Category: Class Notes

A Cyborg doing Human Labor. Source: Image from WordPress Images

Author Kaitlyn Murray

As our world becomes increasingly digital, our reliance on advanced technology grows. This shift has introduced a new era where the lines between human and machine labor are becoming increasingly blurred as conveniency becomes more favored. Traditionally, creative and intellectual work such as art, literature, music, and decision making were previously made by humans. However, with the public launch of OpenAI’s GPT series in November 2022, we’ve seen these boundaries begin to dissolve.

Open AI’s GPT series can generate text, music, and art that day by day become harder and harder to distinguish from work created by their human counterparts. Traditional human labor like using one’s intellect to make specific art choices to their painting, are now overlapping with user’s quick conveniency to type a quick description of what they want, and a return of quick art generated by AI that matches their request. Additionally, AI has been used to write symphonies as Composer Lucas Cantor used artificial intelligence to finish Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 8, which the composer abandoned two centuries ago. These real-life scenarios challenge the cultural boundary that once separated human creativity and mechanical algorithms.

This blur of human and machine labor raises questions about the devaluing of human labor because why pay someone to do labor when you can have a machine do it for free? As well as resurfaces the idea that machines can now participate in and surpass human endeavors. As we advance with technology, it’s crucial that boundaries are put in place for how technology can be used and the polices enacted to protect the value of human labor in creative fields.

As AI continues to evolve, this boundary will continuously shift forcing society to reconsider the economical, philosophical, and cultural implications of machine participation in human domains. So, here’s a question to ponder: What are we doing now to preserve human creativity and labor?  Machines have already replaced us physically in the factories, but what happens when they replace us intellectually in the workplace or even in government roles?

Works Cited:

Free AI Art Generator Online: Create AI art with text – Adobe Firefly. (n.d.). Www.adobe.com. https://www.adobe.com/products/firefly/features/ai-art-generator.html

Huawei used AI technology to complete Schubert’s unfinished symphony. (2019, April 9). CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/music/huawei-used-ai-technology-to-complete-schubert-s-unfinished-symphony-1.5063065

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In the past few years, there’s been a big shift in how we understand gender. Traditionally, gender was seen as either male or female, but now there’s growing recognition of non-binary and gender non-conforming identities. This change reflects broader shifts in society and how we think about identity. One major change is the legal recognition of non-binary identities. For example, the U.S. State Department now allows people to choose an “X” gender marker on passports if they don’t identify strictly as male or female. This is a big step in recognizing that gender isn’t just binary. You can learn more about this policy change here. Additionally, non-binary and genderqueer identities are becoming more visible in the media. We’re seeing more characters in TV shows, movies, and books who don’t fit into traditional male or female categories. Social media also plays a big role in this shift, giving people a platform to express their gender identities and connect with others who have similar experiences.Activists and LGBTQ+ groups have been working hard to raise awareness about non-binary identities. Their efforts have helped educate the public and influence policymakers.New research in psychology and gender studies shows that gender isn’t just a binary choice but a spectrum. This has helped change how people think about gender.There’s a growing trend towards accepting and embracing diversity. As society becomes more inclusive, traditional boundaries, including those around gender, are being rethought and expanded. The changes in how we understand gender reflect a broader trend of questioning and redefining old boundaries. By recognizing a wider range of identities, we’re moving towards a more inclusive society. This shift shows that our views on gender are evolving, and it’s likely that we’ll continue to see changes as more people and policies adapt to this new understanding. this was very interesting.

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For this topic, the shifting boundary that I’d like to focus on is the change in Women’s reproductive rights and health. As we’ve seen in the past, we know that this country has not been very open or accepting of Women’s productive health and has kept very conservative views. In the 70’s, the case of Roe V. Wade allowed women to have abortions which was one way that women had control of their health and wellness. Recently in 2022, the case was overturned which not only didn’t allow women to have abortions but also made it illegal for women to get them and for doctors to administer them in specific states. Many women, girls, and doctors have been persecuted by the legal system just for exercising or helping achieve a right that was taken away. This shifting boundary is also very problematic in the sense that women are restricted even if they are trying to have abortions for specifc reasons such as having miscarriages but still having to carry them to term, the child not being able to survive, even cases of r*pe or sexual assault, etc.

To me, I believe what has prompted this change is that not only are people in power trying to make the country go back to a conservative construct but also to control the people in as many ways as they can. Certain ideals and issues have been brought up that only prove that certain people want to country to de-evolve rather than evolve from where we are now. How are women losing their reproductive rights almost 50 years later if we are an ever-changing country that literally preaches doing better for its own people? Concepts such as Project 2025 show that the people of this country are not valued and are seen less as people and more as subjects who are supposed to obey every backward law and rule.

references for more information: https://www.npr.org/2022/06/24/1102305878/supreme-court-abortion-roe-v-wade-decision-overturn https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/24/1226161416/rape-caused-pregnancy-abortion-ban-states

I’ve noticed a significant shift in the way society understands and accepts neurodivergent individuals, particularly those on the autism spectrum. This change reflects a broader collapse of boundaries that we often see in the cyberpunk genre—a genre that thrives on challenging the status quo and exploring the fluidity of identity. The past five years have seen a growing acceptance of people on the spectrum, recognizing their unique contributions to society. Whether it’s in the way they approach problems with fresh perspectives or how they can hyperfocus on details others might miss, autistic individuals are increasingly valued for their differences rather than in spite of them. The rigid boundaries that once defined what is “normal” or “acceptable” behavior have begun to blur. The conversation around neurodiversity has gained momentum, advocating for the recognition that neurological differences, such as those seen in autism, are not deficits but variations of the human experience. This shift mirrors the cyberpunk theme of breaking down traditional barriers, whether they be between human and machine or between different cultural and social identities. Cyberpunk often explores how technology can augment or alter human capabilities, challenging what it means to be human. Similarly, the growing acceptance of neurodivergence challenges what it means to think, learn, and interact with the world. Just as cyberpunk characters might use technology to navigate a dystopian world, neurodivergent individuals bring unique perspectives and strengths that enrich our understanding of humanity. This shift in acceptance is more than just a societal trend; it’s a dismantling of the old, narrow definitions of what it means to be “normal.” By embracing neurodiversity, we are moving towards a more inclusive society where different ways of thinking are valued, much like how cyberpunk envisions a world where the lines between human and non-human, or between man and machine, are no longer clear-cut.

The line separating humans from non-humans has become more blurred in recent years, especially with the growth of robotics and artificial intelligence. In the past, people understood humans to be sentient, creative entities, whereas machines were thought of as tools meant to carry out particular duties. But the quick advancement of AI has started to cast doubt on this idea. AI systems can already handle sophisticated activities like language processing, decision-making, and even creative pursuits like music and art composition that were previously assumed to require human intelligence.

The growing use of AI in daily life is indicative of a shifting boundary. AI-powered algorithms, AI-driven virtual assistants like Siri and Google and Alexa, and even AI-powered customer support representatives are the new becoming standard. The difference between human and machine interaction has become more unclear as a result of these systems relationships with humanity. Also, artificially intelligent social robots made for care or companionship they challenge the limit byt developing bonds with people. They begin witth the set up, they ask about your voice, the things you like, they are often times always on and can hear everything your saying regardless of if you are speaking to them or not. Which I feels like it becomes scary, and a somewhat invasion on privacy.

I believe what prompted this change was multiple factors. AI is getting increasingly integrated in daily life because to the continuous search of efficiency and convenience, as well as changes in culture that see technology as a vital part of the human experience. Also, ethical questions around AI’s rights and consequences of robots taking on typically human responsibilities are gaining importance as society grows more accustomed to using AI. These previous advancements are symbolic of a broader tendency within the cyberpunk genre, where the blurring of conventional lines forces us to reevaluate essential facets of identity, morality, and the essence of humanity in a more technologically advanced society.

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Social media and technology have become almost as essential to some humans as their shoes or car keys are. The boundary between a public versus private life has become blurred because of the impact of social media and technological advancements in surveillance. This shift has caused an effect in how information can be spread and shared, how humans navigate life, and how privacy has become almost non-existent in the present time. 

To some people, the government is always spying on us. Those people are accurate. Social media surveillance explains why ads of some of our favorite products constantly pop up on our devices. Companies and the government have data collections of our online behaviors simply from what we interact with on social media. If you’ve ever been asked about cookies on a website, this is exactly what that means. 

Nobody in the past would have guessed that these technological advancements would lead to identity troubles and societal interactions. Trying to make yourself seem better than you are is how some people live their lives on social media. Building a false persona has given a rise to a multitude of identity and mental disorders for society. Those people have no ability to distinguish between their real and fake life as they try to merge them into one. 

Sharing simple moments such as taking out the trash or driving a car has given rise to a concern for the amount of privacy society has. Personal moments that were once kept private have given rise to the question of “How much privacy do we really have left?”. Everyone knows that once something is posted, it is going to be on the internet forever. Therefore, this has led to public shaming with resurfaced images or posts that people have made. Sharing your whereabouts with the public is another example of privacy becoming obsolete. This can be useful in emergency situations, but it has also been known to lead to dangerous ones. 

“Social Media Surveillance.” Freedom House, freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-on-the-net/2019/the-crisis-of-social-media/social-media-surveillance. Accessed 31 Aug. 2024. 

  A significant and very used established boundary that has made quite the shift , even in cyberpunk, is the shift from human intelligence to artificial intelligence. Human Intelligence of course has always been around and to some surprise artificial intelligence is not far behind. The usage of artificial intelligence was mainly pursued in scientific labs unlike today’s world. The advancement of artificial intelligence has grown tremendously in recent years. In today’s world you can use artificial intelligence for just about everything from answering most questions not found on google or even to have a friendly conversation if needed.

  Some time after Covid we see an already existing AI ( as some people may call it ) grow extremely popular. One of the reasons Covid pushed for more popularity in AI was because of its awareness. Many individuals like myself were unaware of what Ai was despite its long going existence. I became aware of Ai through Chatgpt but was still unfamiliar with artificial intelligence up until Snapchat created its own Ai bot which made me more familiar with Ai itself and what it was. Another thing that grew the popularity of Ai was the advancement of artificial intelligence. The capabilities accessible in today’s world were not always a part of Ai. Ai is now pictured as the number 1 place to go when you have a question of any sort. Comparable to google but also beyond comparison. While many years ago it could only be used scientifically now it can be used for just about everything and then some.

 Back when coronavirus was first introduced and then became the global pandemic known as Covid 19 , a lot of us were pushed to be 100% remote meaning no physical connection with the world but strictly from the safety of our homes. With a vast majority of the world being solely remote this caused many advancements in technology to allow everyone to continue work and also school. Many jobs we then knew to be in-person were now remote, which also meant that standers who used those jobs also had to handle their business online ( for example, remote doctors appointments). Everything being strictly remote and Ai already existing it gradually developed advancements to assist all the remote work and that is when the shift from human intelligence to artificial intelligence grew.

For the longest time, the fact that I was a queer man just did not matter to me. Not even in the way that it was not a big deal in the world, but merely the fact that it was never something that I talked about. I think that as far as I knew I never really had a preference when it came to gender, and it was only later that I found out that it wasn’t normal, and that there was a name for it. But even when I knew these things, it was always something I just wasn’t supposed to talk about. Growing up in a strict Christian household, I sometimes wondered if my queerness was never mentioned simply because it was something that was supposedly “forbidden”. My parents make it seem as though it wasn’t something I ever shared, and for the longest time, I just assumed that would stay the same. My friends knew, but even then it wasn’t really something I would just share with people, really out of that fear that it was a “forbidden” thing. But all of that sort of changed in the last few years. 

I don’t think I’ve ever really considered the option of being open about that part of my life with people that haven’t known me for a while. But during college and sort of living on my own, it just didn’t really seem like something that I needed to hide anymore. And for some reason, that feels really weird. I think that as time is going on, the idea of queerness is getting more and more normal to everyone. Although it is very slow, I just never thought it would be something I would experience in my life, especially living in a southern place that was generally homophobic. I think that being around people my age in new places has shown me that things are changing. Maybe they’ve already changed, but it is nice to see that in a world that used to think that being queer was a mental illness, more and more people are respectful to the identities and attractions of other people.