Your say: week beginning May 4

Every day, we publish a selection of your emails in our newsletter. We’d love to hear from you, you can email us at yoursay@theconversation.edu.au.

Monday May 4

Can AI evolve?

“This article seems to overlook that evolution of anything needs a physical mechanism for reproduction that can be influenced in some way (deliberately or otherwise) by the entities that are evolving. Decades ago I read a sci-fi short story about a planet populated by extremely intelligent horse-like creatures whose four limbs ended in razor-sharp hooves. Great for fighting (and the story) but without the ability to manipulate objects and their environment they were stuck forever in the lifestyle of ordinary horses. Sounds to me like AI.”

Peter Tuft, Kettering TAS

The problem with going to Antarctica

“I applaud the thoughtful article on Antarctica. I considered a trip there this year, knowing that at 81 I don’t have many chances left. And then I considered the number of people now going there, with commercial benefits to the many cruise lines, and the consequent environmental impact, and decided such a trip would not be ethically acceptable. So I am going to the Eastern Mediterranean instead – where ancient civilisations have already trashed the place!”

Julie Lake

Tuesday May 5

Speed cameras or revenue machines?

“The driving public has been assailed by many automated enforcement systems for quite some time. There needs to be more pressure placed on state governments to rein in their desires to raise revenue in the name of road safety. As the author stated, there needs to be more context and consideration of the appeal process. I would posit that if I took a photo with my security camera of someone breaking into my house they wouldn’t take the person identified in the camera into custody without further evidence. It seems like we have a situation with road safety that is very much akin to ‘big brother’. What is obvious to me is the notion we are considered ‘guilty’ until we can prove otherwise. Doesn’t that go against the underlying tenet of our legal system? I would also like to point out that even with all the automated enforcement systems, the number of road fatalities has not dramatically decreased. They do not work for the purpose intended or stated, and I suspect the authorities know that.”

Bob Sibson, Adelaide, SA

Bearing the brunt

“Why is raising interest rates the only way to manage inflation? Home owners carry the burden. Why have we not looked at a variable rate of superannuation? Some industries are not affected by interest rate increases (some even benefit from them) so why not flip the script and change superannuation to be variable and the reserve bank can choose to change interest rates, superannuation contribution rates, or both?”

Melita Kemp, Nipaluna/Hobart

Fashion vs fine art

“The question of whether fashion is an ‘art’ is a fascinating one. Activities included in the ‘arts’ have varied throughout history, and have included such things as saddle, tent, hat and glove making. The current list of ‘fine’ arts, along with the distinction between ‘fine’ and ‘decorative’, was only settled in the 19th century: ‘fine’ art is essentially the product of the uncoupling of the production of ‘art’ objects from church, court and state, and the development at the same time of auction houses. The number of activities included in the category ‘art’ needs to be kept small and rarefied (one-off items, hand produced by an ‘artist’) to maintain high values. In broad terms, fashion doesn’t fit in because it’s mass-produced and available to pretty much anyone: it would undermine the art market to start including such things as fashion as a ‘fine art’.”

Gavin Oakes, West Melbourne