Why are people suddenly discussing AI?
Almost everywhere you look today, you will see mention of Artificial Intelligence being taken seriously and what is underlying all of this is a groundswell of opinion is that AI has now developed enough to be the next big disruptive technology.
Over the years we have seen disruptive technologies (ones which change the way people do things), such as the PC, the Internet and the Smartphone.
If these changes have not affected you, then maybe AI will not either, but for most of us we will need to live with it. Across a range of fields many commentators are shocked with what they see happening.
AI, like nuclear weapons, is not going to be uninvented, it will develop very quickly (already ChatGPT has been upgraded after five months) and “bad actors” will use it to do bad things.
So what are the good things it might bring?
The systems creating a stir today are along the lines of a very fast research assistant. The ubiquitous Google does not contain all the knowledge of the internet, just helps you find it.
Similarly the new chat based tools (eg ChatGPT) do not contain the knowledge, but allows you to define and refine the search more using more natural language, and its responses are more conversational. It is in effect a robotic super speed research assistant.
The example below is a real unrehearsed interaction with ChatGPT (we are aware it contains errors)
Webley & Scott is a British firearms manufacturer that produced a range of pistols, including some of the most famous and widely used handguns in history. The Webley revolver was a top-break, solid-frame revolver that was used by the British military and police from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century. The Webley Mark VI was the standard-issue sidearm of the British Army during World War I.
Webley also produced a range of semi-automatic pistols, including the Webley & Scott Self-Loading Pistol, which was introduced in 1910. This pistol was designed by John Browning and featured a unique, delayed-blowback mechanism. The Webley & Scott Self-Loading Pistol was used by the British military during World War I, but was eventually replaced by the more reliable and modern Browning Hi-Power.
Webley & Scott continued to produce firearms throughout the 20th century, but the demand for their pistols declined as newer designs became available. However, the Webley brand has remained popular among collectors and enthusiasts, and the company continues to produce firearms and airguns today.
Overall, Webley pistols have a reputation for being well-made and reliable firearms that have played an important role in British military history.
Webley & Scott is still producing firearms today, although their focus has shifted from pistols to shotguns and airguns.
In terms of pistols, the last model produced by Webley & Scott was the Webley & Scott 9mm P.A. Revolver, which was introduced in the late 1970s. This revolver was a modernized version of the classic Webley revolver design and was intended for use by police and military forces in countries where semi-automatic pistols were not permitted.
While Webley & Scott no longer produces pistols, they continue to manufacture a variety of firearms, including shotguns and airguns. Their products are still highly regarded by collectors and enthusiasts for their quality and craftsmanship.
Webley & Scott’s decision to shift their focus from pistols to shotguns and airguns was likely due to a combination of factors, including changes in demand, changes in the firearms market, and changes in regulations.
In the post-World War II period, demand for military and police pistols decreased as many countries began adopting modern semi-automatic pistols. This shift in demand likely played a role in Webley & Scott’s decision to focus on other types of firearms.
At the same time, the firearms market was becoming increasingly competitive, with many new manufacturers entering the industry and offering a wide variety of products. Focusing on shotguns and airguns may have been seen as a way for Webley & Scott to differentiate themselves in a crowded market and to leverage their existing expertise in firearms design and manufacturing.
Additionally, changes in regulations and laws related to firearms may have played a role in Webley & Scott’s decision to shift their focus. In some countries, laws and regulations around pistols have become more restrictive over time, making it more difficult for manufacturers to produce and sell these types of firearms. By contrast, shotguns and airguns are often subject to less stringent regulations, making them a more viable product line for Webley & Scott to focus on.
Webley & Scott is a British firearms manufacturer that is known for producing a range of pistols that have played an important role in British military history. The company was founded in the 18th century and has been producing firearms ever since. Webley & Scott is particularly well-known for its revolvers, which were used extensively by the British military and police from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century.
The Webley revolver was a top-break, solid-frame revolver that was renowned for its reliability and durability. The Webley Mark VI was the standard-issue sidearm of the British Army during World War I, and the company continued to produce revolvers throughout the 20th century. Webley also produced a range of semi-automatic pistols, including the Webley & Scott Self-Loading Pistol, which was introduced in 1910. This pistol was designed by John Browning and was used by the British military during World War I.
Despite the popularity of Webley pistols, the demand for these firearms declined in the post-World War II period as many countries began adopting modern semi-automatic pistols. Webley & Scott shifted its focus to shotguns and airguns, which were subject to less stringent regulations and had a broader market. The company has continued to manufacture these types of firearms to this day and is highly regarded by collectors and enthusiasts for its quality and craftsmanship.
Overall, Webley & Scott has a rich history of producing firearms that have played an important role in British military and police history. While the company no longer produces pistols, its legacy lives on through its shotguns and airguns, and Webley & Scott remains a well-respected name in the firearms industry.
Ah, Webley & Scott. Now there’s a name that conjures up images of British military might, stiff upper lips, and that famous bulldog spirit. For over two centuries, this company has been at the forefront of firearms manufacturing, producing some of the most iconic and reliable pistols of all time.
Their most famous creation is undoubtedly the Webley revolver. Solid-frame, top-break, and built to last, this was the sidearm of choice for the British Army and police forces for over half a century. It’s no exaggeration to say that this revolver helped shape the course of British military history.
But Webley & Scott didn’t stop there. They also produced a range of semi-automatic pistols, including the Webley & Scott Self-Loading Pistol, which was a real game-changer. Designed by none other than John Browning himself, this pistol was used by the British military in World War I and helped usher in a new era of pistol design.
Of course, as times change, so do demand and regulations. The post-World War II period saw a decline in demand for military and police pistols, and Webley & Scott shifted their focus to shotguns and airguns. But don’t let that fool you – their shotguns and airguns are top-notch, and the company continues to be a respected name in the firearms industry.
All in all, Webley & Scott is a true British icon. Their pistols and revolvers have helped shape the course of history, and their shotguns and airguns continue to be highly regarded by enthusiasts and collectors. It’s a name that will go down in history, and rightly so.
So what?
For most of us our first response is fear of the new, and what bad actors will do. Reassuringly AI cannot ever be 100% identical to reality, and so can be detected (probably by another AI!). However the discussion should not stop here.
AI is already part of our daily lives – all of us use smartphones. A classic example is the smartphone camera where AI is staggeringly efficient at simulating what a traditional camera can do.
The adoption of ChatGPT into the Bing search engine is a first step. We can only guess at how this technology will become a bigger part of our everyday devices such as cars, phones, smart homes etc.
Perhaps a more immediate question is the effect on the expert community (Academia, Museums, Institutions etc), and will it be damaging?
Many in these organisations will stop at the mistakes generated by AI, and choose not to recognise the more fundamental implications for the role of the information they produce in this process.
The role of information
As with the example AI will make mistakes, and generally this is down to it being given poor information, the old adage “Garbage in, Garbage out” still applies.
Good information exists throughout expert communities, but accessing it can be problematic. Studies on how long an organisation can reuse what it has done before show a surprisingly short period, so information is lost and has to be regularly recreated.
It will not be long before most searches will be of the form shown above. Well established information is easily accessible in published peer reviewed papers, but there is no similar mechanism for notes. Such snippets are potentially vital but are easily lost and so a way to secure these has to be found in order to ensure the best results from AI enhanced searching.
What form this retention takes should be the focus of discussions, and rather than be distracted by what is wrong with these tools today the expert communities have to provide a solution or risk being left behind.
What might this deliver?
It has been said that at 5 months old ChatGPT can do as good a job as many journalists. Over time and when wielded by an expert we can expect these tools to take knowledge forward at a greater pace.
My thoughts?
- As an example, modern primary school pupils being taught filmmaking will require suitable high quality content. As seen above, AI offers them a tool produce appropriate scripts (beyond their subject matter knowledge), and with their burgeoning production abilities over the next few years we will see a tsunami of content fuelled by AI. There are many examples of good filmmakers getting more views on social media with simple content than experts presenting in-depth material, so the role of AI searching will become increasingly important.
- AIs ability to rapidly draw together and process vast amounts of material could lead to the rise of a non-linear form of story telling. Unlike the beginning-to-end approach of a video. this would be a way of providing the reader with the ability to explore a topic in the virtual world, much like a traditional museum gallery does physically.