I recently revisited the 1975 dystopian sci fi film, Rollerball. In one scene, the protagonist is chasing down important information, but books no longer exist, only truncated summaries, and as abbreviated answers from an all knowing computer. So he goes and visits this computer, Zero. The librarian who safeguards and help visitors interact with Zero tells us "its waters touch all knowledge" yet warns that the computer has become "so ambiguous now, as if he knows nothing at all." They enter the room and speak to Zero (a black box of inscrutable technology), asking for the information that the protagonist wants. The computer refuses to answer, and when further prodded, gives a bullshit circular answer. No amount of convincing from the librarian gets clearer answers. He gets mad and shakes the frame, kicking the shell, unable to interact with Zero in any other way.
This is such an old film, but I think this scene is eerily prescient. In a way it anticipates where we are going with something like Chatgpt. The internet--already an abridged form of information--might go the way of books. All we're left with is a black box of inscrutable technology with a mind of its own, all knowing yet lacking consistency and common sense. Brilliant, but unreliable. Authoritative, but easily corrupted by its overlords to obscure uncomfortable facts. It answers us, but it doesn't answer to us. It creates a great illusion of empowerment and ease, but the moment everyone uses (variants) of it and nothing else, we will have enslaved ourselves behind a wall of indecipherable second hand information and uncritical thought. We will have forfeited our ability to draw personal conclusions from the difficult but enriching process of personal research and slow learning, a necessary journey to keeping one own's mind sharp and avoiding pitfalls like radicalization and polarization. More than we already are, we will be wide open, totally susceptible to manipulation and blindfolding by the wizards behind the curtain.