Metz’ piece has the texture of what I’ve come to see as “AI-Interest” stories. Their hominid counterpart, the human-interest story, tugs at our heart-strings as we read about a pet being found after wildfires or a classmate’s chemotherapy paid for with lemonade stand money. Most human-interest stories are little more than fun filler, but they can equally disinform and distract; keeping us from wondering why there are so many damn wildfires and that kid’s chemo isn’t covered by something other than lemonade sales. The same thing is happening here: we’re being distracted by a cutesy little story and asked not to think too deeply about the bullshit beneath it all.
Anatomy of an AI Interest Story · Joe Bak-Colemanjoebakcoleman.comSince when is three cranks receiving an email worthy of space in the grey lady?