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When AI gets a pass: the rise of 'AI Exceptionalism'

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Here's a pattern I can't unsee:

🤖 AI threatens my profession → "This is unethical."

🤖 AI helps my profession → "This is innovation."

  • Journalists

  • AI companies

  • Hollywood

  • Universities

They all seem to make exceptions when AI benefits them.

I call it .

It’s the belief that AI should follow different rules depending on who is using it.

To be clear, this isn’t an argument that all uses of AI are equally good. Nor is it an argument that copyright doesn’t matter, or that artists, writers, actors and educators don’t have legitimate concerns.

They absolutely do.

But if we’re going to have an honest conversation about AI, shouldn’t we try applying the same principles consistently?

Agree? Or am I completely wrong?

See four examples where AI consistency disappears remarkably quickly in the full post:

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Great food for thought. While the hypocrisy from tech companies on data scraping is undeniable, I think some of these other "double standards" just come down to context. AI is a tool, and like any tool, it can be used for good or bad. Viewing AI as an innovation for routine productivity but a negative tool when it replaces human creativity or core learning isn't necessarily hypocritical. It's just recognizing that different situations have different ethical boundaries. The real issue is when people shift the rules purely to protect their own backyard.

 Agree in part; re:

The real issue is when people shift the rules purely to protect their own backyard.

I think this is the core of the issue.

What prompted this piece was constantly getting mad hearing tech journalists praise AI when used for coding, but critiquing AI when used for writing.

It's the inconsistency which is the problem.. which is likely due to journalists wanting to protect their own turf.

Interesting point.

I do think people often judge AI differently depending on whether it benefits or threatens their own field.

It's human nature to be more accepting of change when it works in your favor.

 Exactly and it can also be hard for people to see issues from other's perspectives.

So people find it difficult to empathise when AI is impacting others work or skills, but feel wronged when it impacts their work or skills.