Lauren Weinstein
@lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org  ·  activity timestamp 3 days ago

This is the script of my national radio report yesterday on how #Google is pushing their Gemini #AI onto user devices -- and more -- in invasive ways, without asking permission or sometimes even informing users that this has occurred. As always my report may have had some minor wording variations from this script as it was presented live on air.

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Well, I wish I could really explain what's going on with Google and their Gemini AI, but frankly, the whole situation is so confusing, that all I can really do is kinda give a heads-up warning here and suggest that if you care about this matter you pay very close attention to what's happening with your interactions with Google on the desktop, on Android devices, and ultimately I expect on other devices too including iOS devices like iPhones, and probably Windows also at some point.

We've talked in the past about how Big Tech is ramming AI down our throats whether we want it or not, and how upsetting this is to so many people, and now Google has really jumped the shark as the saying goes. They seem to have given up any pretense of asking for permission before turning users into data delivery systems to feed the voracious appetite of their Gemini AI.

Basically, Google is in the process of pushing Gemini into pretty much everything that Google can control. Some classes of Gmail already have it in place to do "summarizations" of Gmail messages, however inaccurate we can expect those to often be given Gemini's record of spewing misinformation. Apparently the only way to turn that off may be to turn off all Gmail Smart Features through the Gmail settings and even then I don't know if that just hides the interface or actually stops Gemini from reading your email. Obviously in order to flag spam and malware, for example, Gmail has long needed to scan email, but Gemini is a whole 'nuther kettle of fish, and understanding whether or not any given generative AI connected application is or is not training on your data isn't necessarily simple to figure out or control.

Google has already replaced the traditional Google Assistant with Gemini on many devices, and that means you lose traditional Assistant's telling you where it got its answers from, and in fact Gemini apparently has been breaking many users' routines because it currently can't accomplish every action that traditional Assistant can. For now you can switch back if you can find the Assistant setting deep within the Google settings on your device, but this seems to often vary from device to device, so trying to do that can be a new hobby.

Google has now decided they want to pull data from various of the apps on your phone into Gemini and while some users received a very confusing email about this, actually it seems to have begun without any affirmative permission being asked of users. You can dig around in app settings and try to disable this, and you sometimes can remove the Gemini app from your phone if Google or you installed it from the Google app store -- the Play Store -- but sometimes it can't be easily removed and even after being removed the related settings may persist. And we can be sure that traditional Assistant will be terminated fairly soon, and in fact I believe later this year Google is terminating that Assistant on all Google Home devices as well.

And that's about all I have on this right now, because the entire situation is a confused train wreck and with so many variations between devices it's just impossible to get very specific regarding solutions.

If you're happy with the Gemini AI integrations then you don't really need to do anything except enjoy them, But if that's not your feeling -- and it certainly isn't mine -- we can be excused I think for wondering if Google is making this so confusing on purpose or if it's just a terrible consequence of their panicky push to get AI into everything, and not be left behind the other Big Tech firms who are trying to do much the same thing.

Google used to generally be pretty good about asking permission from users before making changes that might be considered controversial. But that was the old Google, not today's Google where it's all about AI and if you don't want their AI in many aspects of your life, you're just a user who they consider to be a loser -- and that's very sad.

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GhostOnTheHalfShell
@GhostOnTheHalfShell@masto.ai  ·  activity timestamp 3 days ago
@lauren

The way people should treat the intrusion by AI is to have people ask themselves. Do they want somebody like Mark Zuckerberg or even the CEO of Google camped out in their living room and following them around every moment of their lives, keeping a detailed journal of everything they say and do everything they purchase.

Are people prepared to have somebody like Mark Zuckerberg living in their heads and rooming up with them?
GhostOnTheHalfShell
@GhostOnTheHalfShell@masto.ai  ·  activity timestamp 3 days ago
@lauren

This may be the case, but there should be a way to convey what we know of Mark to them.

In case you haven’t noticed the right wing will say X is out to raid Christian homes. And for a certain audience, they completely accept this.

Take the lesson that the right understands that you can convey characterize people and things and it doesn’t have to be Zuckerberg necessarily to say there’s do you want some creepy, wealthy person taking notes on you every moment of your life
Alpha Male Martha Stewart 🍉🌈
@fiend_unpleasant@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp 3 days ago
@lauren @ai6yr realistically if you want to use technology and not be beholden to the whims of the techno-bourgeoisie you MUST learn how to do things for yourselves. Tech illiteracy is what got us here in the first place. This all started when Bill Gates (friend of Jeffery Epstien, GMO food Stan, etm) wanted to put a computer on every desk. They will not just GIVE you the tools to circumvent their will.
Lauren Weinstein
@lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org  ·  activity timestamp 3 days ago
@fiend_unpleasant @ai6yr I disagree. Many people are being forced into using this tech because alternatives have been increasingly limited (phone support, etc.) and they have no choice. Most only know enough to do the bare minimum that they need to get through the day, and do not have the time nor background to learn more. Nor is blaming the users EVER a valid position as far as I'm concerned. Many access the Internet on a single very old device and are not in a position financially or otherwise to do more.
Alpha Male Martha Stewart 🍉🌈
@fiend_unpleasant@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 days ago
@lauren @ai6yr in the 25 years I have been trying to convince people to use Linux the vast majority have said. That looks hard, no thanks. Most people are willing to just buy a new device instead of learn anything. Most people are lazy, just like with their tech as tyrany comes they will just join up. I will always help those who ask, but I'm over trying to convert the masses.
Lauren Weinstein
@lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org  ·  activity timestamp 2 days ago
@fiend_unpleasant @ai6yr It's not a matter of laziness. Man, I really don't like this "blame the users" kind of attitude. People have busy lives. Many have NO tech background. They use what works to get by, especially people who have been forced into using tech they really didn't want to use as other customer support channels have dried up. I have rarely been successful at getting people who use Windows apps to move and stay on Linux. Some have tried, but went back to Windows when Linux started doing its usual mess with shared library conflicts and incompatibilities. I have been moderately more successful at getting people to move from Windows to CrOS devices. My servers and desktops are all Linux, but even after having worked with UNIX since the 70s, I still have to fight Linux systems not infrequently.
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GhostOnTheHalfShell
@GhostOnTheHalfShell@masto.ai  ·  activity timestamp 3 days ago
@lauren @fiend_unpleasant @ai6yr

On this point, you are 100% correct. For so many now in part because the war against tyranny is a protracted we are in a protracted conflict with tyranny, demands that we looked to our community to provide options for everyone.

We have to look towards local action to provide options to people. This is the only way the mini have been able to check the abuse of the few. It has practical and strategic use.