These days everyone is talking about the decision of the Italian Data Protection Authority to block the use of ChaptGPT, the natural language processing tool based on artificial intelligence, capable of performing various functions, including to provide answers to questions or write/summarize texts requested by users. I do not want to dwell on that, although I have my own opinion, since this is not the aspect I want to highlight in this article.
What I want to highlight instead is the human tendency, especially when discussing topics like digital innovation, to "jump into the fray" by completely removing the moment of reflection, which is needed to make reasonable evaluations. We know how digital technologies are producing significant changes in our social and working daily life, which would require an in-depth examination. Instead, never as in this period, many experts and self-called experts challenge each other with posts and comments on social media to have their say, by siding as if they were watching a football match. Unfortunately, it also happens that someone exaggerates, because social media, given their nature, certainly do not encourage an articulated debate on issues requiring much more space and time for a fruitful discussion.
What I observe is the growth of this tendency, which could be called as "the impulse to be the first to comment facts on social media", as if there were no tomorrow. It does not matter if there is not enough knowledge about the actual facts, what matters is to be constantly present on social media and prove “to be on the ball”.
Needless to say, this way of intervening on complex issues, such as ChatGPT (but there can be many other examples), makes the public debate ineffective, as well as entailing the real risk of determining a poor quality of the information. That is certainly devastating from a communicative point of view and, above all, has the relevant consequence of hampering the correct spreading of information (I wonder whether this is the real goal in the end...). Not to mention that all these efforts - often in a frantic way - are not justly rewarded, considering the Internet cauldron in which they will end up. We have to consider that those articles, in the current era, quickly become outdated.
The frenzy that drives individuals to comment also explains certain views: just think of those - probably not having many other points of discussion - claiming that certain things must be done absolutely and quickly, otherwise the country (Italy in this case) risks falling behind in comparison to other countries. In short, the important thing is always to move forward "whatever it takes", how and with what consequences it does not matter. An example is represented by all those who get excited by reading about large large investments in Artificial Intelligence announced by important companies, while they do not care about the fact that those same companies, as a result of the huge investments, plan to lay off thousands of people.
Some days ago, I attended a pleasant meeting in Milan together with a group of experts with different skills and backgrounds (the DLNet coordinated by a friend of mine, Andrea Lisi, a lawyer), where we also discussed the "anxious way" used by people to interact on social media. We asked ourselves whether it is better to provide answers on the spot or think about it one more day, at the cost of losing the moment of glory. We came to the same conclusion, namely that there would be a greater benefit for society if, before diving into the sea of posts regarding a specific event, individuals stop and think and then express their opinion with a cold mind and in a more reasonable way.
Stop and think: something that should be an integral and enriching part of the human nature, but that we are often debasing. Whether it is social media, technological innovations or the fear of falling behind, in the current era stopping and thinking is no longer fashionable.
The paradox is that in educating kids to develop a conscious use of digital technologies, one of the most used slogans is: think before you post!
That is why adults first should set a good example.
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