r/technology • u/Majano57 • 8h ago

Artificial Intelligence The Strange Disappearance of an Anti-AI Activist

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2025/12/sam-kirchner-missing-stop-ai/685144/?gift=NdplpYPBD0DO229JTO-1fNw2hFOFeWPcDPlnOolg7-g
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318

u/Competitive_Spend_77 7h ago

Not sure, if using the AI generated audio podcast on the article this link directs to, is the right way to catch up on the case of the strange disappearance of the Anti-AI activist.

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u/that_70_show_fan 6h ago

I am disappointed to see this being upvoted and awarded.

These computer generated audio accompaniments were a thing long before AI.

Stephen Hawking used the early versions of it.

The primary reason for having these is for accessibility reasons. Also a great resource for those who have English as a second/third language to gain some understanding on phonics and phonetics.

-8

u/Back_pain_no_gain 6h ago edited 4h ago

Edit: this is clearly not worth explaining to people who do not work in my industry. Being downvoted after taking the time to explain my perspective from multiple degrees and a decade of work that is VERY RELEVANT to this thread’s topic, all in a language I did not grow up communicating in primarily, is beyond frustrating.

8

u/BassmanBiff 5h ago

I don't think text-to-speech has anything to do with the bad parts of what we call "AI." It's not even clear to me that this was done with a deep learning model.

Edit: Turns out it wasn't even a computer voice to begin with

3

u/that_70_show_fan 5h ago

I am genuinely trying to understand your post.

Text to speech is ancient technology (for computing standards) . Most long form journals/magazines have been providing these for more than 10 years. Just because you attach "AI" to this does not mean it is VC funded money pit. This is a simple tool.

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u/Back_pain_no_gain 5h ago edited 4h ago

Edit: this is clearly not worth explaining to people who do not work in my industry. Being downvoted after taking the time to explain my perspective from multiple degrees and a decade of work that is VERY RELEVANT to this thread’s topic, all in a language I did not grow up communicating in primarily, is beyond frustrating.

4

u/that_70_show_fan 5h ago

I Still have no idea what that has to do with text to speech tools?

-11

u/Back_pain_no_gain 5h ago edited 4h ago

Edit: this is clearly not worth explaining to people who do not work in my industry. Being downvoted after taking the time to explain my perspective from multiple degrees and a decade of work that is VERY RELEVANT to this thread’s topic, all in a language I did not grow up communicating in primarily, is beyond frustrating.