AI needs us

AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton outlines 4 dangers of artificial intelligence | May 7

I fail to understand why so many educated people are worried about artificial intelligence becoming self-aware and then destroying humanity. AI exists in an artificial realm that has to be monitored by trained people. Huge mainframes draw enormous amounts of electricity and require constant maintenance. We humans are basing irrational fear on our own inability to act rationally as we willfully disregard caring for the planet that sustains our own existence. Without the human-operated infrastructure AI would cease to exist. A sensible sentient artificial intelligence would figure that out rather quickly. The biggest threat to humans is other humans and without humans it’s bye-bye AI.

Brian Valsavage, St. Petersburg

Guns, but not one of those

The gun that divides a nation | April 1

It’s clear to me that we need to eliminate civilian use of automatic assault rifles designed for war. A perfect example is the Uvalde, Texas, shooting, when the law enforcement personnel did not immediately charge the shooter, even though he was outnumbered 50 to 1. Why? Because they feared for their lives. Because they delayed, more children were killed. I would like to see a national survey of all law enforcement personnel, to have them answer only one question: Should semiautomatic assault rifles be allowed in civilian hands? I would hope and pray that the overwhelming response would be “no.” This poll should be shared with every elected official in the country. Having grown up in upstate New York, I have hunted and fished in several states. I still own guns, but I would never purchase an assault rifle.

Michael Dooley, Oldsmar

A bad idea

DeSantis and Jan. 6

Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis — now running for president — stated that he would be inclined to liberally issue pardons for the convicted Jan. 6 insurrectionists. Do any of us think it’s a good idea to have a president who finds it acceptable to wage a seditious attack against the government of the United States?

Lindley A. Paul, St. Petersburg

He’s the same guy

Divide on Ukraine support emerges in early 2024 GOP field as DeSantis, Trump condemn US aid | March 13

Former President Donald Trump now claims if he was president again, he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours. He’s the same man who claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin was a military genius.

Dominic Grillo, Dunedin