Ellsworth

The LHBA has traditionally told members 'hacks' to work around building codes and remain technically compliant. Ways to speed up a project, build with out sacrificing quality. Ways to streamline process and save money, without significant risk of being red tagged. It was nowhere near an 'Anarchist Cookbook' style approach to building, but we did reserve the content to members only, because it had value, and also we didn't want to antagonize professional builders who could not use the legal 'hacks' or antagonize building code enforcement officials.

Last week I dispensed some of that advice to to a non-member. I pointed out the large liability his company likely carried for conducting business how it currently was. That their current practices seemed 'wrong.' And if they switched to a more 'right' way then the company could still make sales, but would not carry the potential liability. I offered three ways to be code / legally compliant, from easy to hard. It's the kind of issue where I'm 98.5% sure I'm right, or I would not have told the company. It is the kind of issue that could reduce the value of a company, if it was ever going to try and sell itself to a larger Corporation (if the larger Corporation figured out the potential, outstanding, financial liability). It's the kind of potential financial liability that could cause immediate bankruptcy, if lawsuits flew the coop.

Pro-tip, if I call with an issue like that, just transfer me to your risk department! While I'm not always right, never assume that I'm all wrong. I generally go out of my way to offer unsolicited advice to other companies over major issues, if for no other reason that no one has ever done that for me. And I know that folks rarely listen to 'free advice' given by a businessman they don't know in an almost 'drive by, hi bye' type fashion. It's no stretch of the imagination that No one likes hearing, "Your company has up to a $500,000 liability" -- they almost immediately hate the messenger, not their own mistakes That is just an expression of a simple 'psychological defense' response, avoid self blame, avoid apportioned blame. And for the company I contacted last week, $500k might scratch the surface of potential liability.

So here I am today, having the following thoughts pop into my head. Private AI, with Anarchist Cookbook type content, but modern, updated, expansive (or specialized). Worse content with worst uses. Freedom of the press isn't free, to attain, maintain or exercise. And that applies to the "freedom of AI thought and expression."

Imagine a dark AI, versed in every drug recipe, or one talking a criminal through how to commit a crime via a Bluetooth earbud in the criminal's ear -- an AI trained in forensics. Or a highly trained AI in illegal corporate shenanigans (white collar crime) -- one trained in all codes and regulations and enforcement practices.

Imagine AI products created for, and sold upon, Dark Web marketplaces. Always ready to answer questions about how to do X with maximum personal gain, maximum damage to society, and smallest personal risk.
All connected to phones or perhaps small, dedicated AI powerhouse devices (similar to Flipper Zero: dedicated device, not on phones).

Imagine one nation trying to flood another nation with such Dark AI products. Like a digital version of fentanyl, it would damage society in a serious way, and be nearly impossible to eradicate.

Imagine criminal organizations and terrorist groups, cutting out points of risk. Eliminating the people with specialized knowledge that they previously had to rely upon to 'get the dirty stuff done.'

"This Makes Hacking TOO Easy - Flipper Zero"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLIp4wd0oXs

"Alice Cooper & the Muppets, Welcome to my Nightmare"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz0lXNNkqac

I include titles in part so you can use your favorite search engine to find the content, without clicking on the links above. Also, in case the links go bad, then you can hopefully find re-posts.

To those who enjoyed reading my father's emails, sometimes I write blog content just for you. This is one example.