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WARDY'S BANGING ON ABOUT AI AGAIN


As a pioneer of digital nomadity, I was asked the other day by one of my followers what my view is of the ongoing AI revolution. I have to admit that I’m something of a layman when it comes to this particular subject, but thinking on my feet, I replied that the technology does seem to allow the creation of incredibly realistic videos of people from a simple photograph, so I imagine the early adopters will be con-men and/or perverts. 

Indeed, my Brazilian friend Deberkleberson recently gave me a demonstration of AI-powered image generation. He typed into his computer that he wanted a picture of a badger bursting into flames on a street in Dubai with Brad Pitt’s face on it, and I must say the result was uncanny. To be fair, I’m not entirely convinced of the utility of such an image, unless it was designed for use in some kind of campaign to warn about the dangers of wildfires in the UAE; although, I can’t imagine they have badgers there. All that fur would make it far too hot for them, surely? And, what’s more, I’m not sure where Brad Pitt comes into it, to be frank. He’s not known for his advocacy for medium-sized British mammals as far as I know, but I have to admit I’m not that au fait with the latest trends in Hollywood wildlife activism. Brad could be a gert big fan of badgers, for all I know. 

Incidentally, people do seem to underestimate to what extent badgers are vicious buggers. I don’t know why Brad’s so into them, to be honest. One minute you’re holding one in your lap for a selfie, the next you’re missing a chunk out of your inner thigh and you’re getting tested for tuberculosis. Geoff Wheldon was bitten by one once. I rest my case.

In fact, true story, I was bitten by Geoff Wheldon once, at the Stourpaine Bushes Steam Rally. He went ballistic when I told him I wasn’t going to let him take my tractor for a spin - not after he’d spent over seven hours in the real ale tent. I had to get tested for rabies, he was foaming at the mouth. Turns out he’d been drinking a concoction called The Devil’s Nunchucks, appropriately enough. Pete Jeffers reckons they mix in some absinthe, but I should imagine that’s illegal.

 
So, to sum up, AI may be dangerous, but badgers and Geoff Wheldon on a bender are more so.

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