The Dichotomy of AI Perspectives
There’s a lot of discussion about Generative AI. You’ve probably heard both sides of the argument. The first side is from the tech optimist: AI will save the planet, create new jobs, advance humanity, and solve all of our problems. Or you’ve heard the other side from the tech doomers: AI will ruin the planet, steal your job, take over the world, and be the end of humanity. Both sides are too extreme for me, and they are missing a vital part. We are viewing this from the lens of total reliance on corporate entities. But what if that doesn’t have to be our story? Before I get into that, let me take you back to how I was introduced to AI.
My first AI Image (2022).
This was two years ago at a conference, and at the time, I was dabbling in AI, but I wanted to learn more about Web3. It seemed to me that’s where the future of everything was headed. A future where people can own their data and their assets. However, at the conference, these panelists were speaking about what AI is going to do to people. I raised my hand and asked, “Well, how should people prepare?” They looked at each other, trying to decide who would take on my question. Then one panelist finally said, “Well, we are building computer labs for inner city kids so they can become streamers.” My mind immediately went to Fahrenheit 451, and I shook my head in disbelief. We are discussing something this catastrophic, and no one knows what to do? I had a realization. I realized that people don’t know as much about AI as they claim. We are all figuring this out together. I then took it upon myself to start learning.
As a filmmaker, my exploration naturally transitioned into filmmaking. I was wondering how I could leverage these tools for storytelling. This opened up doors for me. I was utilizing this technology like never before. I was telling stories I didn’t think I could, and it led to my first-ever art show. However, as I deepened my understanding, I began teaching creatives about Generative AI in filmmaking and then learning about Vibe Coding, AI agents, automations, and running AI locally, which then led me to the necessity of self-sovereignty.
The Power of Self-Sovereignty in a Digital Age
Now the thought of self-sovereignty in this new digital age seems crazy, or even scary, but it's all I can think of. My deep dive led me to a community of people running AI locally. It took me down a new rabbit hole. This community was not using brand-new computers, but repurposing their old tech. They were not using Large Language Models, but training their own. It gave me hope. Hope that we can mitigate the problem of AI. That we can take control of the narrative that it plays in our lives. What if, in this future that's predicted by people who don’t even know what will happen, common people like us set the reality? The way forward is AI, but with a twist. It includes every individual leveraging these tools, not only for themselves, but for the betterment of society. Although like most people, I’m reluctant, I’m willing to try and discover what self-sovereignty can look like in this new digital age. I’m not saying this will be easy, quick, or fun, but I know it will be rewarding. I hope you will try with me too.
Still from my first art show.
Your First Steps Toward Empowerment
Now I know you’re wondering, “This sounds all great and all, but what’s the first step?” My advice? Start small. Use Perplexity to find a subject you’re interested in and see if there are any open-source tools that you can run locally. As I progress with this newsletter, I hope to add more to your discovery so that you not only have software you can run locally, but also hardware. I will share not only things that are AI-related, but also at the intersection of art, technology, nature, and people.
As I always say, a hammer in the hands of a child is either a tool or a weapon. Which one will you choose?
