The question is can we rely on AI for all practical purposes.  
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A year-end tossup between human and artificial intelligence

An AI review of the year 2023 throws up a very rosy picture of Goa which may not be all that correct

Alexandre Moniz Barbosa

As the year 2023 peters to an end, I decided to do something different. Since this year has been all about Artificial Intelligence and the debates on AI will no doubt continue into the next year, I thought I would ask some of the free AI writing tools available on the internet to review the year 2023 for me, a review specifically related to Goa.

I was both, pleased and disappointed. Pleased because the AI tools did, within seconds, give me a little over 150 words on the year that is ending; disappointed because I wouldn’t really agree with what all the AI tools said about the year for Goa. Here is just one sampling of the various reviews from assorted AI apps I read:

2023 was a year of great progress for Goa. The small Indian coastal state saw an unprecedented surge in its tourism sector, with a noticeable increase in both domestic and international travellers. The state government and local businesses worked together to create a range of attractive experiences for visitors, from beach-side resorts to vibrant markets and cultural events.

The economy of Goa also saw a significant boost, with an influx of foreign investments in the hospitality and tech sectors. This resulted in the creation of thousands of jobs and helped to bring prosperity to many communities.

If AI was the answer to problems of the world, then we would have none.

Meanwhile, the state government worked to combat rising environmental challenges by implementing a number of policies designed to protect its unique environment. These include the adoption of a new e-waste management policy and the establishment of a green energy hub.

Overall, 2023 was a year of significant progress for Goa, with its tourism industry, economy, and environment all seeing positive returns. It is now well-positioned to continue its development into the future.”

The economy of Goa also saw a significant boost, with an influx of foreign investments in the hospitality and tech sectors. This resulted in the creation of thousands of jobs and helped to bring prosperity to many communities.
AI review of Goa

This was the tone of the review in most other AI tools I used, and I must admit that I sought a casual tone of writing, and asked for just a brief and not detailed review.

I’m not too sure that many readers will agree with what the AI writing tools poured out on my laptop screen within seconds, but from what is written above, it would be safe to assume that the government would be well pleased with the above paragraphs.

There is a high level of dependency on AI among the younger generation.

It paints a favourable picture of Goa in 2023 and predicts an encouraging year, 2024. What more could we ask for? But if anybody is depending entirely on AI reviews then one may not get a very clear picture of the year that is ending.

Look at it in this manner: was there significant progress in the tourism industry that is showing positive returns? A look at the newspapers will show that the industry is facing quite difficult times at all levels, right from the shacks to the starred resorts. For that matter, has the government worked to combat environmental challenges? I don’t believe that Goa’s many environment activists would agree with this.

The AI review paints a favourable picture of Goa in 2023 and predicts an encouraging year, 2024. What more could we ask for? But if anybody is depending entirely on AI reviews then one may not get a very clear picture of the year that is ending.

There were two major infrastructure projects that were thrown open this year – the Mopa airport started functioning in January this year and last week the second phase of the 8-lane Zuari bridge was finally thrown open. Now if the AI had spoken of infrastructure development, one could admit that it was not all that wrong.

But then again, where infrastructure is concerned, Panjim has been reeling for months under the Smart City projects and nobody appears to know when these will be complete. The media has been highlighting this throughout the year, and, yet, there was nothing about it in the AI review. Goa hosted the G20 meetings, the National Games and the Foreign Ministers Meets of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the AI missed it all.

Panjim has been reeling for months under the Smart City projects and nobody appears to know when these will be complete. The media has been highlighting this throughout the year, and, yet, there was nothing about it in the AI review.

I do believe that human intelligence will definitely score over AI, at least in writing about Goa. That leaves one wondering whether the AI traffic signals that were adopted at the Merces Circle have given any positive benefits to Goa or even whether it has led to imposing fines on people and brought about discipline on the roads. I do think that motorists still fear the uniformed policemen hiding somewhere on the road more than the cameras that are overhead.

As the year ends, I am hoping that human intelligence will give Goa a better year ahead, that commonsense will score over artificial intelligence and that Goa will see a much better 2024. Wishing all a New Year filled with the best of everything. Cheers!

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