In this pocket note I share a concerning story, invite you to a virtual meeting and ask if I can send you something in the mail.
Chris Pelkey was killed in a road rage shooting in Chandler, Arizona, in 2021.
Three and a half years later, Pelkey appeared in an Arizona court to address his killer. Sort of.
“To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me, it is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances,” says a video recording of Pelkey. “In another life, we probably could have been friends.
“I believe in forgiveness, and a God who forgives. I always have, and I still do,” Pelkey continues, wearing a grey baseball cap and sporting the same thick red and brown beard he wore in life.
The AI generated rendering of Pelkey can't believe in anything, because the AI generated rendering of Pelkey is not Pelkey, or a human at all. The AI generated rendering is a document produced by a model trained on documents. And as we know from the curriculum I published last month, DOCUMENTS ARE NOT PEOPLE. Still, the judge was so moved by the video he sentenced Pelkey's killer to a longer term than the state's recommendation.
The state asked for a 9.5-year sentence, and the judge ended up giving Horcasitas 10.5 years for manslaughter, after being so moved by the powerful video, family says. The judge even referred to the video in his closing sentencing statements.
This should concern everyone.
Let's say it's 2030! And President Vance decides to pass a national abortion ban. Will AI renderings of aborted fetuses be used in victim impact statements against women who had abortions? You think that's too ridiculous to contemplate? Well, I guarantee there is some New Right fascist sifting through precedent to figure out how to make it happen.
we've officially regressed back to premodernity. why not have a seance or a psychic participate in a legal preceding? trial by strength? witches floating or sinking?? - Adam Elkus on Bluesky re: the Pelkey AI story
I keep telling people that the AI maximalists want to drag us back to an age of superstition. A time when we sacrificed children on altars for favorable winds! But people have a hard time understanding how a movement that uses computers can be fundamentally about retrogression. And yet!
I feel helpless. But I'm not. And neither are you. There's lots to be done. For now, I can offer little moments of human connection.
We're having our first monthly virtual meeting.
This month we're doing an AMA: Ask Me(g) Anything. Can't make it? Register and a recording of the event will be sent to you! Paid supporters can register right here.
When you register, you'll be sent a form to submit your question. I am pretty nervous about this. But I'm screwing my courage to the sticking place and whatnot.
This is a paid supporter exclusive! You'll need the password to register. Become a supporter and you'll be directed to the link and password for the meeting!
Meg Conley
I've also got snail mail ready to send out to paid supporters.
It'll go out at the end of this month. If you'd like to receive it, please just fill out this address form.
Meg Conley
Can't afford to become a paid supporter?
I get it. And I've got you on my heart. The free curriculum comes out this week. I think that's another way we can connect across time and space.
Okay. More soon,
meg