Reprint in its entirety, "ChatGPT: Savior, Slanderer or Spy?"

One of our clients posted this article on the latest AI happenings that we thought it was significant. We asked them for permission to repost it to our blog as we know it is relevant to our audience. Sometimes these type articles have a tendency to disappear, so we want to get the word out on our blog as well. Having said, we are very happy to share this article and highly recommend it to anyone who is either into AI tech, or is worried that AI is going to ruin our world. Read, enjoy and share it. This is an article for our times.  

Sincerely, 

Hector Cisneros

ChatGPT: Savior, Slanderer or Spy?

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

In the past couple of decades the public has seen the arrival of technology that isn't just a game changing, it's revolutionized the way we live and work.  Some of these technologies have been beneficial, such as the amount of money saved in postage due to email and texting.  Some of these technologies like ransomware have been harmful.  And some, like autonomous vehicles and cryptocurrency have yet to be decided.  Yet none of the technologies that have come before offer the kinds of promise and perils of artificial intelligence.  To most of us the idea of AI brings to mind dystopian Sci-Fi flicks like 2001: A Space Odyssey where a conscious computer loses its electronic mind, or The Terminator that portends all out war between robots and humanity.  While entertaining, most people don't believe that either of these outcomes is likely to happen.  At least not for another hundred years or so.  Well, I'm here to tell you that a taste of a future where artificially intelligent machines have a profound and sometimes troublesome effect on humankind has already arrived.  What I'm talking about is web-enabled, AI-powered chatbots that do much more than hold a lively conversation with users.  While several are in the beta testing phase, at least one, OpenAI's ChatGPT is not only readily available to the public, it has already created considerable controversy.

How the I-Spies Gave Big Brother a Bad Name

 By Hector Cisneros

Image courtesy Pixabay

In George Orwell’s Sci-Fi novel 1984, there was no place the masses could go where they weren’t being observed and coerced by Big Brother.  While 1984 was a work of fiction and the year 1984 came and went without a hitch, fast forward 37 years and suddenly the kind of dystopian surveillance society George Orwell portrayed isn’t such a stretch of the imagination.  Everyone from governments to business owners and numerous consumers routinely use video surveillance to keep an eye on the public.  Data mining is a way of life online and off.  The NSA acknowledges that it routinely monitors phone, text, and emails being sent and received by us all.  On top of that, big businesses are now employing artificial intelligence to sift through the mountains of data they routinely collect on every man woman, and child online.  In today’s blog, I will give you the latest updates on what's what when it comes to Internet spying.

The Current Evolution of A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) in the World

Courtesy of WorkingTheWebToWin.com

By Hector Cisneros

AI - Artificial Intelligence, the world is a buzz with the term. Tons of commercials tout that it's will be the savior of mankind. Many of the latest movies are featuring it, and of course the main players are all saying that their AI is the best for your needs. But what is true and what is hype? How much can your Google Assistant, Amazon's Echo, Apple's SIRI, Microsoft's Cortana and IBM Watson really do? In some cases a lot less that they say and in some cases more than you know.  It's like any tool, it can be useful when operated properly, it can be a spy, a weapon or even an expensive toy, but regardless of any potential dangers, the world is clamoring for this Star Trek Tech in huge numbers. In this episode of Working the Web to Win, we will explore the state of the top AI contenders. What they can and can't do, as well as providing resources so you can decide whether you're ready for an artificially intelligent world. So get ready to prompt your favorite AI devices for more information as we delve into the Current Evolution of our AI world.

Echo For The Prosecution

By Carl Weiss

Courtesy of  Flickr

“Do you swear to tell the data, the whole data and nothing but the data, so help you Intel?”

“Dwee Doo.”

When you think about it, it almost seems like a plot for a sci-fi movie.  The police, while investigating a murder, bring in for questioning an Android.  Said Android was witness to murder.  The prosecution via the courts compels the Android to testify as to what it heard when the murder occurred.

Hector The Connector's Internet Marketing Predictions are 99% Accurate

By Hector Cisneros

Every year I write my prediction article because it's a fun and useful thing to do. It forces me to do some serious research and to take a hard look at what may happen in the near future. I take prognosticating seriously, even though I know my prognosticating is only as good as my research and instinct. Having said that, I have been right 97% of the times in the last six years. I am sure this year will not be any different. So, tighten your seatbelt and get ready for a wild ride, as I predict the coming year's crazy internet happenings. Here’s what's coming at you.

No Ifs, Ands or Bots

Courtesy of  Flickr

By Carl Weiss

If you think that household robots are a thing of the future, think again. Robots are starting to poke their heads up everywhere.  Whereas little as a few years ago. The only personal robots were those that swept up after you, the next generation of bots are being primed to do everything from entertaining your children, to performing surgery.  More importantly, the rise of artificial intelligence means that before you know it, you could be competing with bots for jobs.  If you don’t know your droid from a hole in the ground, stay tuned as I part the curtains to show you what’s what with bots.

Robots that Rocked the Millenium

Courtesy of Wikipedi

1998 Furby

While everyone in the 20^th century was familiar with movie droids like R2D2 and 3CPO, by the turn of the century, household robots were little more than toys.  Take the Furby, for instance.  Looking like a cross between a gremlin and an owl, this robotic plaything sold nearly 2 million units in 1998 alone.    While these furry bots don’t do much more than blink their eyelids, wiggle their ears and talk, their appeal was in the fact that they came out of the box speaking only Furbish and you as the owner, would teach Furby English.   They also had various pressure sensors such as on their belly and inside their mouths that when pressed would elicit a response.  The unit also came with an infrared sensor that allowed it to communicate with other Furbies.  While amusing, these turn of the century bots didn’t have any practical applications other than entertainment. ( Furby later went on to sell more than 40 million units.)

1999 Aibo

So if you can’t have a robot friend, how about a robotic variant of man’s best friend?  Sony Robotics launched Aibo, the robotic dog in 1999.  This little doggie wagged its tail, did play bows, walked on all fours and did a little doggie dance.  While it won’t fetch your slippers, it also doesn’t need to be house-trained.  It also likes to play with a ball.  While it doesn’t bite or bark, it will give you its paw.  Sony stopped making them in 2006 when they shut their robotic division down.  But you can still find them for sale on eBay and Amazon in the $500-$700 range.  Good dog!

2000 Asimo

Courtesy of  Wikimedia Commons

That’s not to say that super cool robots weren’t being developed at the turn of the century.  They were.  They just weren’t being sold to the general public.  2000 saw the birth of Asimo by, of all things, Honda.  Yeah, the same company that makes cars and motorcycles.  While most people think that the robot got its name by shortening the monicker of I Robot author Isaac Asimov, Asimo actually stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility.  And the Step part of the title is the key, because Asimo walks, trots, climbs stairs and even kicks soccer balls. 

Looking like a 4-foot tall astronaut, Asimo was designed with service in mind.  Made of magnesium covered with plastic, this bipedal droid was created to assist its human owners.  The rub is that to date; Honda has never offered the unit for sale, which is a shame since this is exactly what the average homeowner wants.  The problem is that each unit costs 6-figures to produce.  As a result, Asimo has served as a kind of robot ambassador by going on a worldwide tour during the years 2003 to 2005.  So if you are in the market for a robot maid like Rosey the Robot, you’re just going to have to wait. 

Courtesy of  Wikimedia Commons

2002 Roomba

While not exactly a maid, the Roomba was made to sweep floors all by itself.  Once activated, the droid which looks like a rolling floor scale navigates your home by using sensors to detect dirt, as well as change directions whenever it encounters an obstacle.  It also keeps an electronic eye out for steep drops to keep it from taking a tumble down the stairs.  (As of 2016, there have been seven generations of Roomba.)  When one considers that more than 10 million units have been sold, then one would have to say that iRobot, maker of the Roomba, is the one that really cleaned up.

2004 Robosapien

Designed by Mark Tilden and produced by Wow Wee Toys, was an advanced remote controlled robotic toy that walked, talked (sort of), danced, picked up objects (sometimes) and tried his best to do his owners bidding.  Standing at just over a foot tall, the bipedal bot sold more than 1.4 million units in 2004 alone.  When you consider that each unit costs in the neighborhood of $100, this is a lot of bot for the buck.  Another first for Robosapien was its participation in the world’s first soccer tournament for humanoid robots that took place at the German Open in 2005.

2007 Pleo the Dinosaur

For all of you waiting for a real live Jurassic Park moment, how does a robotic baby dinosaur grab you?  While he won’t menace you and your family, Pleo does have a tendency to nip at fingers.  He also likes to be stroked like a cat and tickled. Like any respectable baby Dino, he will also toddle around the floor.  ($639 on Amazon)

2010 World’s 1^st Robot Chorus Line

While they may not give the Rockettes a run for their money, on June 21, 2010, twenty nao robots strutted their stuff on stage to Rabel’s Bolero.  Similar articulated robots are available on Amazon for $420 that dance, do yoga and perform kung fu moves.  Can you say robotic Bruce Lee?

The Best Bots of 2015/2016

Robomow RC306

If you thought the Roomba was a great way to avoid the drudgery of vacuuming, wait until you meet Robomow, the robotic lawn mower.  For 1,200, you get a lawnbot that not only knows its way around your yard, but it knows its way home to its charger.  It even comes with an app that you can use to phone home to tell Robomow when to do its thing.  Your teenager will thank you.

iRobot Looj

Here’s a solution to another dirty job, cleaning out the gutters.  iRobot, the same company that makes the Roomba has created the Looj, the gutter cleaning robot.  I am not making this up.  All that is required is for you to climb a ladder and place Looj on the gutter so it can do its thing.  Looking like a cross between a tiny toy tank and an alley cat, this $300 handybot.

Gourmia GCR-1700 10-in-1 

Programmable Multi Cooker with Exclusive Robotic Hands-Free Stirrer. You’ve heard the old adage, “A watched pot never boils?”  Now kitchen appliance maker Gourmia has developed an automated cooker that purportedly can stir and cook all kinds of meals for you at the touch of a button.  While it won’t put the likes of Emeril Lagasse out of business, if you’re all thumbs in the kitchen, you might want to check out this robot chef. ($129 on Amazon.)

Coming to a Store Near You

While all of these bots are interesting, entertaining and even useful, they are still a far cry from being anywhere as intelligent as the movie version of R2D2, not to mention 3CPO.  So when can we expect to see droids that can truly interact with us?

JIBO (Pronounced Gee-Bow)

Touted as the world’s first family robot, Jibo is different from every bot that has come before.  While he doesn’t get around, he moves around, able to swivel his head 360 degrees to track you and yours.  Why would you want him to do that?  He is a terrific cameraman that can capture those magic moments in stills or video.  He’s also the ultimate digital assistant, capable of keeping you up to date with your busy schedule. He’s a storyteller and a digital valet that can order take out and turn on the lights when you enter a room.  So when can you get a Jibo of your own?  Soon, if the folks at jibo.com have anything to say about it. All you can do for now is sign up for their prelaunch waitlist.

Autonomous AI Personal Robot

Here is a Jibo on a stick that was crowdsourced on kickstarter.  Purportedly able to do most everything that Jibo can and then some, this $1,499 personal digital assistant on steroids is touted as the world’s first artificial intelligence personal robot, she can get around on wheels as she interacts with you throughout your busy day.  She can wake you up in the morning, start the coffee and help you plan your day.  Heck, she can give you fashion tips, keep track of your vital statistics and participate in office meetings, if you can believe her press releases.  She’s supposed to start shipping on April 30, 2017.

https://www.autonomous.ai/personal-robot

Courtesy of Pixabay

No article about bot would be complete without mention droids from Star Wars. In fact, R2D2 was one of the first take home droids to follow voice commands to scout your house or act as a guard to warn you when someone was coming. Ofcourse it could also follow prorammed routs and routines. New StarWrs fan will be happy to know that the cute BB8 droid is has been available to take home since last Christmas when the new episode came out. Like its prediseor R2D2, it can accept programs to perform many different type of task. The coolest thing is it rolls around just like the one in the movie. Here is a list of features from VAT19 website;

• Controllable and interactive spherical droid
• Bluetooth-enabled RC droid compatible with iOS and Android 4.4.2+
• Listens and responds to voice commands
• “Projects” holographic communications via augmented reality
• Autonomous behavior and adaptive personality
• Officially-licensed Star Wars product
• Includes: BB-8 droid, inductive charging cradle, USB cable
• External material: painted plastic

The bottom line on personal bots is that while Star Wars fans might have to wait a bit longer before they can have a smart droid of their very own, at this juncture the prospect isn’t in a galaxy far away.

Get your FREE ebook today!

In this article, I have discussed the current state of bot technology, especially for personal use. I have covered what I believe are the 12 best personal bot develop since 1998 through the present. Lots of detail, pictures and video are provided for the reader to view and explore.

If you feel your business could use some help with its marketing, contact us at 904-410-2091. We will provide a free marketing analysis to help you get better results. If you found this article useful please share it with your friends, family, and co-workers. If you would like to learn more about this subject, visit the notes page on this blog for the BlogTalkRadio show dated 11/01/16. I recommend checking out "The Next Generation - Putting Your Best Robot Forward" and "Praise the Borg and Pass the Ammunition".  You can also search for other related articles by typing in “typing in robots or androids” in the search box top of this blog. Also, don't forget to plus us on Google+.  

If you'd like a free copy of our eBook, "Internet Marketing Tips for the 21st Century," please fill in the form below and we will give you immediate access to it. Your information is always kept private and is never sold.

Carl Weiss is president of WorkingtheWebtoWin.com a digital marketing agency in Jacksonville, Florida that routinely works with bloggers and other online marketers. 

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The State of Internet Privacy & Security in America Today

Courtesy of technotification.com

By Hector Cisneros

Our world is an ever widening set of connections, growing in complexity and diversity every day.  With each new type of connection comes the potential for hacking.  Every new Internet of things (IoT) device comes with the potential for loss of privacy. With each new type of counter-surveillance comes the potential for abuse from the government and criminals as well. Most of the technology we have invented sprang from an idea of how to make things easier, more user-friendly, and more useful to the average person. This approach often neglects the necessary safeguards needed to protect unsophisticated users from very intelligent and sophisticated criminals bent on taking advantage of the loopholes present in technology that has been rushed to market. In this episode of Working the Web to Win, we will cover the current state of US internet privacy and security, so that every consumer will be prepared for the onslaught of loss of privacy that is coming. So read on and learn how to protect yourself in the current era of Internet insecurity.

Google is Playing Musical Chairs with Ranking and it will Cost Us Billions

Courtesy of  www.flickr.com

By Hector E Cisneros

Yes - Google Gone Ga Ga - Again! Every year Google, spins their secrete algorithm roulette wheel to see what they want to emphasize. This year is no different. Now Google is changing the game in a big way. Google is making core changes to how they search page looks, feels and list SERP's (search engine results pages). They have changed how many paid ads are listed and, where they are listed. On top of that they have also changed how many organic listings show up. Plus, there are many backend changes that are not visible to the naked eye that directly affect ranking. So, if you want to know what these Google Algorithm changes have in stored for you, read on and learn what Googles game of, Algorithm Musical Chairs means to you.

I-Spies Are Looking for You

Courtesy of Workingthewebtowin.com

By Carl Weiss

Just when you thought online privacy couldn’t get any worst, technology developers have unveiled software that lets your smartphone eavesdrop on your TV viewing habits.  Called SilverPush, this Android-based third-party app uses your smartphone to listen for television shows, in turn providing advertisers with information concerning user’s viewing habits. When the app was unleashed in Europe, it caused the US Federal Trade Commission to send letters to12 developers known to be using SilverPush.  While the developer of SilverPush claims that the software hasn’t been used in the US as of yet, the feds warned them that use on American smartphones would result in the developers being held liable for damages if users weren’t made aware of the data being collected.

What’s Up with Web 3.0?

Courtesy of WorkingTheWebToWin.com

By Carl Weiss

This ain’t your daddy’s world wide web.  If you thought that Web 2.0 was mind blowing, wait until you see what’s coming.  Where Web 2.0 turned an online research tool into a global social phenomenon that redefined how we interact with one another, Web 3.0 promises to take us where no web surfer has gone before.  That’s chiefly due to the fact that the next generation of online technology will be AI enabled and able to deliver more information faster and in more ways than is now possible.  If you want to see what Web 3.0 has in store for you in the not too distant future, buckle up as I give you a sneak preview in this week’s blog.

Do Smartphones Dream About Facebook?

Courtesy of pixabay.com

By Carl Weiss

You may not have noticed, but artificial intelligence, otherwise known as AI, has been sending its all-knowing tendrils slowly but surely onto the World Wide Web.  Many of the largest tech companies are arduously working to be the first to perfect this technology so they can corner the market. The big players include Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, IBM, and Amazon. Google has been in the headlines a lot recently. At first, its foray online was tenuous at best and comical at worst when Google created an AI that it turned loose to try to make sense of the images it encountered.  Hoping to find a workaround for one of the search engine’s biggest lapses, which makes search engine spiders blind to images and videos, the attempt resulted in hilarity when Google’s creation began to morph images as it tried to make sense of queries posed about them. 

The Robots Are Coming - Are You Ready?

Will our New Bot's be our Buddies or cause us Robot Rage?

Courtesy of  en.wikipedia.org

By Carl Weiss

Is there a robot or android in your future? More importantly, what will the ultimate effect on society be once robots start taking over. How will what has until now, been a unique human experience change? Until recently, robots, (aka androids for star Trek fans or droids for Star Wars fans)  have for the most part been relegated to factories and the living room rug. But all that is about to change. A number of firms are currently making robots that are designed to work alongside us in warehouses, retail establishments and offices. More importantly, as these droids become more autonomous, will they slowly but surely push their human counterparts out of the picture altogether? Will their growing intelligence become a threat to the human species itself, as a number of scientists believe? Whether human beings embrace these automated assistants as a boon, or people begin to rage against the machines that were meant to help them, is still too soon to tell. Love them or hate them, join me today as I take a look at the rise of the robots in the 21st century.

When Will Computers Out Think You?

By Carl Weiss 

Courtesy of pxhere.com

As I sit here thinking about artificial intelligence, I am reminded of all the amazing motion pictures that predict the evolution of computer to thinking and self replication machines. Some of my favorites are "Terminator," "iRobot," "War Games," and "Battle Star Galactica." In all of these movies, the computers become more powerful than the people who created them. Some have happy endings, other not so much.