Thomas La Grua's Asia University Blog

Three weeks ago, if someone asked me to talk about artificial intelligence (AI), I would have told them to get lost. However, after learning about AI for about three weeks at Asia university, I now have something to say about it. Artificial intelligence refers to the development of computer systems capable of carrying out intelligent tasks usually associated with human intelligence. When it comes to AI, there are benefits as well as risks that we need to consider. In terms of some possible benefits associated with AI, I think that the two biggest ones are ____ ___ ___ ____ and ____ ___ __.  For example, (talk about these two benefits) As for the risks associated with AI, I think that the two biggest ones are ____ ___ ___ ____ and ____ ___ __.  For example, (talk about these two risks)

Basic income is simply a proposal calling for people to receive a sum of money each month or whenever in order to make sure that everyone has enough money to live a dignified life, to live according to our basic human rights. That some people in the world are permitted to live according to their human rights, while others are not (because they do not have enough money to do so) is completely unacceptable. A basic income would go a long way towards changing this situation. Furthermore, in consideration of technological underemployment, a basic income is necessary to keep our economies moving. In other words, as computers and robots are eliminating human jobs, people just do not have enough money to buy things. This causing the economies in many countries to slow down. By giving people money to spend, we will be able to keep the economy going while also allowing people to have more time to do what they want to do. After all, what is money but numbers on a piece of paper or in a computer...

Freedom of speech, freedom of speech, freedom of speech. Hear the words and look around you. Has anything changed just because we have freedom of speech? Of course not, because freedom of speech, the freedom to speak out is nothing but words, unless we take actions to back them up. Millions of children, billions of people wake up each day, fearing that today may be their last. They are free to speak out, but that will save them from being blown up by a bomb or starving for lack of food and water. Speaking out will not get them anything to eat at the market. Say it as many times as you like: I’m hungry, my mother and my brothers are dying, please give me some food that we may live – can’t you see, I’m a human just like you. Unfortunately, freedom of speech will not it will not buy you any food - you need money for that. Freedom of speech, freedom of speech, I can say it a thousand times, but it will not save even a single child or the newborn baby who has just died in her...

Everywhere we look, we see problems, but no solutions. People are pointing fingers and blaming politicians, while politicians spend most of their time blaming each other. Instead of blaming one another, what the world needs now is for human beings to take self-responsibility. Every four years, presidential candidates promise to do this and that, but once they get into office, the first thing they always do, is to grab more power. Why do we need presidents to tell us what to do; why can’t we the people make decisions for ourselves? Millions of people are suffering from air pollution because the electric company refuses to take responsibility for the pollution that they create. They point their fingers at the people and their dirty cars and motorcycles. But, what if twenty-million people decided to stop buying that company’s other products? I bet the electric company would suddenly decide to burn cleaner coal. Hell, they might even decide to go green. The education system wa...

Basic Income Main reading materials Part 1: Warm Up Questions How much money do you think an adult living in Taiwan, would need each month (at least) in order to live a dignified life? Do you think giving a certain amount of money unconditionally to every adult is a good idea? Why or why not? What are three circumstances in which you that, the government should give money unconditionally to people? Part 2: Conversation Speaker 1 Wow! Aren’t you excited that, we will be graduating in only ___ more years? I can’t wait until I start making lots of money. Speaker 2 No, I’m really scared! In fact, I’m thinking about going to graduate school, just so I can prolong my happy college days for a couple more years. Speaker 1 Are you kidding? You want to take out more students loans and stay in school just because you’re too lazy to get a job and start working? Speaker 2 I’m not lazy and I hate taking on more debt. The problem is, there are not enough jobs f...