AI is filtering Human Speech and controlling it

There has been a rising use of AI and large language learning models to produce, generate, and examine text.

With the rise of such a technology, we’ve seen dubious use for both the production of words and as well as the judgement of vetting of words to spot AI generated works. AI to fight AI as it seems.

There was (and probably still is) a large subset of research papers, homework assignments, and the like produced by AI generated research and data using false data point and fabricated evidence to generate a passable looking piece of work. These works or falsehoods are making it to major research journals and are being promulgated and (potentially) used as derivative work for further research or further AI text generation and scrapping.

This, (if it had been) unchecked, would lead to a vacuum of thoughts and fabrications disconnected from base reality. To the degree which we have little to no empirical evidence or basis grounded in objective reality, allows for a purely disconnected and baseless science. A science based in not knowing but simply thoughts. (allbeit one could argue that the current models for many ‘soft sciences’ are already such the case with financial motives and various ulterior incentives outside a subjective lens- I digress).

On the other hand, many works are aided by AI, from modeling machines to modeling Cancer research and identification as well as identifying petroglyphs and pattern recognition in various visual fields and molecular fields. So with any technology lies the duality to do both harm and good, to be true and to sin.

A large scale effect to the job economy and many people, AI has been used to vet job applications, sending digital resumes through a filter ranked and categorized with various merits and demerits for key word optimization. No longer are click-bait titles merely articles, but they now affect our daily lives and routines of those around us. It’s bonkers. People are being automatically scrapped based on a filter without ever being seen by the eyes of a human or anyone that could claim responsibility for a business. If the business fails, will they blame the hammer or the carpenter? Large corporations are mainly at fault, and the rise will soon spread in smaller businesses and many consulting agencies.

In middle and High school academics, papers are being submitted using AI, and are thus being combated by using AI to vet out papers. Yet the metrics are faulty and can falsely accuse or categorize well versed lexicons as AI in an effort to thwart the flexibility or creative use of language; with little to no recourse nor do teachers spend the time to understand the metrics of their AI filters (I mean, why would anyone deliberately try?).

We have entered an age of controlled speech by a new contender, AI.

Here is my case in point;

I have always been mindful of the use of ‘spell checkers’ and ‘grammar’ checker apps because they allow for lazy speech or guide the words to match a more specific form. Thereby making the reader lazy or unable to even perform the alchemy of neology and invent new coigned terms. (note the old English ‘coigned’ is demanding a spell check to the new English ‘coined’, yet I specifically mention ‘coigned’ as a poetic adage to Shakespeare and his neologisms).

With AI, we now have a more advanced and aggressive form of controlled speech, limiting the use of our words in our academic settings, making key words and phrases landmines that result in academic punishment, thus being a sort of limiter of expression in both brevity and wit.

We are diminishing the ability for one to truly express their thoughts.

Without brevity and wit, can we have a Soul?

If we are to bend and meander through the filters of our words, can we speak our truth?

Should we start the samizdat based on this alone? Or will the use of other languages be spell checked too, curtailing and punishing the use of any ‘loaned words’ from other cultures that describe things with brevity and wit?

Soon, similar things will spread to both work place, official, and other settings. Diplomats and politicians will likely speak in that political robotic wooden tongue by a prompt reader, devoid of self expression and thought, propped up by not the puppets of the pen behind the speech but instead a machine targeting key buzz words for constituents and audience appeal based on inputs or the scrape of data.

On one hand, we’re inventing a bridge of language technology able to unify the world through very specific control of the language, and on the other hand, we’re repressing the expression and uniqueness of an individual or culture or nation to be able to properly dissent.

What then if the tower of Babel falls? Does our language and soul fall too? Or was that long forsaken in erecting the tower?

Some things to note,

Wars have been fought over what language should be the national language, and what language should be learned.

Resistance is a means of preserving culture and a way of life, for words don’t exactly translate and controlling speech is akin to limiting intelligence as well as perspectives (a form of psychological oppression).

Yet unification of language means promulgating interaction and allowing a bridge (lingua franca or otherwise) to allow for people to make amends and band together under common understandings instead of fighting over misunderstandings.

The use of AI and technology as ‘soft’ forms of controlling speech would guide our civilization to be able to be subverted under the regimes of those that filter the speech itself. (This is, without the threat or consideration of Generative AI.)

Thus, coining new terms and slang is then an act of both agency, and chaos. Individuality shines through the expression of new words and phrases, with the words come the thoughts and feelings they convey.

Shit posting is an act of rebellion in the modern day and age. For that I too shall put forth the pen and write what my soul desires.

Epilogue;

This is merely one of the many things that are influencing speech. It’s a rather new addition and a rather alarming one depending on the path of humanity and how enmeshed we will become by kowtowing to AI entanglement on a collective societal level.

There are, of course, many other things that influence speech, from advisors to mentors to even the things you read. The articles of news or even this article itself is primed and armed with specific phrasings that guide you to see the intent or what the writer’s intent wants you to see. Point being, words shape your perspective.

If we control or guide speech, then we control or guide thoughts. There is a lot of power in words, and I am well aware of the good and bad that can come about from a string of words. From the death to salvation of the pen, it is indeed the tongue that is mightier than the sword for it can start and stop the atrocities.

This is but a small observation, painted with a veneer of warning, on the power of words, for-

Words Mean Things