Calgary Sun Letters, Sept. 28: ‘Plenty of fear mongering over AI’

Article content

Fear mongering

Article content

Way back when the first A-bomb was detonated, the fear-mongers all shouted it would create a chain reaction and blow up the planet. When the internet came around, they said it would take over the world in a negative way. Y2K was going to crash all our computers, causing businesses and banks to collapse. 5K was going to give us all brain cancer and/or allow the big tech companies to control our thoughts. The flavour of the month now is AI. I guess if it’s not put in check it will consider us an evasion species and eliminate the human race in the next decade. OK then! I agree it should be regulated but I think all the hubbub of it becoming our mortal enemy is a bit over the top. Look, something is going to cause our extinction – it’s inevitable, really. But I think it’s going to come in a more natural way. A virus, a natural disaster like Yellowstone’s super volcano going off. Even a space rock hitting the planet seems more realistic. As it stands now, I guess we’ll know if the smart folks are right within the next 10 years or so.

Article content

Recommended Videos

Article content

Article content

Article content

JOHN HANCOCK

(Either way we would like to see AI handled prudently)

Shared frustration

(Re: ‘Bylaw frustration,’ Letters to the Editor, Sept. 23) I fully agree with Bonnie Banks’ frustration with Calgary bylaw enforcement. City police could balance their annual budget with the proceeds of bylaw infraction fines for loud vehicles, tinted windows and obscured licence plates. I think there’s a ‘broken window’ theory that would apply here.

DOUG HYSLIP

(We’re sure they’re doing their best)

Shame on the CBC

The CBC has pulled their senior journalist Neil Herland, a Jew, for recording and for reporting on a pro-Palestinian protest that was at the entrance of the Meridian Centre in North York, a Jewish worship was to take place there on Yom Kippur (Sept. 21). He is being ‘investigated’ for his actions. There were a couple dozen protesters waving Palestinian flags, using a bullhorn, milling about and chanting/shouting anti-semitic slurs. Their actions were intended to harass, impede, or prevent anyone attending worship there. The police were present, but did nothing to break up the protest. The only action by any police was to tell the cantor to stop ‘antagonizing’ the protesters, when he simply smiled at one. Huh?!! The Combating Hate Act came into effect on June 18, 2026, to amend the Criminal Code to make it a crime to intimidate and obstruct people from accessing places of worship, and to make it a crime to engage in any conduct that makes someone afraid to access such places. punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, or 2 years less a day for less serious offences. Are the Toronto police unaware of this new law? Neil Herland must be aware, because he reported on this protest violating this law. So why has the CBC pulled him from his job? Here’s the latest reason to get rid of the CBC, or at least their upper management. Anti-semitism is flourishing at the CBC.

Article content

KEN PELLAND

(Tough times at the CBC these days)

No racist

Premier Smith is a racist, according to the lefties. But, who is a racist? The one who opens the gates to uncontrolled and unchecked flood and offers only service jobs delivering food to the privileged with no future beyond learning to read map directions? Not to mention the language. Or the one who wants to ensure newcomers can grow and prosper, willing to learn and contribute more than they take out?

ZDENEK KUTAC

(The system does appear to be a touch haphazard)

Potash predicament

President Trump has stated Canada has nothing the U.S. needs. That repeated statement is incorrect. The U.S. is Canada’s best customer for potash fertilizer. Now, Trump wants Canada to lower our price on potash sold to U.S. farmers. Given the current set of circumstances of trade issues and U.S. tariffs against Canada and other world countries, if Canada caves in to Trump’s request for lower Canadian potash prices with nothing in return, stop the world spinning, I want to get off.

Article content

R. MOSKAL, Winnipeg

(Perhaps it will be included in negotiations, assuming they get going sometime in the near future)

Dollars & nonsense

Once, only governments talked about millions of dollars. When millions became attached to individuals, government started talking billions of dollars. When it went to billions, government started talking about trillions. Now they are talking about shortages and bankruptcy. God help us all.

GEORGE EWERT

(But few seem to be talking about being responsible with the public purse)

Wasted efforts

At the Alberta and the West Assembly online forum hosted by former Reform Party of Canada leader Preston Manning, separatist advocate Keith Wilson encouraged all Albertans, even those who are against leaving Canada, to vote for the beginning of the process to hold a binding referendum on separation to give Premier Danielle Smith leverage with Ottawa. To my mind, this call is rather tenable, as the move mentioned will open the floodgates to the province to strengthen its position and strike good deals with Prime Minister Carney, who will be set for meeting Alberta halfway in solving urgent problems of the latter to prevent its separation. Voting for another option will imply that Albertans are happy with Ottawa’s stance and the status quo, that will be equal to a surrender of the province and its separatist movement. Moreover, it will deprive Alberta of any opportunity to set a course for its relations with the federal government in future. Ask yourself, what have we been struggling for all these years? Are we here to give up at the 11th hour and fall back to Square 1?

Article content

AIDEN WHITFORD, Edmonton

(The premier, herself, said there are better ways to help give her leverage)

Fuelling hatred

Six hundred million dollars for Hamas to spend on munitions in Gaza and Iran towards the extermination of Israel. How much of this aid actually trickles down to the average Gazan? Prime Minister Carney has no problem gaslighting Israel and claiming there is no place for hatred in Canada but the terrorists in Canada interpret these donations as approval by the Canadian government to further their attacks on the Jewish communities in this country.

GLENN W. HARRISON

(Tough to know how much actually makes it to victims in Gaza)

Touch-up won’t do it

Danielle Smith thinks putting wallpaper over the cracks in the Canadian foundation will somehow strengthen the house. Premier Smith’s constitutional questions will meet the same fate as the equalization question, no matter how many Albertans vote yes to amend the constitution. The results will be ignored by Ottawa and the rest of Canada. The Liberals have shown Canadians time after time that they’ll do anything to attain power and will behave ruthlessly to retain power. Those in the Liberal Party put on an Oscar-winning-caliber performance to demonstrate that they care about Canada and Canadians. When Canada and Canadians are last on the Liberal list; if we even make it to the list.

JEFFREY ANDERSON

(There are genuine issues needing to be addressed)

Article content