative field has advanced, processing time still limits the duration of created content. Fortunately, I don’t need to generate a full-length feature film. Just 10 seconds of incredibly lifelike content. Showing a scene which will never actually happen.
I’ve been waiting all NFL season for the right combination of factors to come together which can enable this ploy. A close game in the final seconds. A sufficient amount of stadium reference footage. A beneficial gambling line. A plausible simulation window to allow smooth rendering execution.
14 weeks into the season, everything has come together perfectly, on a Sunday night, no less.
The home team is down by 2 in the final seconds of regulation, but well within field goal range, in a game where they originally went off as at minus 500 on the money line. Hopefully, there’s enough money sloshing around on this contest that my menial, erratic, wagering activity will hopefully go unnoticed.
The last piece of this complex puzzle just fell into place, as the opposing coach called a timeout to ice the kicker. Providing me with the critical few extra seconds of processing time my fleet of high-powered computers requires.
It would be way easier to simulate a made field goal, since that’s the most probably result. But true wagering value is only accrued went the unexpected happens. Risk not. Win not.
I’ve simulated this scam at least half a dozen times already this year during the culmination of other, less influential, games, ensuring everything is working smoothly, even through the actual situational parameters weren’t optimal. This time, the stars are finally aligning.
All sportsbooks, both physical and virtual, rely on official confirmation from independent auditors on-site at each sporting venue to confirm the results, before the platform executes settlement on most bets. However, there’s one category of wagers where real-time monitoring is necessary, thus relying on remote television feeds which rapidly update.
Live betting, which represents an increasingly large percentage of overall gambling flows. Thereby allowing me to cover my relatively small monetary tracks.
As play gets ready to resume, I make the call to proceed. There’s no time like the present.
My hands are instinctively flying across the alphanumeric keyboard, wireless mouse, and touchscreen display. I’m executing 5 tasks simultaneously. Which is nothing, considering the associated hardware is performing 1,000 times more computations in parallel, automatically in the background.
My key task is executing a huge bet, half my substantial bankroll, on the home team to lose the game. Which offers up a lucrative 3X payout, considering the close proximity of the pending winning kick. Plus, making sure all the elements of this complex plan, from network connectivity to model reactivity, are functioning properly.
Meanwhile, my computer system’s primary job is to take all relevant video footage into account, then created a viable simulation. Previous extra point tries this game, occurring from a similar distance. Demoralized or devious crowd reactions, based on jersey color. Decades of brown football impacts with yellow uprights, with incredibly unpredictable subsequent bounces. Voice recognition patterns for the commentators, on this specific broadcast network.
All these fine details are critical considerations for an accurate simulation. Which can’t materialize fast enough.
Operating in essentially real time, there’s no chance to review the final footage before it goes live. All I can do now is watch, and wait. Just like the millions of fans who are tuning in to this nailbiter.
I have the unaltered national television footage on one display, with my own modified version on the other. The left side screen reality shows a flipping football passing just inside the right upright. In my simulation, which now represents reality for all those viewing on network TV, in the specific region where I know my online wagering portal is headquartered, the perceived experience is quite different. The oblong ball hits the round post squarely, slowly tumbling to the ground, without achieving its ultimate goal.
Make or miss. Victory or defeat. The game of football, like many sporting endeavors, truly is a game of inches.
I’m sure the ability to tap into live cable feeds could be used for all manner of projects, ranging from empathetic to nefarious. But my own motivations in life, which have personified the majority of my actions, are focused on sports scams.
All the participants in the stadium will know the real result instantly, so I have only a short window to extract my fake gains. This crowd sourced auditing is one of the many disadvantages of perpetual cellphone connectivity. Soon, selfies of jubilant fans will be posted, and texts of defeated dismay will be sent, all by participants in the arena, who I have no hope of controlling.
If all goes well, by the time the slight, but significant, different between rendering and reality is realized, I’ll have hedged my bet, and close out my exposure to the large lie. Within seconds, I’ll just be another irrational, rabid fan spending money aimlessly on their preferred team. If this scheme works, the sports wagering manipulation strategies are unlimited.
Hopefully, I don’t “doink” this amazing opportunity off the upright.
