From the office of Roland Rocchiccioli

IT IS nigh-on 70-years since the first Russian sputnik streaked across space. Subsequently, science and technology have changed our lives in ways we never dreamed. Yet, for all its wonderment, the world can prove an ugly place.

Distressingly, always there will be those who manipulate the good for their warped pleasure. The popularity of the AI tool, Grok, exposes ‘who-and-what’ we have become as a species. Strip-away the thin veneer of respectability and we are left with an unattractive, cruel carcass.

The Musk owned AI chatbot Grok, integrated into X, (formerly Twitter), enables users to digitally undress pictures of people, including children, and most recently, Catherine, The Princess of Wales. Grok is an uncensored distribution of non-consensual pornography. It enables the creation of illegal child, sexual abuse material which is being posted to one of the internet’s largest, social media platforms. The violating images have the potential to wreck lives. Consequently, Britain’s Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has threatened unspecified action against X.

It is not a Panglossian world. Daily we struggle with an overwhelming, ominous lack of collective regard. The answerability for the latest vulgar assault on society’s sensibilities rests with Elon Musk — a globally polarising oddity. His assessment of his perceived place in the scheme of things is worrisome — some would argue dangerous. His questionable philanthropy notwithstanding, his pursuit of wealth — and his implacability to remain richest man in the world — $722-billion — is obscene. Demonstrably, there are no bounds to his materialism — or lengths to which he will go to maintain his status.

It is a universal truth: money buys you freedom — the luxury of being able to reject unsuitable propositions; however, richness of life — which, sadly, does not pay the mortgage — comes not from an accumulation of wealth but from a determination to feed the soul; from learning to live in your own skin; from appreciating the remarkable cornucopia of nature’s brilliance.

Have our lives become so dull — so dreary — our existence so mundane — we are reduced to the most basic pruriency — often inflicting profound misery on others — to attain a moment of emotional fulfilment? Research suggests disproportionate engagement with social media triggers loneliness coupled with significant physical and mental health issues. Invariably, social loneliness exacerbates antisocial behaviour — one of society’s wicked problems.

We are possessed of a dark-side — as belligerent and brutal as any other animal species. While we are creative and loving we are equally destructive and hostile. Our natural penchant for anger, hate, and tribalism often overshadows our compassionate thoughts and behaviours.

In times of social instability, ethnic and racial biases appear to eclipse amiability — markedly so when rhetorically exploited by inflammatory religious leaders, or political demagogues. Homo sapiens are by nature a social and tribal class. Total seclusion is uncommon. Familiarity is deemed a deeply ingrained, fundamental aspect of human behaviour which stems from our basic survival instinct. Our nervous system is preponderantly programmed to favour predictability and safety. The ‘new’ is perceived as a potential threat. It takes little to provoke insecurity.

We have crucial choices to make: whether we live together in harmony, with civility, respect, and empathy; or, whether we choose to live in enduring animosity and conflict. Elon Musk and his tribe of keyboard warriors must be held accountable for their social abuse. A rejection of platform X might bring them to heel!

Roland can be heard with Brett Macdonald radio 3BA Monday 10.40am.