To Truly Not Support AI, You’re Gonna Have to Stop Doing a Lot of Things.

AI has been around for a long time, but it's now becoming more visible and sophisticated. If you want to avoid AI, you'll have to give up many everyday things like using search engines, social media, online shopping, and playing video games. AI is everywhere and has been helping us for years. It's not a new villain, but a tool we've been using. Rather than running from AI, we should acknowledge its role and learn to use it responsibly. To truly not support AI, you're going to have to stop doing a lot of things. Artificial intelligence has become a buzzword in recent years, stirring controversy and sparking debates about its place in our lives. But the truth is, AI has been around for a lot longer than most people realize. It's just that now it's trendy. If you're trying to avoid AI, you're probably going to have to stop doing a lot of things, and I'll explain why. AI's origins stretch back to the mid-20th century. The term itself was coined by John McCarthy in 1956, during the Dartmouth Conference, which many consider the birth of AI as a field of study. However, the basic principles of machines mimicking human thought can be traced even further back, with early forms of mechanical computation, like Alan Turing's Turing machine in the 1930s, which laid the groundwork for understanding how machines could perform tasks that resembled human intelligence. What we've been calling AI for the last few decades is not some futuristic, Skynet-esque vision. It's mostly algorithms that have been helping us live more efficiently for years. AI is everywhere. Even if you're only now noticing AI because of advancements like ChatGPT or MidJourney, its influence has been everywhere for a long time. If you truly want to avoid AI, you'll need to stop doing many everyday things, like using search engines. Every time you type a query into Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo, you're interacting with AI. Search engines use AI-driven algorithms to provide the best and most relevant results in response to your queries. So, to avoid AI, you'd need to resort to manually sifting through books and encyclopedias, if you can still find them. Streaming music or videos. Platforms like Spotify, Netflix, and YouTube depend heavily on AI. Their recommendation algorithms tailor your playlists or suggested-for-you section by learning your preferences. AI determines what you see and hear, and it's only going to get smarter as time goes on. Social media. Whether it's the Facebook timeline, TikTok for You page, or Instagram Explore tab, AI is shaping what content gets in front of you. Even when it comes to the ads you see, machine learning algorithms ensure that what's promoted aligns with your interests. Avoiding social media entirely is almost impossible in today's connected world. But if you're really committed to anti-AI living, this would have to go. Shopping online. E-commerce platforms like Amazon are driven by AI, from recommending products to you, streamlining logistics, to providing customer service. Even brick-and-mortar stores use AI to predict trends and manage stock. So unless you're up for handcrafting your own shoes, you might have to rethink shopping altogether. Playing video games. AI has been at the heart of video games for decades. Whether it's guiding the behavior of NPCs, or non-player characters, in retro games like Pac-Man, or modern titles like The Last of Us, AI has been used to create intelligent enemies, companions, or even entire in-game ecosystems. Early AI-controlled NPCs were basic, following set patterns or reacting to player movement. Modern games, however, feature advanced AI that can learn, adapt, and make complex decisions based on player actions. Even titles like Chessmaster and Civilization rely heavily on AI to provide players with a challenging experience. So, if you think you're avoiding AI by sticking to retro games, think again. AI art, more than just a machine's output. Another area where AI has been making waves is in art, with tools like Mid-Journey, Dolly, and Stable Diffusion. Some argue that using AI to generate images isn't real art, because it lacks human creativity. While it's true that a machine isn't sitting there sketching with a pencil, creating something meaningful with AI image generators isn't as simple as pressing a button. To effectively use these tools, you need to learn the skill of prompt writing. The way you phrase a prompt can drastically affect the outcome, and understanding how different AI models, or checkpoints, interpret your text, is key. Each AI has its own unique quirk. One might interpret dark as shadowy and gothic, while another might create a more sinister tone with sharper contrasts or intense colors. Learning how to guide AI through prompts is a process that requires creativity, practice, and understanding of the technology. Yes, the machine does the final rendering, but the artist's hand is in how the tool is wielded. Knowing how to structure prompts, adjust parameters, and select the right model is a skill in itself. Some may even consider it a talent, much like using a paintbrush effectively or mastering a musical instrument. While it's easy to dismiss AI-generated art as non-human, the creative decisions still come from a human mind. Only the execution is done through AI, just like using Photoshop or any other digital tool. AI is older than you think. People tend to act like AI is a brand new, scary invention, but it's been part of our lives for decades. Here are some examples of early AI in action. Spam filters. These have been using machine learning for over 20 years to keep your inbox manageable by recognizing patterns in spam emails. Autocorrect. When you type on your phone or computer, Autocorrect uses AI algorithms to suggest or correct your words. Recommendation system. As far back as 2006, Netflix was offering users tailored recommendations powered by AI. AI has quietly been working in the background, making life smoother and more efficient long before we started worrying about its place in our future. The recent boom, trend, or revolution. What's happening now is that AI has reached a point where its applications are becoming more visible and sophisticated. From generative AI like Doll E creating artwork to self-driving cars from Tesla. We're seeing a lot of rapid progress that's grabbing headlines. But the foundational AI tech that powers all of this has been growing slowly for decades. Just because it's become trendy to talk about it now doesn't mean it hasn't been woven into the fabric of modern life for years. Conclusion. You'd have to give up a lot. If you want to boycott AI, it's going to be much harder than just deleting your chat GPT account or avoiding a Tesla. AI is everywhere. Powering the systems we rely on every day. From recommending the perfect YouTube video to blocking spam emails, AI is here to stay. And it's not some new villain in town. It's a tool we've been using for decades. And turning away from it would mean stepping back from the modern world entirely. So, instead of running from AI, maybe it's time to acknowledge its role and learn how to use it responsibly. This was crafted with the assistance of AI, but the concept behind it was born from human creativity.