I’m talking about derogatory terms like “nerd,” “geek,” “wise-ass,” and so on, as well as sayings like “nobody likes a smart aleck.”

It seems to me that these terms and expressions are used much more frequently in the business world than derogatory terms like “show-off,” “charlatan,” “fraud,” and so on.

I can’t even think of a commonly used saying for the latter. Only: “Fake it till you make it,” which is really more of a reinforcement of the idea that knowledge isn’t very valuable.

Is it just my impression?

This illusion is what made the current AI hype possible in the first place, and it is now causing humanity to take steps backward rather than moving forward. Yet AI technology could be used fairly and very effectively if it weren’t marketed exactly as it is: as a machine that supposedly enables everyone to do things they don’t have the slightest clue about.

This is what has made social media so profitable, and it’s also the reason why LLMs aren’t being used the way they should be, but are instead being sold as artificial intelligence to idiots who don’t have the slightest clue about the subject -not about what it takes or how long it takes to write a book, paint a picture, write a scientific article, code a secure application, or whatever.

The profit motive has turned the internet into the opposite of what it should have been, and AI technology has consequently ended up as an instrument of power in the hands of a small number of people who are incredibly narrow-minded but, unfortunately, also incredibly powerful due to their boundless greed.

It is the general public that bears the brunt of this boundless greed.

If things continue this way and we look just a few decades into the future, this is exactly what will spell the end of humanity, since profit is always prioritized over the common good.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/47219103

This is the introductory text of a petition from Germany calling on the President of the European Commission to enforce existing law rather than granting exemptions to U.S. tech giants on her own initiative, without consulting the public:

Google is violating Europe’s digital rules. The European Commission had therefore already planned to impose a fine of billions of euros. However, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is said to have blocked the decision at the last minute—apparently out of concern over political pressure from the U.S. This sends a dangerous signal: Europe’s laws must apply even when powerful corporations and governments challenge them. We call on Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission: Enforce the Digital Markets Act consistently against Google. Defend our democratic rules against the power of the big tech companies.

Introduction to a Petition by Campact (German organization) with more than 70,000 signatures after one week

Please post links to similar petitions from other EU countries in the comments. It is unacceptable for our politicians to unilaterally suspend existing laws in order to sell us out to US corporations. Fight back!

This is the introductory text of a petition from Germany calling on the President of the European Commission to enforce existing law rather than granting exemptions to U.S. tech giants on her own initiative, without consulting the public:

Google is violating Europe’s digital rules. The European Commission had therefore already planned to impose a fine of billions of euros. However, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is said to have blocked the decision at the last minute—apparently out of concern over political pressure from the U.S. This sends a dangerous signal: Europe’s laws must apply even when powerful corporations and governments challenge them. We call on Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission: Enforce the Digital Markets Act consistently against Google. Defend our democratic rules against the power of the big tech companies.

Introduction to a Petition by Campact (German organization) with more than 70,000 signatures after one week

Please post links to similar petitions from other EU countries in the comments. It is unacceptable for our politicians to unilaterally suspend existing laws in order to sell us out to US corporations. Fight back!

Google verstößt gegen Europas Digitalregeln. Die EU-Kommission wollte deshalb bereits eine Milliardenstrafe verhängen. Doch Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen soll die Entscheidung auf den letzten Metern gestoppt haben – offenbar aus Sorge vor politischem Druck aus den USA. Das ist ein gefährliches Signal: Europas Gesetze müssen auch gelten, wenn mächtige Konzerne und Regierungen sie infragestellen. Wir fordern Ursula von der Leyen und die EU-Kommission auf: Setzen Sie den Digital Markets Act konsequent gegen Google durch. Verteidigen Sie unsere demokratischen Regeln gegen die Macht der großen Tech-Konzerne...

To be honest, this development is simply the logical consequence of applying the principle of profit maximization.

Unfortunately, technology has now reached such a scale that the people behind the spreadsheets are willing to sacrifice humanity itself.

That, too, is not surprising, because they will only realize their mistake when it is already too late.

Another example of the same principle is climate change.

Die Bundeswehr könnte sich an einer internationalen Mission in der Straße von Hormus beteiligen – etwa bei der Minenräumung und Seeaufklärung. Das hat Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz nach einem Treffen in Paris signalisiert.

Leider kaum überraschend beim Lebenslauf von Friedrich Merz...

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/45500630

The citizens of the United States are responsible for their country’s actions - even if they themselves ignore the atrocities committed by their government.

Everywhere, the post is being removed - with the same generic reason: "No politics."

Nevertheless, this obviously needs to be said, since it apparently still isn't public knowledge in the U.S.