ADVANCED English Vocabulary in context | Learn English with the News

Hi there, this is Harry and welcome back to advanced English lessons with Harry, where

I tried to help you to get a better understanding of the English language helping you with vocabulary

expressions, phrases, whatever it takes to help you to improve conversational English,

or indeed your business English.

And from time to time, we include an article and newsy article, something in the news.

And I read that for you, and they give you some words and expressions that have been

used in the article and explain what they mean.

So that's exactly what we're going to do in this particular lesson.

And at the end of the lesson, if you need any further help with any further explanations

or examples, then please write to me on www.englishlessonviaskype.com and I'll happily provide you with any information

that you like or that you need.

Okay, so getting back to this advanced English lesson, it's all about an article, the article

appeared in The Guardian newspaper, which is a really nice source of well-balanced articles

that we like to read from time to time.

And the particular heading in this particular article is" Another warning about the AI apocalypse.

I don't buy it."

So it's not my opinion.

It's the opinion of the journalist who wrote the particular article.

So he's just saying, or she is saying, another warning about the AI, the artificial intelligence,

apocalypse, people think we're coming into a major, major catastrophe dealing with artificial

intelligence.

And the journalist says, I don't buy it, meaning they don't necessarily agree with it.

So what I do, I'll read it once just for you to get the gist of what it's about, then I'll

read it a second time putting some stress on certain words, and then I'll come back

and I'll give you an explanation as to the meaning of those particular words.

Okay, so let's start.

And here's the text.

So I read it once for you just to get a gist and then a second time to get a better understanding.

And I'll come back and give you the particular words and expressions that I've highlighted,

so you get a meaning and how we can use them.

So here's the first reading just for the just AI tools like Chat GPT are everywhere.

It is the combination of computational power, and availability of data that has led to a

surge in AI technology.

But the reason models such as Chat GPT and Bard have made such a spectacular splash is

that they have hit our own homes, with around 100 million people currently using them.

This has led to a very fraught public debate, it is predicted that a quarter of all jobs

will be affected one way or another by AI and some companies are holding back on recruitment

to see which jobs can be automated.

Fears about AI can move markets, as we saw yesterday when Pearson shares tumbled over

concerns that AI would disrupt its business.

And looming above the day to day debate are the sometimes apocalyptic warnings about the

long term dangers of AI technologies, often from loud and arguably authoritative voices

belonging to executives, and researchers who developed these technologies?

So are people right to raise the spectre of apocalyptic AI driven destruction?

In my view, no.

I agree that there are some sobering risks.

But people are beginning to understand that these are socio technical systems that is

not just neutral tools, but an inextricable bundle of code data subjective parameters,

and people.

AI's end users and the direction it develops, aren't inevitable, and addressing the risks

of AI isn't simply a question of stop or proceed.

Companies are aware of these issues as they work on new systems, open AI, the company

behind chat GPT, some of them are pretty well, it recognises that while a lot has been done

to root out racism and other forms of hate from chat, GP tes responses, manipulation,

and hallucination, which means producing content that is nonsensical or untruthful, essentially

making stuff up still happen.

I'm confident that trial and era plus burgeoning research in this area will help.

Okay, so that's the article.

So basically, what the journalist is saying is giving his opinion about the current surge

in the interest in artificial intelligence in particular systems such as Chat GPT and

Bard which have been introduced in the last six months or so and there are lots and lots

of people around the world using it.

But there are also frustrations because the imp act of Chat GPT and other artificial intelligence

on current jobs is huge.

And people, of course, are panicking and worried as to what the future will hold for jobs.

So this particular journalist believes that balance is important that yes, these issues

are there.

But we shouldn't be overly concerned.

And like everything else, we should learn to embrace these new developments.

They happen to be my own opinion, I think that's actually quite right, that it's senseless

and difficult to push them aside and ban them or try to ban them because they will be there

anyway.

So we might as well embrace what is there and tried to work for the good and the better

of everyone.

Okay, so et me read it to you a second time a little bit more slowly.

Okay, so that you can understand it.

And then I'll give you a meaning of the words that I've highlighted.

AI tools like Chat GPT are everywhere.

It is the combination of computational power and availability of data that has led to a

surge in AI technology.

But the reason models such as Chat GPT and Bard have made such a spectacular splash is

that they have hit our own homes, with around 100 million people currently using them.

This has led to a very fraught public debate, it is predicted that a quarter of all jobs

will be affected one way or another by AI and some companies are holding back on recruitment

to see which jobs can be automated.

fears about AI can move markets.

And as we saw yesterday, when Pearson shares tumbled over concerns that AI would disrupt

its business.

And looming about the day to day debate, or the sometimes apocalyptic warnings about the

long term dangers of AI technologies, often from loud and arguably authoritative voices

belonging to executives and researchers who developed these technologies.

So are people right to raise the spectre of apocalyptic AI driven destruction?

In my view?

No.

I agree that there are some sobering risks.

But people are beginning to understand that these are socio technical systems that is

not just neutral tools, but an inextricable bundle of code, data, subjective parameters,

and people.

AI's end users and the direction it develops, aren't inevitable, and addressing the risks

of AI isn't simply a question of stop or proceed.

Companies are aware of these issues as they work on new systems.

Open AI, the company behind Chat GPT sums them up pretty well.

It recognises that while a lot has been done to root out racism, and other forms of hate

from Chat GPT is responses, manipulation and hallucination, which means producing content

that is nonsensical or untruthful essentially made up still happen.

I'm confident that trial and error plus burgeoning research in this area will help.

Okay, so there's the article as I explained before, just the argument that's going on

these days between should we or should we not embrace or try to ban all of this new

issues this new media this new these new platforms such as Chat GPT and Bard, okay, so the words

that I've highlighted.

The first word is computational, computational, so just be careful with the pronunciation,

okay?

Computational.

Computational means about calculating something.

Okay.

So when you calculate how much you need, it's a computation.

You carried out a computation and of course, all the algorithms that we use computational

power to identify how to use these particular artificial intelligence platforms, computational.

Second word surge, and we have it here led to a surge and AI technology, a surge means

a sudden increase.

So if there's a power blackout in certain countries, it's often because there has been

a surge in demand.

So in particularly cold winters, people switch on their heating.

As a result, there's a surge in demand for electricity, and that might result in a blackout.

So surge as a sudden increase.

Or if there's heavy rains and floods in a river there may be a surge of water a sudden

increase in the flow of the water that causes flooding, surge, so it's a noun, okay?

And for pronunciation.

Take the word around.

Ah, and just put the s on the front of it, surge, a surge in demand.

Okay.

Third word frought fraught.

Now think of the word taught, teach taught.

And now from fraught.

So get your pronunciation.

In the article, we have this has led to a very fraught, public debate.

Fraught means very difficult, very niggly, very argumentative.

It's not everybody in agreement with each other people are arguing on one side, other

people are arguing on the other side.

So, it is fraught, it means it is difficult, and we have this expression in English fraught

with difficulties, there are problems.

So it's not an easy passage, it's not going to be smooth.

It's fraught, public debate or fraught, public opinion.

Number four to hold back on.

In the article we said companies are holding back on recruitment.

So to hold back on something is to delay.

Okay, so companies are holding back on recruitment, because they want to see can they get away

without recruiting people and just use artificial intelligence, of course, it will go straight

to the bottom line.

So to hold back on something means to prevent it from being issued.

So perhaps is an article and the publisher said, No, let's hold back on publishing that

article for a few days, meaning, let's delay publishing that article for a few days to

hold back on.

And of course, if you do like this particular lesson, then please like the video, and if

you can subscribe to the channel because it really, really helps.

To tumble over.

Okay, now, here we're talking about financial aspects, the shares and a leading publishing

company called Pearson, the shares tumbled over concerns so they tumbled mean, they fell.

So in something tumbles, it falls, so the value of the shares fell over the concerns

about artificial intelligence and its impact on the company's business.

So they, this is the reason why the shares fell, they tumbled over concerns that AI would

and here's the next word, disrupt their business.

So when something is disrupted, so it doesn't stop completely, but it is made more difficult.

So businesses disrupted.

So for example, if there was a train strike, or a strike by doctors, then travelling and

trains will be difficult because it will be disrupted, you're not sure whether your train

is running or not.

Or if you have to have an operation to get your knee replaced, or whatever it might be.

If there are no doctors, then the operations the shedule of operations will also be disrupted.

Some will happen, some will not.

So when we disrupt something, we cause problems, difficulties, it doesn't stop entirely, but

it's not easy to get things done.

So not easy to travel.

During a train strike, there will be a lot of disruption, not easy to have normal, everyday

operations in the hospital.

When there's a doctor strike, it will cause some disruption.

Okay.

Now, the next word we have is looming.

Okay?

So, and looming above the day-to-day debate.

So when something looms, it's sort of hanging there, waiting to fall.

For example, if you're looking out the window, whether called October, November day, there

might often be some fog around so the fog looms over the streets sort of just hangs

there and makes it very difficult for you to see through that fog, it looms or if something

looms, it's just hang in there and you're waiting for something to happen.

So if a factory or a business is going to close or there are concerns or rumours that

the company has financial difficulties, then there's looming over the city, this uncertainty

whether people are going to lose their job so looms something that just hangs there.

And in the article we said, and looming above the day-to-day debate, so something was in

the air hanging their over their heads, like a big weight waiting to fall.

Okay, looms.

Number eight, the next word is sobering.

In the article we say, I agree that there are some sobering risks sober is when you're

not affected by alcohol, you're sober, but sobering risks are risks that make you sit

up and think.

Okay, so in this article, they're talking about the possible apocalyptic destruction

that artificial intelligence will cause.

And this person writing the article says they don't agree with this but there are some sobering

risks meaning there are some risks that you really need to think about.

You can't just avoid them and put your head in the sand.

So sobering risks, risks that are out there that are real and you need to think about.

The next word inextricable now here, just want to focus on the pronunciation first of

all, okay, so inextricable, inextricable, inextricable, inextricable inextricable inextricable,

inextricable Now, what does it mean?

Inextricable means something that cannot be separated.

Okay.

And the article they say this is that is not just neutral tools, but an inextricable bundle

of code data, subjective parameters, and people, meaning these things cannot be separated.

It's all part of the same problem, the problem about artificial intelligence, they're inextricable

all the issues are inextricable, they cannot be separated.

Okay.

In countries often we talk about the inextricable link between state and church where often

you know what the church does, what the state does are exactly the same.

So this inextricable link, okay, so we have to be really careful about the pronunciation.

And then also to get the correct meaning inextricable.

Next word inevitable, little bit easier to pronounce inevitable.

And here in the article, we say, the use of artificial intelligence at the end of the

day, and the direction in which it develops aren't inevitable.

So inevitable means something that this is going to happen no matter what.

So, you know, the end of the day is always inevitable, we get up in the morning at seven

or 8am.

The surest thing is that we will go to bed it when it's dark at 10, 11, or 12.

So the day at the end of the day is inevitable, you can't stop it happening.

In the article, they say, this change isn't inevitable, meaning it doesn't have to be

something that will happen, but we can make changes.

So inevitable is something that is always going to happen inevitable.

As soon as night follows day, it's inevitable.

We are born, we live we die, it's inevitable.

That certain things in life that are inevitable life, death, and taxes was a famous quotation.

So the people are born, people die, and people pay taxes inevitable, okay.

And the next expression would have to root out something, okay.

And here, they say to root out racism.

So to root out something means to get rid of it, okay.

So if you're digging in the garden, and you dig up a big tree, you literally root it out,

meaning you dig up all the roots that hold the tree into the ground, or you've got a

problem in your office or you've got a problem in the school, you try to root out the cause

of the problem.

You know, if there's somebody who's been disruptive, you might tell them, they need to find some

other place to work all this a pupil who's been disruptive, you might send him home from

school for a few days or a few weeks, or tell the parents that this child is causing problems.

And we have to root out bullying or racism within the school.

And if the child doesn't improve the behaviour, then they will be asked to leave.

So to root out something is to get rid of it, dig it up and throw it out, to root out.

And then number 12.

To make up in the article says to make up stuff.

We make up stories.

Kids make up stories all the time.

They make up little friends that don't really exist.

They make up stories, why they didn't do their homework, they make up stories, why they don't

want to go to school because they've got a headache or a pain in the tummy.

So people are constantly making up stuff, making up stories that are not really true,

either to impress somebody, or to get something that they want to make up in our article here

that talking again about this whole Chat GPT where they tried to root out racism and also

this idea where people make up stories that are not really true, but people for some strange

reason believe it.

Okay, so to root out those people making stuff up or making up stuff.

And then finally, we have another word quite difficult on the tongue for pronunciation.

Burgeoning, burgeoning.

Now make sure you've got the g sound burgeoning.

Yeah.

Okay.

So it's like, again, the word urge, got a g.

Urge.

And then burge burgeoning.

Okay, now burgeoning means growing quickly or developing or expanding.

So here they're talking about, I am confident that trial and error plus burgeoning research,

lots of increasing or growing research in this area will help.

Okay, so we might have a burgeoning economy, an economy that started off small, but year

by year is getting bigger and bigger and bigger burgeoning.

So let me give you the pronunciation.

Again, burgeoning, burgeoning, burgeoning, burgeoning.

Okay, so a burgeoning economy, burgeoning research.

Okay, so they're their words, we have 13 In total, let me run through them again, quickly.

Computational search, fraught, to hold back on, to tumble over, to disrupt, to loom or

looming, sobering, inextricable, inevitable, to root out, to make up stuff, and then finally

burgeoning.

Okay, so hopefully you've enjoyed that particular article, AI and all this issue about Chat

GPT.

Chat GPT is really top of the agenda these days, everybody is talking about it.

You know, everybody is looking out for it.

Everybody's practising.

We tried it ourselves here just to see what we could get.

And the results are quite, quite amazing.

Okay, so if there's anything else that you require in relation to this article, or the

words or the phrase of the expressions, as I said at the beginning, give me a call, send

me an email, and we'll try to help you out.

Okay, this is Harry's always thanking you for listening and for watching, and remember,

join me for the next lesson.