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Echoes of the past
It is extremely disturbing to hear former workers at Anthropic warn of the impact artificial intelligence may have on the future of humanity (“Anthropic insiders stunning AI warning”, 11/9). AI technology systems could develop an independent power of their own, subsequently out of the control of humans.
I am reminded of the splitting of the atom that developed into nuclear power and nuclear weapons (the atomic bomb that devastated Hiroshima) and continue to pose a constant threat to civilisation. The development of AI is proceeding so fast that political leadership seems unable to grasp the magnitude of its potential danger, while a few individuals make billions of dollars.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
Sword of Damocles
Human inventions are a double-edged sword. The Anthropic article reports that artificial super-intelligence, is capable of killing us all in a decade. Toxic pesticides, efficient factory robots and sophisticated weapons, originally considered beneficial, are projected to eventually contribute to our demise too. I’m not sure how any individual or social intervention can prevent these things happening. Nevertheless, the other side of the sword could be a more pristine environment due to human extinction – what the Earth’s other inhabitants yearn for.
Andrew Smith, Leongatha
Burbling along
Your correspondent (Letters, 10/9) is right re postcode snobbery. More examples include parts of Moorabbin changing to Hampton East or Bentleigh East (which used to be East Bentleigh), Cheltenham to Pennydale, Gardenvale to Brighton and East Brighton to Brighton East (except hopefully on my Age letters!).
Samantha Keir, East Brighton
Keep to ourselves
Australia should not need a crystal ball or Kevin Rudd’s undoubted expertise to predict the inevitability of China’s takeover of Taiwan (“Rudd warns nation on borrowed time”, 11/9). The likelihood of a takeover, peaceful or not, has always been a question not of whether, but when, and there is frustratingly little anyone can do about it. Turning a blind eye will not work any better than appeasement or resistance. Australia will be wise to get its own house in order and not seek to interfere in other people’s problems.
Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor
Sky is not falling
Let’s look at the maths behind the overblown rhetoric that is coming from certain politicians. “The sky is falling with a supposed 10 per cent drop in the housing market.” That market has risen 2300 per cent to 2600 per cent in the past 50 years. Let that sink in. If there is a 10 per cent fall that would only bring house prices back to 2024 prices – and they were overblown then. Too much scaremongering and less proper analysis is being done by people who have vested interest in creating disruption.
Greg Tuck, Warragul
Symbolism is a start
Your correspondent (Letters, 11/9) uses deflection to avoid the legitimate point Ed Miliband is making (Israel blasts UK’s West Bank stance″, 10/9). Rightful individual owners of land, which has been in their hands for generations, are being threatened with the intention of forcing them off that land.
The Israeli Defence Force is doing little or nothing to protect them. So who is going to come to their aid? In these circumstances the UK is right to impose sanctions on illegal settlers – even if they achieve little. This action may be symbolic but at least it’s a start.
Ivan Glynn, Vermont
Problem, no solution
Columnist Jenna Price and your correspondents (Letters, 11/9) rightly point out that far too many parents appear to leave too much of the teaching of proper behaviour to school teachers.
They, however, do not address the main problem that some parents are simply not cut out for the task. Some lack the necessary skills, some lack the required interest and others are just too busy. Asking parents to do better will almost certainly go unheeded by many of those most in need.
Although perhaps a harsh judgment, it is a simple fact that nearly everyone is capable of producing children. Regrettably, some people shouldn’t.
In other words, we seem to have an intractable problem with no solution in sight.
Al Morris, Doncaster
The time factor
Once I was approached by an angry father with the words: “You want to call yourself a teacher, and you cannot even control my kid!” I was very upset, having not taught long at this stage. I asked my principal for advice. He asked, how long per week do you teach the student? Two hours a week! How long is he with his parents?
I was reconciled. Still teaching and loving it.
Luise Mock, Tawonga South
Fertility not a factor
In a parent-teacher meeting I explained how the student in question’s behaviour towards his peers, especially females, could improve. Aggressive response, “Do you have children?” As it happens, I did not and could not. Was told, “I thought not.”
I have several teaching and other qualifications, but was not told on entering any of the courses that fertility was a prerequisite.
Rosalind McIntosh, Camberwell
Howard’s way to war
It seems John Howard has conveniently forgotten he sent troops into the folly of Iraq on the false premise of weapons of mass destruction. Iraq and Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11 and he ignored the intelligence that stated Hussein was not a threat.
Ross Hosking, Blackwood, SA
Climate for change
Amid the distraction of outrage and u-turns from One Nation and the muddle of the Coalition, the government gives away more of our gas and gives way on our climate (“Labor softens gas export rules to calm Asian buyers”, 11/9).
The government claims it is helping our Asian neighbours. It is not. More gas for export helps the gas companies make more money, that’s all.
More action on climate will help our Asian neighbours. In a warming climate, these regions will be among the first to become unliveable. There is an urgent need for more Independents and Greens in parliament, to keep our climate on the agenda, as the major parties seem to have lost interest.
Jenny Kashyap, Bentleigh
Source the cash, Trump
Missing from the discussion re President Donald Trump’s offer to pay every US citizen $5000 is the vital unanswered question: Where is the money coming from? What other government services will be slashed to fulfil his outrageous bribe?
Meg Paul, Camberwell
See you next time, NFL
The San Francisco 49ers – They came, they saw, they conquered. They spent a full week acclimatising, were generous with their time among the public, and made many fans. The Los Angeles Rams chose to fly in about 25 hours before game time. They were soundly beaten 27-7. They flew out. It was a wonderful event for Melbourne and was an overwhelming success. I still don’t understand the game, but hope it returns next year.
Geoff Lipton, Caulfield North
Don’t bother, NFL
America’s NFL conquered Melbourne with over 100,000 spectators at the MCG. Unfortunately, the game was basically boring with a few flashes of excitement. On the other side of Australia, Fremantle and Geelong put on a game that had fans excited and involved from the start to the finish. Long may Aussie Rules survive.
Peter Roche, Carlton
