Reporter’s Blog

The discussion related to advancements in artificial intelligence, especially regarding the risks of human labor being replaced by robots and the creative potential that may offend those who consider themselves the crown of creation, seems affected by the phenomenon of polarization.

I recognize that this analysis is simplistic regarding the facts. On one hand, there's a perceptible unease caused by a new lunar race undertaken by the market in search of prestige and future profitability, which inevitably influences academic research. If research was once conducted with free software, today it is increasingly dependent on paid resources. On the other hand, in a stance that deliberately ignores cybernetics, part of the intellectual community offers resistance to the advancements of communication development.

In this context, those who wish to effectively keep up with the technological progress of language models like GPT and Gemini must face a learning curve that will certainly disturb their peace. It won't be surprising if, soon, each individual operates their own language model. Services like Google's Vertex AI already allow for the creation of highly personalized robots for a wide variety of tasks.

However, considering specifically the Portuguese language, one perceives that language models like the ones mentioned have little ability to grasp subjectivities and linguistic nuances. After all, if not even a human being is capable of fully understanding what users publish on the internet, what can be expected of the poor robot?

Recently, while driving down Brigadeiro Franco Street in Curitiba, I saw five city employees cutting the grass along the sidewalk. One of them held the mechanical mower, while the others served as mobile posts, holding a screen around the gardener. I thought, at that moment, about the last 300,000 years of human evolution synthesized in the scarcity of mobile supports, reducing the extraordinary human body machine to a mere screen holder.

It must be acknowledged, therefore, that certain routine activities—such as summaries and text generation from videos or audio—must, obligatorily, utilize artificial intelligence solutions. Otherwise, the physical and emotional intelligence of human beings is wasted on unrewarding jobs. Only someone who has had to edit hours of television or radio programs would have the authority to disregard the help of AI in these tasks, although this would reveal a penchant for martyrdom.

There is one last reflection that seems important to me and concerns a frequent technical distortion. It is not correct to generalize all of artificial intelligence by taking a specific language model as an exclusive reference—especially its free versions. Using ChatGPT is not the same as using the GPT model directly. Similarly, using Gemini's chat differs from exploring all the potentialities of the Gemini language model. Maximum extraction of the potential of these systems requires personalized execution, and this is precisely one of the tasks we develop at Lab Digital 2050.

A former White House advisor has warned about the potential dangers of developing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and the risk of an arms race with China. According to him, the pursuit of control over AGI could lead to international conflicts. Experts fear that China might react aggressively to any attempt by the US to monopolize the technology.

The information was published by UOL on March 9, 2025, in the article Is Artificial General Intelligence arriving? It's hard to be certain. The article cites a document published by experts, including the former advisor, detailing concerns about an AI arms race.

Artificial General Intelligence differs from current AIs in its ability to perform any intellectual human task. This technological advancement represents a potential leap in the development of various fields but also raises concerns about its misuse, especially in conflict scenarios.

The document suggests that an attempt by the US to exclusively control AGI could provoke an aggressive response from China, such as a large-scale cyberattack. The experts argue that competition for AGI could destabilize international relations and increase the likelihood of conflict.

The concern lies in the possibility of AGI being used for the development of autonomous weapons and sophisticated cyberattacks, which could quickly escalate to direct confrontation. The experts advocate for international cooperation to ensure the safe and ethical development of AGI.

A few years ago, I went to Superagui, on the Paraná coast, to spend New Year's. At that time, the island was full of interesting people. There are so many stories from those times. But one that has come back to me quite strongly now is the one about the woman with blue hair.

We were in the community's main square, an area no bigger than the living room of most of the wealthy people I've met in my life. We were drinking beer and cataia (a horrible cachaça that has a reputation for being hallucinogenic – but it's more hallucinogenic because it's cachaça than because of the leaves added to the recipe).

A haven for artists, journalists, and people who aren't bothered by the very simple accommodation and food, it wasn't uncommon to find someone there who had written with Paulo Leminski, another who had composed with Ivo Rodrigues, a multitude of homegrown poets, always someone with a guitar. It was then, talking to strangers, again, of course, that I said I didn't like country music. "The new stuff", I clarified.

A tall, thin woman in her early thirties, with very short blue hair, responded with laughter: "Did you know that the 'loose thread' on the suit jacket was a pubic hair?". We laughed a lot. Following that, she, very festively, talked about how country music, in her opinion, had an exclusively male framework. "The man is the protagonist all the time. If the woman rejects him, he doesn't respect her, he goes after her anyway".

Feminist Country Music

For the blue-haired woman, women making music in a space that was exclusively male was a good thing, even if, well, the lyrics weren't exactly a paragon of beauty.

I kept that with me. I needed to think about it.

Years later, these days, it dawned on me how much women's music does a tremendous amount of good for my emotions, for my perceptions of the world. When I heard "Troca de Calçada" by Marília Mendonça, I remembered two things.

First, the prostitutes of Visconde de Guarapuava, in Curitiba, who work on a sidewalk. Then, the book A Ralé Brasileira (SOUZA, 2009) which deals with the "poor whore".

‘Troca de calçada’

In 2088, I finally die of natural causes. I arrive on the “other side” and meet God (it seems). With apologies for the indiscretion, this “energy” (laughter) is younger, more beautiful, thinner, and more smiling than I imagined. When we look at each other, we both have a slight smile, suppressing laughter.

I begin speaking:

—Lord God, thank you so much for receiving me. I presume you are the Lord God. But, if not, please accept my respects. —In a respectful posture, I bow my head. I hold the sides of my trousers at my waist and bend my knees. I explain. —This is how we had to address Mrs. Regina. —He smiles and brings a hand to his mouth. —Very interesting space you have here, congratulations. The Freemasons are going to flip when they find out the Architect is a fan of Russian minimalism! —I make a finger gun. I smile idiotically. —Anyway, I have to ask a question because I promised myself I would while I was alive. —And the whole atmosphere changes because we had finally arrived at the sole purpose of the conversation. —Why the hell aren't you more objective?

The reporter's profession is honed in the humanities. But then I'm reminded of the meme about Milena wanting to sell her art on the beach. Let's not fool ourselves. Journalism can navigate difficult economic times and lapses in public prestige if it looks beyond views or laughs. It's not about being disconnected, because I am connected to the truth that journalism is predominantly practiced by intellectuals, and I can prove it.

In sixth grade, I valued my friendship with Cléber. He was similar to a friend I had fond memories of from my previous school. Lacking a better option, I wrote him a letter that changed his heart, and I gained a lifelong friend until eighth grade.

“All those seemingly independent thoughts of yours were, from the outset, compromised by your unfavorable verdict”.

Franz Kafka, in “Letter to His Father”

If my letters weren't always successful as notes, let alone possessing literary value. I made a couple of blunders with letters that, thanks to senility, I don't remember sending, but I did send. The poems, oh dear.

About the poems, for all intents and purposes, I feel a certain shame.

A Stage of Coexistence

In high school, I got an internship with Gibran Khalil, that is, the journalists Nara Moreira and Mary Hellen Woche introduced me to the well-written contemplations of the Lebanese author. I quickly learned to drink white wine at openings that had refreshments, and to have double shots before those that didn't. So many poems by lawyers, so many paintings on dish towels!

I've come to the conclusion that books are like wines: good is what I enjoy reading.

Before college, I ventured into many readings that went wrong. The biggest symbol, perhaps, was starting “Evidence That Demands a Verdict,” by Josh McDowell. I was, I don't know, in fifth grade. I also abandoned “The Divine Comedy” (fooled by the funny title), or even “Crime and Punishment” when I was older.

I was negligent regarding university reading lists, with the perennial excuse of leaning towards professional practice, when I preferred to work for free in the most wretched newsroom than to do homework.

My story is common among intelligent and restless youth. At one point or another, I bumped into people who aren't very fond of literature or, on the contrary, turn conversation into a game show with authors' names – how tacky! But I became very attached to the next episode.

'We, Intellectuals'

The journalist and historian Nilson Thomé (who gave Sonia Bridi a student column for three years) had a curious habit with me. He would say "we, intellectuals, Vinícius…". And I would wonder "who, intellectuals?". It was his way of encouraging in me the shamelessness of enjoying ideas, reshaping them, and presenting them anew – just as science is (paraphrasing Montesquieu in “Persian Letters”).

We, intellectuals, can be proud to be in the humanities, to believe in human development, and to dismantle mediocrities by engaging with the world.