Letters to the editor April 4

Artificial intelligence

Once every so often a newspaper story begs for more information, and the article “Brodehl resists requests for C-PACE district at chamber event” is just such a story.

As I read the story I got to the 11th paragraph and stopped; then I re-read that paragraph a couple more times. The paragraph reads: “Brodehl mentioned that he consulted with an artificial intelligence algorithm about the potential downsides of programs like C-PACE during his deliberations, though he did not share the prompts inputted."

County Commissioner Randy Brodehl is consulting with an artificial intelligence algorithm!

Artificial intelligence algorithm is a broad field consisting of machine learning algorithms and deep learning algorithms. These algorithms’ main goal is to enable computers to learn on their own and make a decision or find useful patterns. Artificial intelligence algorithms learn from the data itself.

Randy Brodehl is a politician by trade, but in the article he proclaims also to be a computer mathematician/coder. Politicians periodically stretch the truth, make misleading statements and proclaim they have accomplished more than they really have. Most politicians are lucky to know how to turn on their computer and respond to emails, let alone consult with an algorithm.

Mr. Brodehl how did you consult with an artificial intelligence algorithm?

I can accept a politician consulting with the stars, a shaman, tea leaves or a mystic, but an artificial intelligent algorithm has me scratching my head.

If I am to believe that Mr. Brodehl consulted an algorithm, I must be an idiot, or is...?

If ever a story begged for a followup by the Daily Inter Lake, this one does!

— Lee Pinski, Kalispell

Mass shootings

It is with dismay that I read about mass shootings over and over and the only solution offered is more “gun control.”

I think that it is past time that our citizens realize that “gun control” is a red herring meant to distract us from the real problem, which is difficult to deal with. It has been illegal in most of the world to kill other people, either singly or in mass, forever. The method of killing is irrelevant.

The real problem is that some humans are indifferent to or actually enjoy harming others. These people exist and the only solution is to remove them from society.

— Gerry Hurst, Marion