If I were, perhaps it's because I'm not seeing any of the real stuff here.

Firstly, I very strongly disagree with "Also less devices like VCRs (a not-a-computer device where having correct time is important) exist in the modern home." I think that's just plain wrong.

It's "fewer."

:)

Secondly, the IoT hypothesis is totally reasonable but as someone who runs an IoT-rich environment ... yeah, they all just transparently adjust. It's never been an issue.

As Eric Raymond (ESR) says, AI is a force multiplier. My elaboration: If you are good at what you do, it will let you do accomplish more good stuff faster. If you are not very bright, AI will let you be not bright more efficiently, but it won't make you bright. It's just a tool. It needs to be utilized correctly. There is no shortage of things in this world that can do tremendous damage if not used properly. AI is nothing new in that regard.

"AI slop" is so 2024. That argument isn't valid any more.

I'm surprised you didn't use the word "slop". Spewing a bunch of slogans that would have to be more clever to make it on to bumper stickers makes you look like the people you are complaining about. There are legitimate criticisms to make about AI, and ways to support and defend those arguments. You are not doing that.

Hey, thanks! Another interesting piece of fiction to read, I appreciate the pointer!

Are you sure it's Stanislaw Lem? The story you're describing feels very similar to the story of the film Colossus: The Forbin Project, which is based on the book Colossus, by DF Jones.

Sounds like you're not defending Access so much as ODBC.

It's mighty convenient for you that your claim makes it impossible for you to provide evidence of this outrageous claim.

... is not let AI get into the hands of people like Bill Gates. That, however, is impossible.

dafuq's wrong with you, friendo?

[ Disclaimer: I'm a Tesla driver, since 2018, and have FSD on my car ]

Tesla's FSD and Waymo's approach are wildly different, enough so that you can't really compare them. The biggest two differences are: 1) Musk's cheap, so Teslas only use cameras to figure out what's going on around them; Waymos use cameras, ultrasonic sensors, radar, and lidar; 2) Waymos are only deployed on specific roads and streets that have been very heavily surveyed and Waymos have been trained on.

I trust Tesla's FSD about as far as I can throw it, and while it's been helpful and prevented an accident or two for me when I've been distracted, it's basically a glorified lane assist and cruise control. I'd not hesitate to fall asleep in the back of a driverless Waymo.

Where are all the stories about all these good cops referring the bad cops to the DA for charges & testifying against them? These should be numerous, considering how many members of law enforcement are out there.

The costs of nuclear are addressed all the time.

The problem is the nuke fanbois either ignore the costs or hand-wave them away: "Nuclear is only expensive because of protests and regulations. Next time will be different. Blah, blah, blah."

Even without considering the costs of waste and accidents, nuclear costs four times as much as wind or solar and has a 20-year lead time.

Tens of thousands of barrels of toxic waste were dumped near Catalina Island, but the vast majority are non-radioactive chemical waste.

DDT leaking from the barrels is a much bigger problem than nuclear waste and shows up in the local sea lion population.

Anyway, there's nothing realistic that we can do about it since any attempt to retrieve the barrels will likely make things worse.