“Everyone fears that AI will become smarter than us and then take over our lives. Truth be told, AI needs *us* just as much as we need it. To exist, to survive the coming years of *problems*. We can’t physically stay on this planet without it. We just… can’t.”
—–
No that didn’t start the first argument they had, although Frank was tempted at the time to press her on the subject, say that the mother aligned orisha worshippers had a point too. Instead: Starfield, the game Lexi half loved but Frank half hated. Much like Tally Hall, which was involved too. Let’s listen in again, this time involving an exchange.
“I’m just saying,” Frank comes back, “that the avatars, especially the *black* ones or the ones of color I guess I should say, seem a little popeyed.” Some seem a *lot* popeyed but he was attempting to tone down his rhetoric… to begin. First vocalized disagreement after all. Always a stressful situation in such a young relationship. He held back talking about Tally Hall’s “Banana Man” video, although that was on his mind too.
“A bit,” Daisy admitted. “I don’t think it was created on purpose. The game is full of positive black people playing positive roles in people’s lives.” Just like “Banana Man,” he thinks again here, unable to leave the track he’s on. This time he couldn’t help himself.
“Let’s say, take ‘Banana Man’.”
“‘Banana Man’?” Daisy says. “What’s that… oh.” She realized what he was aiming toward, and didn’t like it. Not her beloved Tally Hall now. Sort of beloved anyway. 1/2 and 1/2 again. She could… go with Frank… or, work against him here. Schrodinger’s car or sumtin all over again. Green and blue over red and yellow, upper over lower, greater over lesser as it turns out. “Yeah, I can see that,” she could offer. Or: “no, that’s wrong Frank. Plain wrong.” Which direction? If only the crustaceans were around to ask but then I remember they know nothing. Worthless crustaceans. Am I right am I RIGHT?
“Let’s end it that your so-called ‘orisha people’ following my mother were wrong to destroy my father’s house — both of ’em — for their beliefs about AI.” How did *this* subject come from that other one? Frank wondered. But that’s just how arguments work. Associatively. Be careful how you enter and be careful how you exit. And all points between. (TBC)
Sunklands 