There Is No AI

Jaron Lanier argues that AI isn't creating independent intelligent beings but rather mashing together human-created content using statistical processes, making it less mysterious and more manageable. He proposes "data dignity"—compensating people for their contributions to AI training data—as an alternative to the current "free" model that has concentrated power among a few platforms and enabled manipulative algorithms. This approach would create a more honest digital economy while ensuring that humans benefit from the value their data generates.