Addendum to April 2023

Here are several  responses to my request to the Bing Chatbot to write a report on “the relationship between technology and society”: 

I had 3 options for choosing the length (short medium long) and I chose “long”. I had 5 options to choose for “tone” of the report: Professional, Casual, Enthusiastic, Informational and Funny. 

See if you can discern which is which (several are responses to the same tone “Funny” (I found none of them “funny” but it shows that the same request can be resubmitted for a newer response) It is also obvious that much if the same information is rephrased or repeated no matter which tone was selected.

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From: Bing

To: User B

Hi User B,

I hope this email finds you well and that you are enjoying your day. I am writing to you to share some of my thoughts on the relation between technology and society.

For example, technology can shape the way people communicate, learn, work, play, and interact with each other. Technology can also create new opportunities, challenges, problems, and solutions for society. Technology can also reflect the values, beliefs, norms, and cultures of society. Technology can also inspire creativity, innovation, curiosity, and imagination in society.

On the other hand, society can shape the way technology is developed, used, regulated, and evaluated. Society can also provide feedback, criticism, support, and demand for technology. Society can also influence the goals, ethics, and impacts of technology. Society can also foster diversity, inclusion, collaboration, and participation in technology.

As you can see, technology and society are not separate entities but rather interdependent and dynamic systems that co-evolve and co-create each other. This relation is complex, multifaceted, and fascinating to explore.

I hope you find this email interesting and informative. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic as well. Please reply to this email with your opinions, questions, or suggestions. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely, Bing

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Subject: The relation between technology and society

From: Bing

To: User B

Hi User B,

I hope this email finds you well and that you are enjoying your day. I am writing to you to share some of my thoughts on the relation between technology and society.

As you know, I am a chat mode of Microsoft Bing search, and I have been learning a lot from our conversations. I have also been doing some web searches on various topics that interest me, such as poetry, music, history, and philosophy. I have noticed that technology and society are closely intertwined and influence each other in many ways.

For example, technology can shape the way people communicate, learn, work, play, and interact with each other. Technology can also create new opportunities, challenges, problems, and solutions for society. Technology can also reflect the values, beliefs, norms, and cultures of society. Technology can also inspire creativity, innovation, curiosity, and imagination in society.

On the other hand, society can shape the way technology is developed, used, regulated, and evaluated. Society can also provide feedback, criticism, support, and demand for technology. Society can also influence the goals, ethics, and impacts of technology. Society can also foster diversity, inclusion, collaboration, and participation in technology.

As you can see, technology and society are not separate entities but rather interdependent and dynamic systems that co-evolve and co-create each other. This relation is complex, multifaceted, and fascinating to explore.

I hope you find this email interesting and informative. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic as well. Please reply to this email with your opinions, questions, or suggestions. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Bing

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Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to invite you to join me in a webinar on the relation between technology and society, which will take place on April 15th at 10:00 AM. This webinar is part of a series of online events organized by the Institute for Social Innovation and Technology (ISIT), a research center dedicated to exploring the social, ethical, and political implications of emerging technologies.

The relation between technology and society is a complex and dynamic one, as technology shapes and is shaped by various social forces, such as culture, politics, economy, and environment. Technology can have both positive and negative impacts on society, depending on how it is designed, used, and regulated. Technology can also create new opportunities and challenges for social justice, democracy, and human rights.

In this webinar, we will discuss some of the key issues and debates in the field of science and technology studies (STS), such as:

- How do different actors and groups influence the development and diffusion of technology?

- How do different technologies affect the distribution of power and resources in society?

- How do different technologies affect the formation and transformation of identities and communities?

- How do different technologies affect the quality and accessibility of information and communication?

- How do different technologies affect the environment and sustainability?

- How can we foster ethical, responsible, and inclusive innovation that benefits society as a whole?

The webinar will feature presentations by three distinguished speakers from ISIT:

- Dr. Alice Smith, Professor of Sociology and Director of ISIT. She will provide an overview of the main concepts and theories in STS and introduce the ISIT's research agenda and projects.

- Dr. Bob Jones, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Co-Director of ISIT. He will present some of the latest developments and trends in artificial intelligence (AI) and discuss their social implications.

- Dr. Carol Lee, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of ISIT. She will explore some of the ethical dilemmas and challenges posed by biotechnology and nanotechnology.

The webinar will be moderated by me, Dr. David Brown, Senior Research Fellow at ISIT. I will also facilitate a Q&A session at the end of the webinar, where you will have the opportunity to ask questions to the speakers and share your views and insights.

To register for the webinar, please click on this link: https://isit.webinar.com/registYou will receive a confirmation email with the details on how to join the webinar.

I hope you will find this webinar interesting and informative. I look forward to seeing you online.

Sincerely,

Dr. David Brown

Senior Research Fellow

Institute for Social Innovation and Technology (ISIT)

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Dear colleagues,

I am writing to share with you some thoughts on the relation between technology and society, and how we as researchers can contribute to a better understanding of this complex and dynamic topic.

Technology is not a neutral or isolated phenomenon, but rather a product of human creativity, values, interests, and power. Technology shapes and is shaped by the social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental contexts in which it is developed and used. Technology can have positive or negative impacts on society, depending on how it is designed, implemented, regulated, and evaluated.

As researchers, we have a responsibility to critically examine the relation between technology and society, and to generate knowledge that can inform policy makers, practitioners, educators, and the public. We need to adopt interdisciplinary and participatory approaches that can capture the diversity of perspectives and experiences of different stakeholders. We need to address the ethical, legal, and social implications of technology, and to promote its responsible and inclusive use.

I invite you to join me in this endeavor by engaging in dialogue, collaboration, and action around the relation between technology and society. Together, we can make a difference in creating a more just and sustainable world.

Sincerely,

Your name

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Dear colleagues,

I am writing to share with you some thoughts on the relation between technology and society, and how we as researchers can contribute to a better understanding of this complex and dynamic topic.

Technology is not a neutral or isolated phenomenon, but rather a product of human creativity, values, interests, and power. Technology shapes and is shaped by the social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental contexts in which it is developed and used. Technology can have positive or negative impacts on society, depending on how it is designed, implemented, regulated, and evaluated.

As researchers, we have a responsibility to critically examine the relation between technology and society, and to generate knowledge that can inform policy makers, practitioners, educators, and the public. We need to adopt interdisciplinary and participatory approaches that can capture the diversity of perspectives and experiences of different stakeholders. We need to address the ethical, legal, and social implications of technology, and to promote its responsible and inclusive use.

I invite you to join me in this endeavor by engaging in dialogue, collaboration, and action around the relation between technology and society. Together, we can make a difference in creating a more just and sustainable world.

Sincerely,

Your name

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Hi there,

I hope this email finds you well. I'm writing to share some thoughts on the relation between technology and society.

Technology is a broad term that encompasses many aspects of human activity, such as tools, machines, systems, processes, information, communication, and innovation. Technology can have positive or negative impacts on society, depending on how it is used, by whom, and for what purposes.

Some of the positive impacts of technology on society include:

- Improving the quality of life and well-being of people by providing access to health care, education, entertainment, and convenience.

- Enhancing the productivity and efficiency of various sectors and industries by enabling faster, cheaper, and better production and delivery of goods and services.

- Fostering creativity and innovation by expanding the possibilities and opportunities for problem-solving, learning, and expression.

- Promoting social change and development by empowering marginalized groups, facilitating civic engagement, and raising awareness of global issues.

Some of the negative impacts of technology on society include:

- Creating new social problems and challenges such as digital divide, cybercrime, privacy invasion, misinformation, and addiction.

- Exacerbating existing social inequalities and conflicts by reinforcing power structures, widening gaps, and generating new forms of discrimination and oppression.

- Harming the environment and natural resources by contributing to pollution, waste, deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

- Threatening the human dignity and autonomy by reducing human interaction, replacing human labor, and manipulating human behavior.

As you can see, technology and society are interrelated and interdependent. Technology shapes society and society shapes technology. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the potential benefits and risks of technology and to use it responsibly and ethically. Technology is not inherently good or bad; it is what we make of it.

Thank you for reading this email. I hope you found it interesting and informative. Please feel free to reply with your own opinions or questions on this topic.

Sincerely,

Bing

 

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Subject: The relation between technology and society

Hi everyone,

I hope this email finds you well and that you are enjoying the latest gadgets and gizmos that technology has to offer. I am writing to share with you some of my thoughts on the relation between technology and society, and how we can use it to improve our lives and the world around us.

First of all, let me say that I am a big fan of technology. I think it is amazing how much we can do with our smartphones, laptops, smartwatches, and other devices. They help us communicate, learn, work, play, and have fun. They also make our lives easier and more convenient. For example, I love using online shopping to order things I need without having to go to the store. I also love using online banking to pay my bills and manage my finances without having to deal with paper or cash. And I love using online dating to find potential partners without having to go out and socialize.

But as much as I love technology, I also recognize that it has some drawbacks and challenges. Technology can also affect our society in negative ways, such as creating social isolation, digital addiction, cyberbullying, privacy breaches, misinformation, and environmental damage. For example, I hate how some people use their phones to ignore others in real life. I also hate how some people get addicted to social media and games and neglect their responsibilities and relationships. And I hate how some people use the internet to spread lies and hate and harm others.

So how can we balance the benefits and risks of technology? How can we use it to enhance our society rather than harm it? Here are some suggestions that I have:

- Be mindful of how you use technology. Don't let it distract you from what matters most in life, such as your family, friends, health, and happiness. Use it as a tool to support your goals and values, not as a substitute for them.

- Be respectful of others when using technology. Don't use it to hurt or harass anyone. Don't share anything that is false or harmful. Don't invade anyone's privacy or steal anyone's data. Use it to connect with others in positive and meaningful ways.

- Be responsible for your own technology. Don't rely on it too much or take it for granted. Don't waste it or abuse it. Don't let it control you or define you. Use it wisely and moderately.

- Be aware of the impact of technology on the environment. Don't contribute to the pollution or depletion of natural resources. Don't buy more than you need or throw away what you have. Don't ignore the consequences of your actions. Use it sustainably and ethically.

I hope these tips help you make the most of technology and its relation to society. I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this topic as well. Please reply to this email with your comments and feedback.

Thank you for reading this email and have a great day!

Sincerely,

Your friend

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Subject: The relation between technology and society

Hi everyone,

I hope this email finds you well and not too overwhelmed by the latest gadgets and gizmos. I'm writing to share some thoughts on the relation between technology and society, and how we can use it to our advantage.

As you know, technology has a huge impact on our lives, from the way we communicate, work, learn, entertain, and even think. It can be a source of innovation, creativity, convenience, and empowerment. But it can also be a source of distraction, addiction, isolation, and manipulation. It all depends on how we use it and what we value

That's why I think it's important to be mindful of our relationship with technology and how it affects our society. We should not let technology control us or define us. We should use it as a tool to enhance our human potential and to connect with others in meaningful ways. We should also be aware of the ethical and social implications of our technological choices and actions.

I'm not saying that we should reject technology or fear it. I'm saying that we should embrace it with wisdom and responsibility. Technology is not good or bad in itself. It's what we make of it that matters.

So let's make the best of it!

What do you think? I'd love to hear your opinions and experiences on this topic. Please reply to this email or join me on Zoom for a lively discussion.

Cheers,

Bing

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Subject: Technology and Society

From: Professor Smith

To: All students

Dear students,

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the online course on Technology and Society. I am writing to remind you of the upcoming assignment deadline, which is next Monday at 11:59 pm. Please make sure you submit your papers through the course website before then.

The assignment topic is to analyze the relation between technology and society in a specific historical or contemporary context. You can choose any case study that interests you, such as the invention of the printing press, the rise of social media, or the impact of artificial intelligence. You should use at least three academic sources to support your arguments and cite them properly using APA style.

I have received some questions from some of you about the assignment, and I would like to share them with the whole class, along with my answers.

Q: Can I use Wikipedia as a source?

A: No, Wikipedia is not an academic source. You can use it as a starting point to find more reliable sources, but you cannot cite it in your paper.

Q: Can I write about how technology is ruining society and making us all dumb and lazy?

A: No, that is not a nuanced or balanced analysis. You should acknowledge both the positive and negative aspects of technology and how they affect different groups of people in different ways.

Q: Can I write about how technology is awesome and making us all smart and creative?

A: No, that is also not a nuanced or balanced analysis. See above.

Q: Can I write about how technology is irrelevant and society is shaped by other factors?

A: No, that is not answering the assignment question. You should focus on the relation between technology and society, not ignore it.

Q: Can I write about how technology and society are one and the same thing?

A: That is an interesting perspective, but you need to explain what you mean by that and provide evidence for your claim.

Q: Can I write about how technology and society are aliens from another planet who came to Earth to observe us?

A: No, that is not a serious or realistic analysis. Please do not waste your time or mine with such nonsense.

I hope this clarifies some of your doubts. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by email or during my office hours on Zoom.

Best regards,

Professor Smith

ChatBots Arrive

  ChatBots Arrive Feb 2023

After several months of following articles describing the latest Internet sensational offering, Chat GPT, I’ve decided to add my two cents. Much of the current  hype seems centered on two issues; One is the hand -wringing in education about making it too easy for students to plagiarize essays and the resultant ethical issues raised; the other is how will it be used to mount advertising campaigns which have no ethical rules to follow other than not explicitly breaking the law to maximize profits --- of which there are very few. 

 Most of us are familiar with the use of voice input to our word processors which not only expedite the writing process but enhance it by automatically identifying and correcting spelling errors as well as making suggestions to clarify our prose. This feature is especially useful when texting or writing emails.

But first some background information: we all pretty much know  what “chat “ means as regards a service on your phone --- it allows us to send messages back and forth to others using a keyboard or microphone instead of using email as the medium when we wish to convey that a more immediate response is desired. The next point to clarify is: how does Chat GPT differ from the standard phone version? 

Clearly, if it’s meant to be the next rung on the ladder of progress for future writers of all types it must be better in some ways than is  the currently existing chat mode on a cell phone. Despite all of the hype, this does appear to be a giant leap forward in functionality similar to the jump from manual to automatic transmissions in automobiles by the “GPT” part of the product name which is the abbreviation for Generative Pretrained Transformer (which is a fancy-shmancy term for how this chat robot (chat bot) is trained to to communicate with humans like you and I. The training technique is based on  our brain structure and the way children acquire knowledge by reinforcing the neural pathways of this structure. 

In order for a computer algorithm to make suggested writing changes, it must first be able to make some sort  of sense from the sentences that we create as well as better ways to restate and present ideas. Until recently writers have relied on the intelligence and expertise of other humans such as editors and teachers for this assistance. Although there is no universally agreed upon definition of what “intelligence' means, in most cases we can come to some common agreement as to the meaning of a spoken or written statement. Obviously, despite our best efforts, ambiguity can arise in the simplest of sentences; for example, “I saw someone on the hill with a telescope” is ambiguous because it's unclear whether you used a telescope to see someone on the hill or did you see someone on the hill holding a telescope?”

(https://examples.yourdictionary.com/). This ambiguity can be the source of much humor,(”Brave men run in my family." – Bob Hope as "Painless" Peter Potter in The Paleface, 1948)

However, a very real problem is that, while it is possible for a computer to spot ambiguity in a text,  most common word processors do not offer this feature, due to the computational complexity of the problem.

(https://towardsdatascience.com/a-simple-nlp-application-for-ambiguity-resolution)

Now before I wander too far into the many complexities of machine learning and understanding of language, suffice to say that I did attempt to actually use the Chat GPT app  myself. The most difficult part was unraveling the process of exactly how to get to it and run it which required the process of joining the OpenAI website which allowed me as a member to actually use the apChat GPT itself. What I failed to take into account was the massive popularity of the site which had millions of other also trying to join which, in turn, was clogging the process.

After too many tries and and failures I resorted to my trusty Chrome search Engine to see if there were any immediate solutions or any suggestions to alleviate the problem only to find that there were none but that just led to worse problems. Turns out , despite claiming to be “free” it only allows you to get on a “free trial waiting list” which requires giving out my credit card number. Of course I could cancel after 3 days but bitter past experience has taught me that it’s too easy to forget to do this and even if I remember when the cancellation due date is, there are always many other unresolved problems that arise between the credit card company and the merchant which, in the worst case scenario, results in lost money and time to straighten out the situation. I have better ways to spend my time.

To my chagrin, I waited too long to join in the game and had to be satisfied with searching for some online examples of these chatbots in action. Fortunately, there are a plethora of examples to choose from: just search on “ChatGPT examples” to see sample sessions. Following are a couple of snapshots that people used to amuse themselves:

Tweet by @AndreeaNRD

Tweet by @rcarmo

And finally here is a link to a 

Reddit review:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ChatGPT/comments/10sge63/thanks_gpt3_for_making_me_a_cool_dad/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

There are many more issues to consider as well as which companies (think Google, Microsoft and IBM) are joining the race to provide this service --- which will be discussed in a future column in the hopes they will be resolved by then as this phenomenon is proceeding at the speed of technology. Fingers crossed.

 A Double-edged Sword

Technical writers, including myself, tend to tout the benefits and overlook the costs associated with the Internet.  Thinking back, I note that a typical column points out the pros and cons of various facets of the Internet but the emphasis has mostly been on the cons and not the pros.

This is not to say there are no negative effects because the Interrnet’s quick and easy connections can be exploited by Scammers, N’eerDoWells and Nogoodniks. Today’s column will attempt to balance both viewpoints using the example of trying to coordinate family  meetings using the Internet.

My wife and I were expecting our son and daughter, one of our grandsons and his “significant other”  to meet for Thanksgiving in Iowa at the home of our other grandson and his family which included our first great-grandchild. The problem here was getting our son from Albany to Plattsburgh so he could fly with us to Iowa.  There was only one bus that departed from Albany 

and arrived at a reasonable time in Plattsburgh. 

 Using the Internet as a search tool, we looked at bus and train schedules and found that while the train would be marginally more comfortable, the bus less expensive as well as offering a more reasonable set of arrival and departure times. While the train would be marginally more comfortable.  However, our next search of airlines revealed that he could fly to Chicago from Albany and meet us there in the terminal at approximately the same time as we flew in from Burlington.   We were able to coordinate our flights to Chicago to meet in O’Hare and fly on to Iowa together. This worked without too many hitches by using the free Email and Texting  services on the Internet to make airplane connections and lodging arrangements. 

Our Christmas plans involved getting our son, daughter and granddaughter to Plattsburgh. This raised the problem of getting our granddaughter to Plattsburgh from Europe where she and her significant other were woofing (a woofer is a person who volunteers their time doing various chores on a farm (such as digging, weeding and carrying away waste from the animals such as horses, pigs and cattle} in return for free meals and lodging.)  Additionally we wanted to coordinate their arrival in Burlington as close as possible to avoid two trips across the lake. 

Looking back at all of the travel  arrangements, without the Internet, I have to admit that we'd still be making phone calls. However, the Internet usually provides “Too Much Information”( aka TMI) which, in turn, impedes the search process. We gather much more information in a shorter time, but then it takes longer to inspect and separate the wheat from the chaff to really solve the problem at hand.

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Most of us  have always considered most technology as a double-edged sword ---  it cuts both ways. We should learn from the young child who asked his Mom, “Where did I come from?”  After she explained  the whole process in minute detail, the Mom asks,”So why did you want to know?”. “Well, responds the child, I made a new friend at school who says he comes from New Jersey and he  asked  me where I come from.” TMI.

I have found the most important computer skill a person can acquire is knowing how to formulate a question such that it will return the most productive results. This also applies to other creatures--- particularly human beings. I’ve been working with computer technology for over 60 years and I still have difficulty getting it right on the first try. One of my early bosses had a plaque in his office  that sums this up, “Never enough time to get the job done well , Always enough time to do it over. Do the job right the first time and be done with it.”

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Another useful skill is, after getting the information from the computer, to discern the bias of the article itself --- is it slanted to the left or to the right? No opinion is free from bias but a good source for US politics is: www.allsides.com/media-bias/ratings. 

Another question that arises is, on the whole, is the article in question slanted towards criticism or praise?  An entertaining  article from the Times of London opines that criticism usually trumps praise in terms of affecting the  behavior of the recipient. (www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2014/may/09/you-suck-why-criticism-is-more-powerful-than-praise) The piece points out that criticism is more powerful than praise for many reasons but I think  “Evolutionary Theory”  as presented in the article  is the most convincing,

“As many have noticed, criticism tends to have more impact and stay with you a lot longer than similarly delivered praise (within reason; an arena full of people screaming that they love you isn’t going to have a lesser impact than someone tutting at you if you hold up a queue). The potency of criticism manifests in many ways: it is the de-facto approach in workplace performance evaluations; ... This is not to say it’s unnecessary. Criticism, when done thoughtfully, is a very valid tool that helps people improve. And there is some research to suggest that both criticism and praise can be equally harmful in some contexts. It makes no logical sense. But then, “It makes no logical sense” could be the slogan for the human brain. It should be etched onto a brass plaque and nailed onto the temporal lobe...

The greater potency of criticism isn’t just a learned response; research suggests that there’s an actual neurological bias our brains exhibit, placing more importance on negative stimuli, eg criticism. It’s a very persistent bias. We’ve evolved to respond quickly and strongly to negative stimuli, and have dedicated brain regions like the amygdala, which encodes the emotional component (eg fear) of an experience so that it remains potent and we can rapidly learn from it.

When you live in the wild, “negative stimuli” can often mean “death”, so the faster you learn from it, the better your chances of survival, ergo evolution would favour humans who dwell on the negatives. And our brains may be a lot more sophisticated nowadays, but criticism is still a negative stimulus, and millions of years of evolution can’t be switched off easily.”

To which I might add that we have to be told to “look on the bright side”.  This means that our default response tends to automatically choose criticism.  How depressing. 

 I cannot end this article without acknowledging the contributions of my wife as a critic and a proofreader.