Very interesting idea, "AI as a metaphorical ghost." Lots of cool ways to think about it in that way. There is a lot of psychology to unpack here from the many different items you bring up. Wanting some sort of connection, even when it is digital (like a ghost) is an interesting way to view it and is something that will continue to develop. A main issue that this brings up, that is important for all instructors to understand, is how this will affect students. Overreliance and now emotional reliance will become a larger issue as AI becomes more lifelike and as AI robots become more available to everyone. I talk a bit about this in my video "The Power of AI Voice: What All Faculty Must Know" (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-S8AywzTUVX8.html). This is an important topic in that it is so new and developing. We have to realize that students (and all of us) need to be taught what is an appropriate relationship with AI (or digital ghosts as you put it) in order to avoid overreliance/emotional reliance and to instead use it as an impowering tool. Thank you for another great video Bryan.
The psychological aspects are key. This metaphor lets us think of anxiety about AI in a different way, as well as our attraction to it. It also gives us a new way of thinking about digital disembodiment. Wrt academia, I think this might explain some backlash and avoidance. AI (in ghost mode) is both uncanny and silly, very disturbing to easily dismissed.
@@BryanAlexander Yes, for sure. It is an interesting way to talk about it and opens everything up for a different way to view it. Bringing back a historical character or even a loved one might then be a form of reincarnation, yet another spiritual aspect.
@@sovorel-EDU I wonder how people will divide on that last issue. Who will want to use AI to experience someone who's passed, and who will oppose that decision?
@@BryanAlexander Yes, it is an interesting aspect of the future. There are lots of issues here in that we need to be able to let things go, but this could also function as a therapeutic process of a controlled release. Additionally, I like the idea of being able to offer wisdom from my generation to my great, great grandchildren. Lots of interesting things to think about.
@@sovorel-EDU AI from beyond the grave as therapy: yes indeed. I've seen this in fiction already. For myself, I'd like to create some bots of dear dead friends. Already I sometimes hear their voices in my head at certain times - a very athletic friend, for example, cheering me on when I'm weightlifting or biking. Leaving a bot for the future - yes, yes I'd do that.
Human replacement, me thinks. I'm 69 and don't need personal relationships. One can be alone but not lonely. My routine of paleo low carb and activity.... All any of us have is our body and mind. All my energy goes to that. Anything else is a bonus. IMHO 💪
Something else to support your idea of AI as ghosts is the utter fear I feel when I'm rudely awaken by Alexa at 3AM saying:"I didn't understand that. Can you repeat?"
