AsktheBuilder.com Issue #1287 (I think)

July 7, 2024

Dear ,

The Growing Artificial Intelligence Monster

I've got my ear to the rail about artificial intelligence (AI). How about you? Having been a train conductor, I know that holding your ear to a steel ribbon works well.

Are you too busy to be concerned about AI? Do you feel it's not going to impact you? Do you feel like you have no control over AI?

Artificial Intelligence  is seeping into everything. The software I use to create this newsletter uses it. Just moments ago a window opened asking me if I wanted AI to create a snappy subject line.

I declined the offer deciding to use my tiny gray cells. How did I do? Did my subject line get you to open this issue?

The AI Bot at AAA

A week ago I had a horrible telephone interaction with AI when I called AAA to have my truck towed after a catastrophic brake failure.

I responded to a survey a few days later. I knew what to write to get a human to call me. After speaking with the nice AAA woman, I asked her, "Is there anyway you can get the president to call me? I want that decision maker to hear about this from my own lips."

Hours later the president of the Northeast region AAA called me. He admitted they're having all sorts of problems with the AI telephone interface.

I shared a key point. I told the president, "No one is ever in a good mood that calls your 800 number. Each caller is in a bad mood because they're stuck on the side of the road. They're stressed out and the LAST THING she/he needs is to be frustrated like I was with a dumb bot." He appreciated my input.

During our call, I shared how just a few years ago when I called for another tow, I was connected to a human in seconds. Within 90 seconds the call was over and all went well.

This time I had to repeat things three or four times to the AI bot and it still didn't get it.

I'm not a fan of AI. Nor should you be.

A Recent Article

Just a few days ago I read a very good article about AI. Finally, an author was starting to zero in on what I've felt all along is the real problem.

I URGE YOU TO READ THIS ARTICLE. 

Here's a pull quote that I feel condenses the main point:

"There are going to be very few places where there’s truly authentic, original human thought..."

You may ask, "Why would human content become scarce?"

The answer is simple. 

Humans like ME don't have any incentive to create new content. It's not worth our time. The free content model supported by ads is being eviscerated by AI.

You've been able to access all of my website content, and that of thousands of other websites, for over 25 years for free but AI is closing that door whether you like it or not.

Are you willing to gamble THOUSANDS of your dollars using advice from an AI bot that ingests BAD information?

Junk In Junk Out

Do you know how fast ChatGPT can create an article on how to finish drywall? It can do it in less than five seconds. 

It might take a author like me an hour, or more, to compose a detailed step-by-step article that contains all you need to know.

My article would contain personal insight I obtained from 50 years of finishing drywall.

How will any human author get compensated for investing all that time when ChatGPT does it for free?

Keep in mind, ChatGPT can create entire WEBSITES FILLED with AI content in just seconds.

The ChatGPT article(s) will very likely contain errors based on bogus information it's scraped from comments from YouTube, Reddit, drywall blogs, etc.

The Internet is LITTERED with a vast amount of incorrect information about ALL TOPICS. I'm sure you've run into this.

Here's an example. How many times have you seen cleaning advice where the person who failed high school chemistry says to mix vinegar with baking soda to make a magic cleaning solution?

Do you know what happens when you mix those two ingredients together? Do you remember what happens when you mix an acid with a base?

Home improvement is a special case. Everyone who's painted a room all of a sudden is an expert professional painter. You can see their video shorts on YouTube or TikTok. Yet this 20-something-year-old human has no clue what the difference is between vinyl-acetate, acrylic, or urethane resins.

Do you know what the resin in paint does? I do. I've written about paint resins for decades.

How will I get compensated to share my 50-plus-years of hard-earned experience with you? Hold that thought and keep reading.

Humans are Being Kicked to the Curb

Let's get personal. I've stopped creating EXTRA new content because it simply doesn't pay. All I do now is write my weekly syndicated newspaper column.

Why should I labor over new extra articles for you when Google DEVALUES my content and FAVORS those produced using AI?

I witness this happen each day. I see soft and fluffy content created using AI on Home Depot's website. Google thinks HD is an EXPERT and has more Authority about a topic than someone like me or any other real human who knows how to fix things the RIGHT WAY.

Google is giving Home Depot and other similar websites the top three organic listing positions. Most people never look beyond the first three search results.

Each week websites like AsktheBuilder.com are losing traffic. At some point it simply doesn't make sense to keep the lights on.

Is there another way to keep AsktheBuilder.com content available to you for the foreseeable ? I'll be asking for your ideas in a moment, so hang tight.

70% of My YouTube Video Comments are WRONG

The AI bots have already scraped YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, and millions of other websites. Imagine how much CRAP information the bots have ingested and are regurgitating back to you on other websites you visit.

How do the AI bots know what information is correct? Do they just decide using the psychological trigger of Social Proof? What I mean is that if the vast majority of content they've scraped says it's a good idea to add water to concrete, then does the AI bot spew out to you, "Listen, if the concrete seems too dry out of the truck, add 2 gallons of water per cubic yard."

So you know, you NEVER WANT TO DO THAT. I share why this is a very bad idea in past concrete installation columns of mine.

I moderate each and every comment on my YouTube videos. I DELETE 70% of them because the commenter is spewing out incorrect information about something. I don't want that crap underneath my videos. I thank YouTube for giving me that control, but it takes lots of time to moderate all those comments.

Other comments may be about how to finish concrete. I see horrific information about finishing concrete all the time. If you could talk to the commenter in person asking her/him what they know about the Portland Cement Association, my guess is you'll get a blank stare.

Another comment may be about pressure washing. Most people think that pressure washing is the only way to really clean something. They're wrong, unless you're using an ultra-high PSI industrial machine similar to the one used on the hull of the USS New Jersey in the past three months.

Aim the wand of one of those at your house and you'll cut a hole in your vinyl siding.

What's the Solution? What's your Plan?

How do you plan to get high-quality home improvement information in the future created by a human who has walked the walk?

Where will you get it? How do you know the article or video you're ingesting was created by a REAL HUMAN that has decades of hands-on experience? You do know that AI videos are out there that are tricking you, right? Surely you're aware of this. Just Google it.

Can you afford to make a mistake using BAD INFORMATION created by AI?

One mistake may cost you $10,000, or more.

Please take this SHORT ANONYMOUS survey and let's see if it helps you come up with a plan.

The last question in the survey is special. I hand you a magic wand and ask you to imagine you own AsktheBuilder.com.

What would you do to keep the lights on? Hint: Do NOT suggest getting sponsors - they want TRAFFIC in return for money. The traffic is dwindling not increasing - see above about who Google is favoring.

I'll share the survey results in two weeks.

"Yeah, right. That's the way it is. It's down there and I'm in here. I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'.

Andy Dufresne just before he escapes from Shawshank prison.

CLICK HERE to see this classic movie scene.

#DoNotComply

Once bitten, twice shy...

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

The BEST Love Story of all time - well, maybe a close second.

That's enough for a Sunday morning.

Peace out.

Tim Carter (PhD, FullyAwakeology)

Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Electromagnetic Adventures: www.W3ATB.com

My Pronouns: Told/You/So

Do It Right, Not Over!