[TUHS] A thing I did (AI Slop Alert)

[Mary Ann Horton via TUHS]

Many in this group are retired, so we may not be aware of what the 
business world is doing.

Many large corporation executives have told their workers "Embrace AI. 
Use it or get left behind." The reason is that their competitors are 
embracing AI, and their company will be at a competitive disadvantage if 
they don't do the same. Software developers, in particular, are being 
pushed to partner with AI, as a productivity aid.

This doesn't mean individuals have to use it in their private lives. 
Stick shift automobiles are still popular among enthusiasts, but rental 
cars are almost always automatic.

Thanks,

/Mary Ann Horton/ (she/her/ma'am)
       Keynote Speaker on Inclusion and Innovation
       Award Winning Author
maryannhorton.com <https://maryannhorton.com>



On 8/10/26 21:22, segaloco via TUHS wrote:
> On Monday, August 10th, 2026 at 21:02, Alan Hightower via TUHS<tuhs at tuhs.org> wrote:
>
>> On 2026-08-09 22:45, Adam Thornton via TUHS wrote:
>>
>>> I will say: I probably would never have finished this project without
>>> Claude's assistance
>>>
>>> Adam
>> ^^ This.  AI gets a lot of bad blowback especially from older
>> programmers.  But results speak for themselves.  Today is the worst AI
>> will ever be going forward.  Embrace it or get run over.
>>
>> -A
>>
> Doesn't feel like a helpful attitude to have though.  Nobody is obligated to reorient their entire approach to their life's work because someone invented some new tool in that field.  Eats me up just the same how most of society expects me to own and use an automobile and cellular device.  Why is anyone beholden to adopting some new private product someone else invented?
>
> Not trying to bicker too much but this is a very, very near and dear subject to my heart.  Any looking to debate lets take it offline, but I do feel a need to advocate that people are NEVER obligated to suddenly be beholden to a product or service just because someone else likes it.  Nobody is *owed* the use of AI, and this mentality of "adopt arbitrary invention <xyz> or get left behind" is so dehumanizing that it verges on sociopathy.
>
> UNIX didn't take hold by force, it didn't grow and improve because people were deemed persona non grata for avoiding it.  Sure, there were evangelists and plenty of flame wars over the years, but that sort of negative dismissal is not what made the system strong.  We build each other up, rather than tearing each other down.  We find ways to accommodate rather than banishing disagreement.
>
> Again I don't want to make a habit of turning chit chat here into debate, but this "Someone invented product <x> and you are less of a person for not paying for their invention" really and truly feels antithetical to what the fellowship that has grown around UNIX is all about.  I want to advocate for being careful in all ways that adherence to some invention or technology hurts our real, human connections and support for one another.  Dismissing someone because won't use or dislike AI is just as bad as dismissing them because they do like it.  In both cases, a human connection has been made worse by an inanimate object.  Ultimately, like it or hate it, our relationships shouldn't suffer over it.
>
> End rant, thank you if you read what I have to say.
>
> - Matt G.