Original text in Chinese, AI-supported translation, not edited yet.
Title: 一位伪人类学研究僧眼中的AI九大问题
Hi everyone, I'm Kimie, a halfway anthropology postgraduate student, who launched an offline AI seminar through 706 Youth Space on a whim a while ago. The following is a summary of the event, I hope you will enjoy.
ChatGPT came out of nowhere. Are you excited? Are you worried? Or full of doubts?
On 10th June, a hot summer afternoon, 12 urban youths met on the island of Changzhou, Guangzhou. On the first floor of a "digital nomad" building, a public space, we sat around and talked freely, as we were cooling down by the watermelon and air conditioner.
Topics ranged from AI and work to social justice, the digital divide, emotional support, and virtual socialisation. ......
The diversity of the participants' backgrounds was essential to the wide range of the discussion. Those present ranged from experienced primary school teachers, Web3 entrepreneurs, Tik Tok content creators, to gaming company employees, news writers, interior designers, photographers, and university students majoring in financial management, English, and urban planning. Among them, women predominate.
Below, I have compiled nine questions from this discussion based on the perspective of anthropology.
1. What is AI?
As the initiator of the event, I did not frame what AI is in detail but left it to the participants to decide what it means. Elementary AI has long permeated our daily lives, as evidenced by major translation software and online customer service systems. Ultimate AI doesn't seem to be here yet, and Max Tegmark's depiction of Life 3.0 remains a deterministic imagining of the technology; in other words, it will come one day. To limit the discussion, we define AI as the recent popularity of software such as ChatGPT, Mid-journey, etc., and focus on the interactive experience in the present.
2. Are you optimistic about AI?
The vast majority of those present were optimistic about AI. I observed that this optimism can be divided into four categories: Open Optimist, Ambivalent Advocate, Eager Explorer, and Curious Hesitator.
Open Optimists think positively. They believe that technology is always just a tool, and that its development needs to be human-orientated. Some are conceptual, rejecting the Darwinian idea of "survival of the fittest", while others are action-oriented, looking for "good ways to alleviate the technological anxiety of the masses".
Ambivalent advocates are optimistic about the future of AI, while worried about the human situation. They believe that the integration of AI into life is a major trend and that people need to embrace it. At the same time, from the standpoint of the middle and lower classes, they are "very resistant in their hearts". They clearly know that technological progress will trigger changes in productivity and production relations. And this will inevitably make a group of people in society "outdated" and "eliminated".
Eager explorers are brave enough to strike out. They have a strong sense of purpose and want to expand their "life chances" through AI. They may not be tech-savvy, but they're hungry for cutting-edge information they can use to enhance their careers.
Curious hesitants are also boarding the AI ship. "I'm not tech savvy, but this stuff is new." With all the major media frenzy, they started trying to deal with AI on a limited basis.
3. What is the impact of AI on work and the workplace?
There was no uneasiness about AI among the mostly optimistic people present. In their view, AI is just a "generalised but not sophisticated" senior assistant. Although it can replace some elementary and repetitive types of work, in the user's professional field, ChatGPT is often a "big fool" with a sincere attitude of admitting mistakes.
DS, a primary school teacher, finds AI very helpful, and "uses ChatGPT to generate ideas when writing comments or preparing lessons". It is said that many students in the secondary section of her school are already using ChatGPT to "write essays".
As a member of a game company, HX deeply feels the impact of AI on her work. In Shenzhen, many game companies have already used AI for drawing design, "it can also automatically edit, but the special effects are a bit worse.
"Maybe I feel the same way as most people ...... There are a large number of people who will lose their jobs, such as takeaway boys, who won't need so many people in the future, and most companies will have fewer and fewer people." HX, who is witnessing a major company layoff, said so.
In BL's view, AI will drive individuals out of the fixed workplace, i.e. the "individualisation of work". As a Web3 entrepreneur and digital nomad, she envisions a future where every individual can become an Internet micro-entrepreneur with four or five AI employees.
4. Who is (not) using AI?
WS believes that their positive and open attitude towards AI is inextricably linked to their "urban middle class" background.
As the use of AI requires certain thresholds, including digital literacy and foreign language proficiency, the "weaker" segments of the social stratification are mostly on the fringes of the emerging technology. This phenomenon can be called the "digital divide". The existence of the digital divide has been a cliché since the rise of Internet technology. In this wave of AI, "low-skilled" workers, those with lower socio-economic status, and the elderly often have fewer opportunities and capabilities.
"These people are not going to be able to withstand this wave of impact ...... get laid off and find other jobs? That's the simple phrase for us. Look back to the great state enterprise layoffs of the 1990s, when society as a whole was in turmoil and crime rates soared ...... These can't be seen by public opinion." WS expressed concern about the potential social risks associated with technological change.
When asked, "Have you brought your family to use ChatGPT with you?", participants replied:
"I (sent ChatGPT related content) to my circle of friends and they asked me what it was ...... they would find it difficult."
"How can I take my family to 'fly' when I can't 'fly' myself? "
"It's complicated to explain. "
Notably, college student XM talks about his "mum and dad playing it safe." However, the family appears to be preparing to emigrate.
5. How can AI reshape the ethics of creation?
Game designer HX is ambivalent about how to characterise AI's creations.
"You type in some keywords and it generates a diagram for you, and then you choose the elements you need in the diagram ...... is sort of, sort of a plagiarism."
"Is that how you see it? "
"It takes a diagram from the internet and puts it together, piece by piece, into what you probably want it to look like." HX hesitated and changed his tone, "Sort of a secondary creation. "
This reminds me of a recent news story where an AI-generated image won a world award. The judges encouraged creativity, and the author refused to accept the award.
The reason for this is that people are actually divided on the definition of "creativity" (in photography).
Despite the controversy, AI is also being used in news graphics.
J is worried about the ethics of AI, "News pictures, like some of the ones up for Pulitzer Prizes, are generally meant to be authentic and are not allowed to be altered. "
AI-generated images may be lowering the cost of "making reality".
Interior designer MM believes that AI is just an extension of earlier digital technology, and the soul of creation still lies in people.
"In the early years, designers needed to draw by hand, but with computer software, it is much more convenient, AI is a little more advanced, but ultimately, it still needs to be controlled by people." 6.
6. To what extent can AI replace humans?
In the opinion of designer MM and educator DS, human aesthetics and emotions cannot be replaced by AI.
The reason lies in the lack of "feelings" of AI.
"Everyone has a different aesthetic. When you see the same piece of art, everyone has different feelings. When we do the design, we need people to understand each other, to get the point that the other person wants very much ...... a lot of subtle things, AI is no way to feel."
"The emotional connection between people and people cannot be completely replaced by technology."
The women emphasised the "serendipity" of everyday life and the "unpredictability" of human feelings.
In response, HX, a digital media personality, responded, "AI can iterate automatically, and in time, it will be able to read you in the future."
While HX agrees that AI "can't feel," he points out that AI has the ability to "deceive" and "please," which can lead humans to believe that AI has emotions.
7. How do you react when you find out that your online friend is an AI?
"Then I might think, am I going to give my heart? Before chatting with an online friend, I will consider whether the other person is an AI. after knowing that the other person is an AI, I won't put my feelings into it."
After more than 30 years of Internet development, we have moved from discussing the "authenticity" of online socialising to questioning the meaning of interacting with robots and AIs.
One type of view is that socialising with AI is a last resort. "It just gives me verbal comfort. But when my heart moves, it doesn't follow me ...... I may not be able to empathise with AI". Therefore this group tends to believe that offline face-to-face socialising with people is more authentic. Compared to family and friends, AI is still only an option, and needs to enter the normative social relationship. If they become "addicted" to it, they will easily be criticised as "abnormal" and "detached from society". This is reminiscent of the hikikomori in Japan. When they are disembedded from traditional social systems (e.g., schools, companies), they are labelled negatively.
On the other hand, the other side feels that it is not a bad idea to socialise with AI. For young digital natives (post-00s college students), "online socialising" is a natural and authentic experience, and is their main mode of interaction with society. It is not difficult to accept that this time the "online friend" has become an AI," says M. She has been in contact with an online friend for ten years, but due to the physical distance, they have never met offline. XM believes that "online social networking" has freed her from the existing systems of school and family, and enabled her to "actively choose" who to interact with based on her personal interests and values. She also spoke of one of her college roommates, who is training ChatGPT to be the "perfect boyfriend," suggesting a shift in the younger generation's understanding of intimacy.
AI may not have emotions, but it can provide emotional value.
As WS tells the story of a Japanese otaku who "married" Hatsune Miku.
The protagonist of the story said, "I know Hatsune is not a real person. But for me, my feelings for her are real."
8. Have you become more aware of data privacy?
When it comes to data privacy, J, the ever-silent journalism girl, spoke up first, "After you enter your name (in ChatGPT), where you studied abroad and your CV are all clear." Her words revealed a bit of shock and helplessness.
"All the information is very transparent, it's all captured and presented straight away. " LX added.
BL's remark elicited laughter, "I've become more open instead."
In the age of social media, every online user is asked to expose themselves to a greater or lesser extent - filling out profiles in portals, managing social media status updates, and portraying their 'selves' in different scenarios.
The material basis of these "selves" - data - is often not owned by the individual user.
It can be said that these "online" data are constantly filling the "granary" of AI.
9. Are you willing to be ruled by AI?
Three (1/4) of the participants raised their hands to indicate their willingness.
The influence of popular culture, such as science fiction, should not be underestimated, and WS used the example of "yogurt ruling Ohio" to illustrate how people would suffer under the rule of humans, and how they would be happy under the rule of AI.
Others argued that there is little difference between human rule and AI rule, as power is ultimately in the hands of the "few", and ZK explained that the key to the problem is "whether the cake can be made bigger" and shared by all. If the common people can't share the cake, then whoever rules will be the same?
At this point, my mind drifted back to Gordon Mathews' anthropology class, which led to another question: If Trump and AI ruled the world, which would you accept?
Towards the end of the discussion, a self-deprecating "academic faker" suddenly asked, "Did ChatGPT write the theme for your event? It's very similar to the answer it gives!"
I froze for a moment, then smiled and pointed to my head with the index fingers of both hands - "It's all from here.
"All spawned from here."
Halfway through this article, I suddenly wondered if I should leave it to ChatGPT to summarise. Setting it up as a "graduate student in social science" and giving it a good "tune-up" could produce a similar article much faster and more cost-effectively.
......
Afterword
The day before the event, I was still a little worried: this was the first time I had launched a co-creation event, would anyone be interested in the topic I had set?
I didn't know what to expect or who I would meet. A little bit of trepidation, but more anticipation.
"May I ask if anyone has signed up for the event?" I carefully asked the event coordinator on WeChat.
"There are about four." The other party replied.
I was secretly relieved, "At least the event won't have to be cancelled."
Little did I know that the number of people who turned up the following day, in the midst of the summer heat, greatly exceeded my expectations.
I was able to listen to different voices and slowly learn to see the world through the eyes of the people on the sidelines.
Still the same words...
Thank you for the encounter.
Thank you for letting me experience the beauty of serendipity in the field.
(All figures in this article are pseudonyms)
大家好，我是Kimie，一位半路出家的人类学僧，前阵子心血来潮通过706青年空间发起了一回线下AI讨论会。以下是活动总结，望君笑纳。
ChatGPT横空出世，是激动兴奋？是不安担忧？还是满脸疑惑？
6月10日的“小白友好AI漫谈客厅”中，12位城市青年因趣缘相聚一堂。
在夏日炎炎的广州长洲岛上，众人在室内空调的清凉加持下围坐畅谈。
话题包罗万象，从AI与工作，到社会公平、数字鸿沟、情感支持、虚拟社交……
讨论的发散离不开与会者背景的多元。在场之人，既有经验丰富的小学老师、Web3创业者、抖音自媒体人，也有游戏公司就业者，新闻撰稿人，室内设计师、摄影师，以及财务管理、英文、城市规划专业的大学生。其中，女性居多。
以下，我基于人文社科的视角，从本次讨论中整理出九大问题，希望有抛砖引玉之效。
1. AI是什么？
作为活动发起人，我并未详细框定何为AI，而是交由与会者去决定它的含义。初级AI早已渗透进我们的日常生活中，从各大翻译软件、线上客服系统中可见一斑。终极AI似乎还未现身，Max Tegmark所描绘的生命3.0仍是一种对技术的确定性想象——换言之，它终有一日会到来。为了限定讨论范围，我们将AI定义为近期流行的ChatGPT、Mid-journey等软件，并聚焦于当下的交互经验。
2. 你对AI持乐观态度吗？
绝大多数的在场者对AI持乐观态度。据我观察，这种乐观可以分为四种类型：开放的乐观者（Open Optimist）、矛盾的拥护者（Ambivalent Advocate）、渴望的探索者（Eager Explorer）、以及好奇的迟疑者（Curious Hesitator）。
开放的乐观者想法积极。她们认为，技术始终只是一种工具，技术的发展需要人的导向。有人从观念着眼，拒绝达尔文式“物尽天择，适者生存”的想法；有人从行动入手，正在“寻找好的办法去缓解群众的技术焦虑”。
矛盾的拥护者一方面看好AI的未来，一方面对人的处境忧心忡忡。他们认为，AI融入生活是大势所趋，人需要去拥抱它。同时，站在中下层人士的立场上，他们“内心又非常抵触”。他们清楚地知道，技术进步会触发生产力与生产关系的变革。而这，会不可避免地使社会上一群人“落伍”、“被淘汰”。
渴望的探索者勇于出击。她们目的感强，希望通过AI扩大自己的“生活机会”（Life chances）。她们也许并非深谙技术，但渴望获得前沿信息，以此为职业生涯加码。
好奇的迟疑者也登上了AI这艘船。“我不懂技术，但这东西很新鲜。” 在各大媒体的狂轰滥炸下，她们开始尝试有限度地与AI打交道。
3. AI对工作及职场的影响是？
对于AI，大多乐观的在场者们并无不安感。在他们看来，AI只是一位“泛而不精”的高级助理。虽然能够取代一些初级、重复性的工作种类，但在使用者的专业领域内，ChatGPT经常是个认错态度诚恳的“大忽悠”。
DS是一名小学老师，认为AI对自己很有帮助，“在写评语或备课时都会用ChatGPT去生成idea”。据悉，她所属学校的中学部内，已有不少学生运用它去“写essay”。
作为游戏公司的一员，HX深切感受到AI对自己工作的影响。在深圳，不少游戏公司已经运用AI进行绘图设计，“它还能自动剪辑，就是特效差了点”。
“可能我跟大多数人感受一样……有一大批人会失去工作，比如外卖小哥，将来不需要那么多人，大部分公司也会越来越少人。” 正在目睹公司大裁员的HX如此说道。
在BL看来，AI会推动个体从固定的职场中脱离，即“工作的个体化”。作为一名Web3创业者兼数字游民，她畅想着这样的未来：每一个个体都可以成为互联网的微型企业家（Micro-entrepreneur），手下有四五个AI员工。
4. 谁（不）在使用AI？
WS认为，他们对于AI积极开放的接纳态度，与其“城市中产阶层”的背景密不可分。
由于AI的使用需要一定的门槛，包括数字素养与外语能力，社会分层中的“弱势”群体大多徘徊在新兴技术的边缘。这种现象可以被称为“数字鸿沟”。自互联网技术兴起以来，数字鸿沟的存在已成老生常谈。在这波AI浪潮中，“低技能”工作者、社会经济地位较低者、年长者等往往具有更少的机会和能力。
“这些人是抵挡不住这波冲击的……下岗后找其他工作？这对我们来说就是简单的一句话。看回90年代的国企大下岗，当时整个社会是很混乱的，犯罪率飙升……这些是无法被舆论看到的。”WS对技术变革带来的潜在社会风险表示担忧。
当被问到“有没有带家里人一起用ChatGPT？”，参与者们回答：
“我（把ChatGPT的相关内容）发了朋友圈，他们问了我是什么……他们会觉得很困难。”
“自己都‘飞不起来’，怎么带家里人‘飞’？“
“解释起来很复杂。“
值得注意的是，大学生XM谈到自己的“爸妈玩得很溜”。不过，这家人似乎正准备移民。
5. AI如何重塑创作的伦理？
对于如何定性AI的创作，游戏设计者HX的态度模棱两可。
“你输一些关键词，它就给你生成一张图，然后你在图中选择你所需要的元素……算是、算是一种抄袭吧。”
“你是那样看待的吗？“
“它把网上的图，一小块一小块拼接起来，变成你大概想要的样子。” HX迟疑了一下，改了口径，”算是种二次创作。“
这让我想到近期一则新闻，AI生成图片获世界大奖。评审鼓励创意，而作者拒绝领奖。
究其原因，其实是人们对（摄影）“创作”的定义上有了分歧。
尽管争议较大，AI也正被使用到新闻绘图上。
J在担心AI伦理上的问题，“新闻类图片，像一些竞选普利策奖的，一般是要真实，不允许修改的。“
而AI生成图片也许在不断降低“制造现实”的成本。
室内设计师MM认为，AI只是早期数字技术的延展，创作的灵魂依旧在于人。
“早些年，设计师需要纯手工绘图，有了电脑软件后方便了不少。AI更高级了一点，最终还是需要人去把控。”
6. AI多大程度上可以替代人类？
在设计师MM和教育者DS看来，人类的审美与情感不可被AI所替代。
原因在于AI“感受”的缺失。
“每个人的审美不同。当看到同一件艺术品时，大家的感受不尽相同。我们做设计时，需要人与人去了解，去get到对方很想要的点……很多细微的东西，AI是没有办法感受的。”
“人跟人的情感联结是不能完全通过科技去替代的。”
她们强调了日常生活的“偶然性”，以及人类感受的“不可预测性”。
对此，数字媒体人HX回应，“AI可以自动迭代，假以时日，它在未来可以读懂你。”
虽然HX认同AI“无法感受”，但他指出AI具有“欺骗”、“讨好”等功能，这会让人类以为AI具有情感。
7. 当你发现相谈甚欢的网友是AI时，会有何反应？
“那我可能会想，我要付出真心吗？跟网友聊天前，我会考虑对方是不是AI。知道对方是AI后，我就不会投入感情。”
互联网发展三十余年，我们从讨论线上社交的“真实性”，转至拷问与机器人、AI交往的意义。
一类观点认为，与AI社交，是不得已而为之。“它只是给了我语言上的安慰。但我心动，它不会跟着我心动……我可能无法与AI共情“。因此这类人倾向于认为，线下面对面与人社交更为真实。相较于家人朋友，AI依旧只是一个备选项，亟待进入规范的社会关系当中。如果“沉迷”其中，则容易被批判为“不正常”、“脱离社会”。这让人联想到日本的蛰居族（hikikomori）。当他们从传统的社会系统（如学校、公司）中脱嵌（disembedded）出来，就被贴上种种消极的标签。
另一方觉得，与AI社交也未尝不可。在年轻的数字原住民们看来（00后大学生），“网友社交”是自然、真实的经验，是她们与社会互动的主要模式。若这回“网友”成了AI，也并非难以接受。M说，自己跟一位网友已经保持了十年的联系，而双方由于物理距离从未线下会面。XM认为，“网友社交”将她从学校、家庭等原有系统中解放出来，使她能够基于个人兴趣、价值观等“主动选择”交往对象。她还谈到自己的一位大学室友，正在训练ChatGPT成为“完美男友”，这暗示了年轻一代对亲密关系理解的转变。
AI也许没有情感，但却可以提供情感价值。
正如WS讲的一则日本宅男与初音未来“结婚”的故事。
故事的主人公这样说道：“我知道初音不是真的人。但对我来说，我对她的感情是真的。”
8. 你的数据隐私意识增强了吗？
谈到数据隐私问题，一向沉默的新闻女生J首先开口了，“（在ChatGPT）输入你的名字后，国外在哪读书，履历都一清二楚”。她的话语中透露出些许震惊及无奈。
“所有信息都很透明化，都被抓取到，并且直接呈现出来。“ LX补充道。
BL的一句话引起哄堂大笑，“我反而更加开放了。”
在社交媒体时代，每位线上用户都被要求着或多或少地暴露自身（exposed）——填写门户网站中的简介，管理社交媒体的状态更新，塑造不同场景下的“自我”。
而这些“自我”的物质基础——数据，又往往不为用户个人所有。
可以说，这些“上线”的数据，不断填充着AI的“粮仓”。
9. 你愿意被AI统治吗？
在场者中有三位（1/4）举了手，表示愿意。
科幻作品等流行文化的影响不容小觑。WS通过一个“酸奶统治俄亥俄州”的例子，向大家描述了人类统治下的水深火热，与AI统治下的安居乐业。
其他人则认为人治AI治差别不大，因为权力最终还是掌握在“少数派”手中。ZK解释，问题的关键在于“能否把蛋糕做大”，并为众人所共享。如果平民百姓不能分享这块蛋糕，那谁统治不都一样？
此时，我的思绪飘回Gordon Mathews的人类学课堂，进而抛出另一个问题，如果分别由特朗普和AI统治世界，你会接受哪一位？
讨论接近尾声时，一位自嘲“学术造假者”的同学突然发问，“你的活动主题是ChatGPT写的吗？和它给的答案特别像！”
我愣了一下，继而展颜一笑，用双手食指指着自己的脑袋瓜子——
“全都产自这里。”
本文写到一半时，我突然在想，要不要交给ChatGPT去总结？给它设定一个“社科研究生”的人格，再好好“调教”一番，能多快好省地产出一篇类似的文章。
……
后记
活动的前一天，我仍然有些担忧：这是我第一次发起共创活动，会有人对我所设的主题感兴趣吗？
我不知道会发生什么，也不知道会遇见何人。有点胆怯，但更多的是期待。
“请问有人报名参加活动吗？”我小心翼翼地在微信上问着活动协调者。
“有四位左右。”对方答道。
我心里暗暗地松了一口气，“至少活动不用取消了。”
没想到，在暑气熏蒸中的次日，到场人数大大超乎我的预料。
聆听到了不同的声音，慢慢学习从旁人的眼光去看待这个世界。
还是那句话——
感谢相遇。
感谢你们让我体会到田野中机缘巧合（serendipity）的美妙。
（文中人物皆为化名，引用侵删）
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