I'm sorry if this isn't worded well, the idea isn't yet crystallized in my mind such that I can precisely express it. (foreshadowing)
Basically, when the 'Al' is given a prompt, it takes a random image of chaos and adjusts the variations in the pixels over many steps into a target or goal image.
Youtube - Computerphile - Stable Diffusion In Code
Pretty awesome. The video I linked he made frogs on stilts. Wild.
But what if the parameters of this algorithm are changed? Say, the input goal instead of an image of frogs you ask for Complete Control of Earth. Then, instead of starting with random noise, it starts with a snapshot of the entire world in its current state. The Al adjusts the virtual world in small increments, revealing a path of little steps from point A to point B.
Whoever runs this algorithm learns of a way to turn chaotic Earth under his complete control. All he needs is for all the world to stop and smile for the photo. How long did it take to Stable Diffuse a plan for world domination? About two more weeks...
In conclusion, the "AI art" Stable Diffusion algorithm can be used as a plan-maker. Think of who gathers the most algorithm-training data and who has the most computational power.
P.s. if they're giving free versions of this tech to the general public, does that mean they have applied the algorithm and are already enacting their plan? Is the Villain revealing his scheme because he feels we're inescapably trapped?
Can't. The program is built to make images. Grand strategy is completely outside of what it can do. Ask for complete control of Earth and it'll just make an image, that's all it can do
You'd need to build a machine learning program and train it with data. They learn by repetition and trial and error. This is easy enough when the AI is just playing with a few pixels, but how do you train it for world domination? The data you'd need for that is impossible. It would require a matrix-like simulation of Earth for the program to learn in, and it would need to be computed way faster than reality. It's not possible on any level
Either that, or it would have to run a local instance for each person. I like the idea of "we're living in a simulation" and I'm glad you don't feel like the SkyNet MotherBrain could possibly run properly with modern computers.