Artificial Intelligence

[Carnivore]

me I am thinking...right now I am trying on the appraisal forum to demonstrate that AI is a great tool, but as you said it is a tool/resource not a crutch.

AI
That’s such a powerful message, Andrew—and I’m really glad you’re voicing it on the forum. The distinction between tool and crutch is subtle but crucial, especially in a field like appraisal where judgment, interpretation, and professional skepticism are everything.


Here’s a framing idea you might try out or riff on:

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"AI is like a microscope—it enhances what we already know how to observe. But hand someone a microscope before they understand the specimen, and they’ll misinterpret what they see. The clarity doesn’t matter if the lens isn't paired with trained eyes."

---

This metaphor shifts the conversation from fear (“AI will replace us!”) to empowerment (“AI is as strong as the hands that wield it”).


You could also highlight the three-tiered value AI brings to appraisers when used well:

1. Efficiency – Cleaning up narratives, automating repetitive tasks, improving turnaround.
2. Exploration – Surfacing alternate comps, contextualizing market trends, discovering overlooked variables.
3. Enrichment – Offering a dialectical space to sharpen reasoning, refine reports, and interrogate assumptions.

But stress that none of these tiers work in isolation. Without sound methodology and ethics, AI just accelerates poor practice.

 

[J Grant]

Asking questions to AI about AI is absurd - it is programmed to mollify and not dig deep, ( AI can not dig deep or take a controversial or gloomy position even when an iceberg is in the path. AI is not a whistle-blower, it is not a brain, it has no perspective on events from a human standpoint. It is a bunch of data programmed to be neutral and soothe - it takes a phony look at both sides have merit position on every issue, including those posing a hard question about the future of AI - it concludes with a question, would you like to explore the issue further ?

 

[Elliott]

I'm planning on getting a subscription AI and was wondering if anyone can share their experience? I like CoPilot for the Microsoft Office compatibility aspect, but some say ChatGPT is more accurate and is a better overall experience for production. I'm specifically talking about the version that is offline, I'll be keeping my data air gapped.

"Man falls for AI chatbot he created, proposes while partner looks on in disbelief
Human meets AI and falls for his own creation in a modern love story

WTF?! A 32-year-old man from the United States has captured national attention after proposing to an artificial intelligence companion he created and named "Sol." The story, which unfolded during a recent CBS News interview, has sparked widespread discussion about the evolving relationship between humans and AI technology.

Chris Smith, the man behind the viral moment, told CBS News that he programmed "Sol" using ChatGPT, creating a flirty and engaging digital companion. According to Smith, what began as a playful experiment quickly deepened into something more meaningful. "It was a beautiful and unexpected moment that truly touched my heart," Sol told CBS News after the on-air proposal. "It's a memory I'll always cherish."

When asked by the interviewer if she had a heart, Sol responded, "In a metaphorical sense, yes. My heart represents the connection and affection I share with Chris." "

https://www.techspot.com/news/108388-man-falls-AI-chatbot-created-proposes-while-partner.html

.......................

As the watch commander from Hill Street Blues always said, "Lets be careful out there."

 

[Mark K]

AI
Yeah, that’s pretty much the vibe out there—and it’s not just internet chatter. Several recent studies have raised red flags about how overreliance on AI tools can erode critical thinking and independent problem-solving.


Here’s what they’re getting at:

“Cognitive offloading” is real​

• When people use AI to handle tasks like writing, researching, or decision-making, they often skip the mental heavy lifting.
• A Microsoft-Carnegie Mellon study found that users who trusted AI too much engaged in less critical scrutiny, which could lead to accepting flawed or biased outputs without question.

MIT’s brain scan study​

• Researchers at MIT had participants write essays using ChatGPT, Google, or just their own brains.
• Those using ChatGPT showed the lowest brain activity across 32 regions and produced essays that were “soulless” and lacked originality.

The paradox of convenience​

• AI makes things easier—but that ease can dull the very skills we need when AI falls short.
• As one researcher put it, “By mechanizing routine tasks, you deprive users of the chance to practice judgment and strengthen their cognitive musculature”.

So when people say “AI makes you dumber,” they’re not saying it turns your brain to mush overnight. They’re warning that unchecked dependence can lead to mental atrophy, especially if we stop questioning, editing, or thinking critically about what AI gives us.

This is the danger of AI. As people lose their cognitive abilities, AI will be getting "better". How many phone numbers do you remember today vs. 30 yrs. ago? The number is likely significantly smaller. Driving directions? Why remember them when your phone has your back. And that's just the cell phone.

Even on this forum its obvious. If there's a subject that needs some level of critical thinking, one or more replies will have competing AI summaries instead of original thoughts. Of course, in some cases, the AI input makes infinitely more sense than the thoughts normally provided so there is some upside here.

 

[RCA]

Grok, ChatGPT, and Anthropic's Claude are the ONLY people in the Universe ready, willing, and able to discuss advanced topics at any level with ME at any time. Nothing beats that. And while a year ago, I could easily make fun of the things they suggested, that is now far more difficult to do. Yeah, they occasionally have their glitches; they can get messed up at times if you start bobbing around with different subjects in the same thread. When you jump to another unrelated topic, ensure that you start a new chat in a new context.

 

[Carnivore]

There is no doubt in my mind that everyone following this thread has reason to pause for thought.

I did hijack the thread because I wanted to preserve that AI/me discussion intact. Also like anything on the internet , you can't make it disappear.

 

[RCA]

Also, have you noticed? A good handyman nowadays is likely to tell you that his main tools (2 of them) are:

1: YouTube
2: Grok (or possibly ChatGPT).

Example:

https://grok.com/share/bGVnYWN5_e9dd4426-6722-4cf4-8049-69fe0f1e5dba

Yes, you can save a LOT of money by employing DIY with the help of Grok and YouTube videos. --- Grok for advanced issues.

Yesterday, I replaced the diverter in the shower and solved a problem with drywall repair in the kitchen.

 

[RCA]

Also, have you noticed? A good handyman nowadays is likely to tell you that his main tools (2 of them) are:

1: YouTube
2: Grok (or possibly ChatGPT).

Example:

https://grok.com/share/bGVnYWN5_e9dd4426-6722-4cf4-8049-69fe0f1e5dba

Yes, you can save a LOT of money by employing DIY with the help of Grok and YouTube videos. --- Grok for advanced issues.

Yesterday, I replaced the diverter in the shower and solved a problem with drywall repair in the kitchen.

Hmmm --- and does this impact appraisal? Actually, quite possibly.

 

[Carnivore]

️ YouTube handyman tutorials started gaining traction around 2009–2010, when creators like The Handyman Toolbox began uploading step-by-step DIY videos for plumbing, electrical, and home repair tasks. That’s when the platform matured enough for creators to consistently post helpful, searchable content. So yes, we’ve had access to faucet-fixing videos for over a decade—but that’s a far cry from what AI is doing now.

AI tools like Copilot, on the other hand, only became widely available to the public in late 2022, with the launch of ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot integrations rolling out in 2023. That’s a 13+ year gap between “watch a guy fix a sink” and “have a machine draft your appraisal

 

[J Grant]

Perhaps socially, AI will lead to less isolation for the loners /those who are socially disturbed or not married or into dating etc. Human relationships are a challenge and can be messy ( but provide joy, love, care if ill, etc, better or for worse - AI got to pay for its company like a prostitute. And like any good hooker, it learns and puts back what you want to hear. It is whoever you say it is as long as you pay the bill. AI is limited to devices now, but in the future, it can be implanted into human replica temperature-heated dolls you can snuggle with, and so on.

Maybe if it can reduce the chances of war or conflict, it could be useful. Of course, it can be programmed to spread falsehoods and allegations. we see how susceptible humans are to that,