The Department of Official Reports and AI: the new era is here

Buckle up, skip your usual morning dose of Thorazine, and screw in your brain real tight for this one

I was recently alerted to the power of AI to produce answers to questions, and make comparisons between different pieces of text, in a matter of seconds. (I’ll show you a boggling example later in this article.)

Because I’m from a different time, I still reserve judgment on this AI business—is there some kind of hoax going on? But apparently, AI is quite sophisticated now. It can instantly turn out writing that mirrors how many conventional journalists and bureaucrats and spokespeople write.

So one possible innovation—which may already be in use: a private contractor armed with AI who can turn out government reports and releases at the drop of a hat.

“Give us the parameters and the bottom line, and we’ll produce a statement before you finish your morning cup of coffee. Any agency, any subject.”

For instance, suppose the CDC, in conjunction with DHS, wants to launch a new program aimed at reducing vaccine hesitancy, creating fear of germs and diseases, and painting anti-vaxers as terrorists. Fill out a short form, submit it, and in a few minutes 27 PR releases and a dozen back-up reports are ready to go. Boom. Bang.