this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2023
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I don't disagree with the point you're making*, but please, #SayTheWord - we are disabled, not handicapped (note that at the end of this they also discuss a shift to person first language, as in "person with disability", which some people do prefer, but many others, myself included, still favour simply "disabled" or "disabled person/adult/child/whatever is relevant").
*I will just say that disabled people currently needing to, in most cases, exchange privacy and sometimes even security so that the companies selling these devices can make even more money, for access to these new technologies, is not something we should be ok with, and we should be fighting for accessibility that isn't dependant on profiteering, but instead on the actual will to include disabled people in society.
There are lots of open source projects involving AI that you can run on your personal computer. I think the community-driven projects are heading in the right direction, but it's completely opposite for the ones owned by corporations as they're only driven by profit margins, not people.
The problem with "open source" in the context of AI is that the source code is a much smaller factor than the training dataset. AI companies running around and scraping everybody's data as if they own anything they see is a real problem raising massive ethical and legal concerns.
That's great (genuinely), unfortunately having to work outside of the mainstream brings its own hurdles -this isn't on the same level but consider twitter vs mastodon or reddit vs lemmy: the corporate solution is shiny and easy and requires very little to no effort from the end user to use, while the other requires a little more understanding and effort and comfort with technology, and might not appeal, or even be known, to many. Sure, people can look it up and learn it, but that looking and learning are hurdles, and when it comes to accessibility devices, those hurdles tend to be more significantly in the way.
To be clear, I am not trying to shit on the open source stuff, I do genuinely think it's great, but like so many of the solutions we currently have to work with, it's a band-aid on a cancer. We need to remove the cancer.
I apologize that my choice of language was insulting to you. I am disabled(using your word, tho I grew up with and an comfortable with my own terms), so I rarely think about terminology for myself. I'll try to remember I'm the future.
As per your point, well I do see a problem with excess profits on the backs of other people, I also realize that innovation does not come for free. However you should probably look at open source AI . It is one of the fastest growing areas. I think if you are concerned about privacy and profits it would probably do you good to work with campaigns that are trying to get legislation passed in this area.
No worries, I wasn't personally insulted, I just think the words we use are important. Here is a good piece that talks more about it.
And thank you for the advice, and I agree, there are some smaller solutions coming through but I worry that in the environment they exist in (capitalism that already looks to exploit and ableism on top of that) won't allow them to become viable solutions. I think the problem is not one that can be solved with legislation, it (not just AI but the system it and we exist under) is a much larger problem that needs a much bigger solution and that's abolish it and build better.