Richard Stallman delivered a speech at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta on Friday, where he continued to advocate for free software and discussed the latest technological advancements. During his talk on AI, Stallman cautioned against mislabeling non-intelligent systems as artificial intelligence. He emphasized the limitations of large language models, referring to them as “generators” due to their lack of true comprehension of generated text. Stallman stressed the importance of not endorsing these systems as intelligent by labeling them as AI.
Introducing the term “Pretend Intelligence” or PI, Stallman proposed using it to counteract the deceptive marketing strategies promoting blind trust in such technologies and the companies behind them. He highlighted the absence of free software in these systems and expressed concerns about the intrusive functionalities present in modern cars, advocating for disconnection and limited data uploads.
Regarding smartphones, Stallman criticized them as Orwellian surveillance devices and declared his refusal to own one, citing the advantage of free software in eliminating malicious features. Throughout his speech, which lasted approximately 53 minutes followed by an extended Q&A session, Stallman covered various topics such as dark patterns, censorship, back doors, subscriptions, and remote updates.
He criticized age-verification laws as unjust surveillance measures and dismissed proprietary gaming software while acknowledging the presence of free games developed on free software platforms. Stallman revealed his use of an older ThinkPad model that allows for permanent disabling of Intel’s Management Engine. He expressed preference for the Trisquel operating system but denounced mobile device operating systems due to their tracking capabilities.
When asked about rewriting GNU’s coreutils in Rust, Stallman speculated that it reflects a disdain for copyright laws. He supported all programming languages implemented in free software but raised concerns about Rust’s trademark conditions. Addressing queries about U.S. intelligence agencies’ involvement with GNU, Stallman denied any encounters with attempts to introduce back doors.
Stallman recommended universities incorporate reverse engineering into their curricula and encourage students to contribute to free software projects. He criticized websites for including clauses that automatically bind users to revised terms without explicit consent. During a light-hearted moment, he responded humorously to a question about choosing between Emacs and Vi text editors.
At the event’s conclusion, Stallman auctioned off signed copies of his book and an Emacs manual along with a gnu-shaped stuffed toy. When asked about his future aspirations for the movement, Stallman acknowledged his age and uncertainty about witnessing long-term outcomes but emphasized the importance of persisting in pushing towards a specific direction rather than setting definitive goals.