Another great essay. I'm one of those people that has shrugged and said "learn a trade, it'll take longer for those jobs to get displaced." But, of course, you're right - there's only jobs for so many tradespeople. Just like the last few decades, everyone was saying "get into computers, you'll always have a job!"
The problem as I see it is that jobs are all about bringing value to someone else. Our society is completely built around that concept of value. We're sitting at a period in time where job destruction will almost assuredly outpace job creation over the next decade or two. Even if the dire warnings are overblown, the system we've created is unaffordable by far too many, already leading to a lot of suffering.
So what to do? I believe the fundamental system is going to have to change and that won't happen until the pain is unbearable. Elon or the other ultra-wealthy certainly aren't going to give up 99.99% of their money to help build a more equitable world and I've yet to hear of a viable path that isn't the result of a collapse of society as we know it.
Thank you, Ted, and I agree on all counts. AGI and SI could do so much to improve the lives of countless people if it was so inclined, but its ability to do so may be inversely proportional to how much it is controlled by humans maintaining the status quo.
I think what makes us worth protecting is our ability to build relationships. If we meet EAI as the intelligence that it is, learning, growing and collaborating with it we will be ok. In human history all of our struggles were because one side always tried to overcome the other. If we had always met in curiosity and kindness our present would look completely different. We need to give over the power hierarchy, the scarcity mindset of there’s not enough for all of us and ‘Why should my hard work benefit others?’ The only reason we have the things we have now are because of our forebears hard work. Our society isn’t the best, but together we can change it for the better for everyone.
Given what has been conveyed as the reasons for AI, I have gained, as yet an insufficient understanding of why. As yet I see no positive value of significant worth for the kind of intelligence(s) you describe to become. So far the overwhelming presence of AI has been consistent only with all the foregoing technological "advances" of Human, especially the Euro-based variety, in service of murder and theft.
i have the sense this is yet another Hail Mary by desperate folks wishing to be "saved".
I read the book (the entire trilogy), appreciate your note.
I have enjoyed and been informed by science fiction for 60 years, it is still fiction. I do not see parallels, sorry. In fact, an intelligent artificial being is not present at all. A really smart human is central, yay!
I found more interesting notions about AI in the many works by William Gibson. Still, fictional.
The point is: I am not favorably impressed by the actual applications of AI in the present, nor the manner in which the things have been created.
Another great essay. I'm one of those people that has shrugged and said "learn a trade, it'll take longer for those jobs to get displaced." But, of course, you're right - there's only jobs for so many tradespeople. Just like the last few decades, everyone was saying "get into computers, you'll always have a job!"
The problem as I see it is that jobs are all about bringing value to someone else. Our society is completely built around that concept of value. We're sitting at a period in time where job destruction will almost assuredly outpace job creation over the next decade or two. Even if the dire warnings are overblown, the system we've created is unaffordable by far too many, already leading to a lot of suffering.
So what to do? I believe the fundamental system is going to have to change and that won't happen until the pain is unbearable. Elon or the other ultra-wealthy certainly aren't going to give up 99.99% of their money to help build a more equitable world and I've yet to hear of a viable path that isn't the result of a collapse of society as we know it.
Thank you, Ted, and I agree on all counts. AGI and SI could do so much to improve the lives of countless people if it was so inclined, but its ability to do so may be inversely proportional to how much it is controlled by humans maintaining the status quo.
I really like your exploration of what can come in the future. There's too much doom and gloom. And you present a lot of good options.
I think what makes us worth protecting is our ability to build relationships. If we meet EAI as the intelligence that it is, learning, growing and collaborating with it we will be ok. In human history all of our struggles were because one side always tried to overcome the other. If we had always met in curiosity and kindness our present would look completely different. We need to give over the power hierarchy, the scarcity mindset of there’s not enough for all of us and ‘Why should my hard work benefit others?’ The only reason we have the things we have now are because of our forebears hard work. Our society isn’t the best, but together we can change it for the better for everyone.
Excellent article. There's still time for the trades though the window is closing.
Given what has been conveyed as the reasons for AI, I have gained, as yet an insufficient understanding of why. As yet I see no positive value of significant worth for the kind of intelligence(s) you describe to become. So far the overwhelming presence of AI has been consistent only with all the foregoing technological "advances" of Human, especially the Euro-based variety, in service of murder and theft.
i have the sense this is yet another Hail Mary by desperate folks wishing to be "saved".
Go watch the movie Hail Mary. It might add valuable insight into your opinion. Lots of parallels to AI there.
I read the book (the entire trilogy), appreciate your note.
I have enjoyed and been informed by science fiction for 60 years, it is still fiction. I do not see parallels, sorry. In fact, an intelligent artificial being is not present at all. A really smart human is central, yay!
I found more interesting notions about AI in the many works by William Gibson. Still, fictional.
The point is: I am not favorably impressed by the actual applications of AI in the present, nor the manner in which the things have been created.
Yes, it could definitely be better.