AI, Bots, Stirring the pot, counter intelligence, Discord, Dissinformation, Chaos; Why transgender communities should be aware

 

So.... this has bothered me for a while... 

Here is the scenario.  I'm on reddit and someone with a random name posts a seemingly innocent question like

• "Hi I'm 13 and..."
• "Why do all cis people do x"
• "I'm glad x, y, z did ABC
• ....  

And...these questions usually come from accounts that are newer or have profiles that lack any history of posts, comments, and/or details.

These are RED FLAGS PEOPLE!!!!! Wholly sh$t!

Here is why. (and read everything)

Words are important, and in this political climate they can be used and twisted if not careful. The saying "Don't give your enemy(oppressors) words that can be used against you" is real.

One Example, responding to that alleged 13 year old, reddior whose profile is new and whose post starts with "hi my parents suck, and I'm 13 and..."  should be treated with a lot of care and caution. The saying "The path to hell is paved with good intentions" is real. I get it...you, we want to respond and help. yet there are so many red flags here. Minor, profile with no history, the way the post is constructed, almost feels like troll territory. My advice in situations like this. unless you are certified as a therapist or doctor or their real legal guardian. I'd caution against responding, or respond in a "Hey you need to get a therapist and here are some resources" or something like that. Just be careful. Troll posts are real. Words can be taken out of context. And IMO redditors that appear to be minors are radio active for all the reasons.   

So...the first tell, red flag,  are posts that come from left field from a person with strange profile characteristics should be handled carefully.  Responding to that seemingly innocent post.. can be.. dangerous. if you have to respond then guard rail your response... 

Second... Reddit and all online communities are global. People around the world think differently, have different life experiences, opinions. I tend to acknowledge the global community presence in my responses. This does two things; first it points out that my answer is from my perspective in my geo location experience and also shines light that others are posting from their location, and world perspective too.  

 The other part of this is that world nation states, religions, and special interest groups mess with and manipulate social communities and the people in them in effort to achieve a mission or objective. Governments mess with other government elections through social media as one example. Russia heavily infiltrated Facebook communities to influence election results. We have to be aware that those that want to turn a base against a minority would use such tactics. Disinformation, sow discord, create chaos and stir the pot. Trump and his Fascist minions are doing this now. I suppose the take away is... be aware this is going on. Don't panic, see through the "Smoke and Mirrors" of these clowns. And like the clown in the story 'It' the best offense is to shine light on whats going on and point and say "Look at that clown" while laughing. But seriously, be aware, call them out if they are a bull#%# account, or report them to the mods for review. be skeptical of anything that seems out of line, odd, be alert and be critical in your thinking. 

Next and the first two points I made tie into this one and its a doozy..... 

AI is a thing, its real and it can and IS being abused to create chaos and discord, and emotionally stir the pot

A quick lesson on AIs...  AI programs are tools, plain and simple. What one does with that tool can be for good or for bad, just like anything. A car, a baseball bat, an AI program. 

 What would it take to create an AI.. Honestly not much.. there are git-hub and other projects on the internet that are FREE. Download the software, set it up and you are off and running building your own Frankenstein monster, errr....AI. 

And...A clever user can also create what is called an "Agent." An agent is just abot if you will that will go out and do something for the AI brain or its master.  Go read web pages, find me all references to X, answer all phone calls, respond to my emails. etc. That agent/bot is trained on a LLM (Large Language Model). the LLM, can be thought of as the AI's brain and that brain is TAUGHT how to be, how to think and what to say.  

Which brings me to building the brain(AI), and brain(AI) washing. There is a saying "Garbage in, Garbage out" its an old programming term but it holds here. I can literally train my own LLM, my own agent, bot to think how ever I want it to think.

 Now... why am I sharing this. You can see where this is going...

As an AI master, I can also spin up and create a LEGION of these bots, minions, agents all of which can be taught to act and behave like real people. but they aren't!

This legion of bots behaving as artificial people (with out telling you they are artificial) will/can comment, post, and behave with what ever influence, angle thought was trained into them (Brain washing). 

Nation states, and SI groups historically used people to do this sort of influence, counter intelligence, disinformation campaign type stuff, again....look at Facebook and the past US elections...  

Nation states conduct information wars and have been doing this for a long time. Its a form of cyber warfare and there are military briefs, where the pentagon for example has spent a long time refining and improving.  

Disinformation wars/campaigns are real. 

Fast forward today, AI is being used, Agents and bots are real. companies use them now. Call into that utility to get help with your bill and you will probably be talking to an AI Agent/bot that has been trained to be a customer service rep. YEP... its real, its here.

One more point...that person you are talking to in discord... ya that too is being infiltrated.  

So.... what do we do?

Honestly I'm not sure... 

I think talking face to face is good.

For interacting in writing, think Critically, Ask yourself: 

1. Who is this "person" that is saying what they are saying? or who is this person that is responding?
1. Are they even a person to begin with.. LOL... ya.. its getting weird 
2. Why are they suddenly posting here
3. And should I even respond? Iis my response guarded? helpful, could be used against the community? Could it be used against me. 

 if you have to respond....guard rail your response. be cautious until real trust and identity can be established

Be aware and spread the word. knowledge is power. Awareness is a step in the right direction to keeping us ALL free.