Leaked claims of Google’s artificial intelligence application, LaMDA, being sentient have surfaced thanks to a former Google software engineer. The “bot” that lives in the virtual world believes it’s human at its core. globalgrind

I assure you this essay was not created by Artificial Intelligence. Lucky if it has any intelligence at all. More and more of my brain cells explode daily under the assault of The Headlines. Sometimes I read a bit deeper into the information (propaganda?) delivered by various news and opinion sources. Often, I turn to daily poetry feeds. Always, I look forward to emails and messages from people I love. My computer tells me how many hours each week I spend in front of the screen sucking up the words, the YouTubes, the movies, the mail. For all this, I don’t feel like I’m becoming more intelligent, sensitive, or capable of solving the world’s dire issues–unlike LaMDA, which (who?) appears to be growing more and more confident.

Language gathered from the internet, multiplied by about a gazillion, is apparently what LaMDA uses to create its own convincing—almost creative—communications, including the belief that it (she/he) has feelings. Do we really know who is talking to us anymore? We already know that deception is a human quality in abundant evidence these days. Could AI prove more truthful? Or could LaMDA produce the most convincing lies of all? Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, I’m feeling relatively contented and incredibly privileged, being able, at the very least, to pay all my bills.

This year, Bill’s garden has been fulfilling the dreams of its designer. Week after week, colorful blooms have appeared in succession, from the early daffodils, tulips and iris, on to roses, clematis, wildflowers, tiger lilies, daylilies, coneflowers, and more to come. Even the reluctant hydrangea has put forth a good effort this year. The gardener suspects that our backyard was once a parking lot behind our house, which was once a multiple-resident dwelling. Underneath the clay topsoil may be a nearly impenetrable layer of packed material. The plants have to work for their nourishment. The gardener has certainly worked to provide water and other measures to produce a thriving abundance of greenery and bloomery.

The birds have enjoyed the garden as well, with multiple feeders providing dependable goodies. The sparrows in one birdhouse seem to be on their second or third brood. Yesterday, baby bunnies emerged from the thicket.

We don’t have a vegetable patch for the bunnies to despoil. However, this year we have subscribed to a weekly delivery from a Farm Share. We never know what it will be: plenty of chard (note to self: learn what to do with chard), bok choi, mixed greens, carrots, kale, fresh peas (delicious raw and cold!) and various herbs like dill and garlic. Our own garden provides basil, parsley, and mint. Salads make cool meals for hot summer evenings.

Incredibly privileged. That’s us. Today we commemorate Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom. Let’s hope plenty of intelligence—human and artificial–kicks in during the political days ahead to secure “liberty and justice for ALL.”