Time to say goodbye to artificial intelligence and live our lives freely?

Sir, – Darren O’Brien (Letters, September 23rd), referring to the existential threat of artificial intelligence (AI), asks if anybody has considered unplugging it.

I’ve often wondered if Russian president Vladimir Putin destroyed our Atlantic internet cables then he might actually be doing us all a huge favour.

Imagine an Ireland that had no social media where young people would learn the joy of social skills and talking to each other again.

An Ireland where online crime, joyriding and bullying had no place to thrive.

An Ireland where politicians would have to balance the books and make decisions without the negative and inflationary distortion of obnoxious and unethical tax surpluses.

An Ireland in which young people would have a job and place to live and a bright future to look forward to.

An Ireland which could become a world leader for a new direction of green sustainable and environmental commerce.

In the last decade Ireland has experienced a complete takeover by the international information technology sector.

Economic success at huge personal cost to the basic fabric of our society – economically forced emigration of a generation of young people. The resulting forced break-up of our constitutionally protected family unit.

Perhaps O’Brien is right – now with the advent of uncontrollable AI it is time to unplug and politely say goodbye. – Yours, etc,