2 ms·

Typo - "AI will expand 'useless class' of humans"

• dalke 10y ago
  Indeed. We have little need now for elevator operators. But 100 years ago, when steam, electricity, and wide-spread mechanization of the previous decades had brought huge advantages in efficiency, the thought was that there would be increased leisure, and the time to pursue the activities which make us more human, like friendship, raising children, hobbies, and more serious avocations. Or watching TV, playing video games, and getting high. This isn't the "useless class" but the "leisure class." Of course, quoting from the article: > Harari, it turns out, has a specific definition of useless. “I choose this very upsetting term, useless, to highlight the fact that we are talking about useless from the viewpoint of the economic and political system, not from a moral viewpoint,” If you get to pick your definitions, you get to say what you want.
  • LionessLover 10y ago
    > If you get to pick your definitions, you get to say what you want. The term "useless" is inherently relative. The universe does not have a natural position on "usefulness". So yes, you do get to make it to mean whatever you want it to be. That is not a basis to criticize anyone - any framework you choose to set a basis is itself arbitrary. Unless you believe in some "higher purpose", where all discussion ceases to be meaningful because nothing can be proven and you can claim whatever you want, and the loudest and/or strongest "wins".
  • crdoconnor 10y ago
    It was a common idea in the 70s too. All it takes is a bout of inflation to kill the idea that we've run out of things for people to do. It'll happen to the United States if the flow of underpriced Chinese goods dries up and the US needs to start making its own goods.