Monthly Archives: April 2023

The Cost of Convenience

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I’ve had very little control over anything in my life this semester.  Between illness, injury, and family issues, my life outside work has been less than ideal.  My time has been more overextended than I would like.

I’m not normally someone willing to pay extra for conveniences, but this semester has been an exception to that rule. When I had Covid-19 at the start of January I signed up for a free trial of a grocery delivery service.  It was exactly what I needed to get some food into the house without having to go out and share my germs with the world.  When I injured my leg later that same month and started hobbling around on crutches, I made the decision not to cancel that service.  By the time I felt physically able to resume grocery shopping, my time at home was suddenly very limited as I needed to spend a huge amount of time caring for my parents.  I’ve finally got my family situation to a comfortable place again, but next week I’m going to have surgery to correct the knee injury that put me on crutches back in January.  I’m just not willing to let go of my grocery delivery service yet.

Between the subscription for the delivery service and driver tips, I’m certain that I have spent at least a couple hundred dollars more on my groceries than I would have had I gone to pick them up myself. (And I’m using what I believe is the least expensive home delivery option.)  That extra money has been worth it to me due to my circumstances.  But this is not something that will be worth it to me for the long haul.  I’m pretty sure that I’ll be pushing a cart around the grocery aisles again come June.  My crazed life should have returned to a normal pace, and my knee should be recovered by then.  I definitely love the convenience of having my groceries dropped at my front door.  But I think about the extra money I’ve been spending, and I’d much rather be spending that money on different things—like concert tickets, music festivals, and camping adventures.

The price of convenience can be worth it from time to time (so don’t beat yourself up for ordering takeout while you are studying for exams).  But if you are paying for convenience on a regular basis, you have to take a moment to weigh out whether that extra money is really worth it to you.

Can I Be Replaced By AI?

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool that can be used for good or for evil. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of AI for scams. Scammers are using AI to create fake voices, images, and videos that can be used to trick people into giving them money or personal information.

One of the most common ways that AI is used in scams is to create fake voices. Scammers can use AI to create a voice that sounds exactly like someone you know, such as a friend, family member, or even a government official. This can be used to trick you into thinking that the person you are talking to is legitimate, when in fact they are a scammer.

Another way that AI is used in scams is to create fake images. Scammers can use AI to create images that look like they were taken from a real person’s social media account. This can be used to trick you into thinking that the person you are talking to is real, when in fact they are a scammer.

Finally, AI can also be used to create fake videos. Scammers can use AI to create videos that look like they were taken from a real person’s news interview or documentary. This can be used to trick you into thinking that the person you are talking to is real, when in fact they are a scammer.

If you are ever unsure whether someone you are talking to is legitimate, it is always best to err on the side of caution. Do not give out any personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank account information, to someone you do not know and trust. And if you think you have been the victim of a scam, you should report it to the authorities.

Here are some tips to protect yourself from AI-powered scams:

  • Be wary of any unsolicited calls, emails, or messages.
  • Don’t click on links in emails or messages from people you don’t know.
  • Be careful about what information you share online.
  • Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication for your online accounts.
  • Keep your software up to date.
  • Report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

*If you found that this tip does not sound like my normal writing style, you are correct.  I used Google’s AI chat writer Bard to write the bulk of this post.  And frankly it’s a little unsettling that AI is this good at writing a blog post.  AI will never be able to add the personal stories that I throw into my writing.  But it definitely does a good job of finding facts and putting them into a grammatically correct format.  I don’t have any fear that my job will be replaced by a computer (at least before I am eligible to retire), but I can see the possibility of a change in how my job is done. The only thing certain in the workplace is change.  I’m hoping that any AI change is used for good rather than evil.