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This doesn't seem like an effective counterpoint to me; it feels like, to put it harshly, the same sort of conjecture crypto enthusiasts use to point out how Bi

This doesn't seem like an effective counterpoint to me; it feels like, to put it harshly, the same sort of conjecture crypto enthusiasts use to point out how Bitcoin will be used to fight the man. The average american is now way more productive but those gains they thought we would get with the advent of the computer (4 day work weeks, 5 hour days) never came; instead Americans work the same, produce more, but get a fewer piece of the pie. If anything I expect these trends to continue as AI becomes more commonplace. In other words, why is this time different?

XorNot 4y ago
Isn't the better question "why is this time unique?" The problem isn't new, it's always existed as a pathology of American society. You already have been trading away the gains of technological improvement to an ever shrinking group of people in control of capital. AI isn't creating a new problem, it's a reminder of an old one. Which should make it clear that even bothering to talk about AI specifically is talking about the wrong issue.
chii 4y ago
> but get a fewer piece of the pie i dont think that's true. The average wealth has grown, and even if you didn't get wage growth, the availability of things you could buy with said wage has grown (which is in and of itself a form of wealth).
- nemothekid 4y ago
  >i dont think that's true. American productivity/wage gap isn't particularly controversial, it's well documented. >The average wealth has grown Globally yes, but as far as Americans are concerned they largely didn't see their wealth grow as the "Elephant curve" [2] shows. A lot of the wealth growth happened in China and India. >the availability of things you could buy with said wage has grown "You'll own nothing. And you'll be happy" is pretty much what you are saying here. The price of real assets has grown tremendously, but at least you can buy a 60" flatscreen TV for $100. [1] https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/ https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/ [2] https://www.aeaweb.org/research/charts/elephant-curve-world-inequality https://www.aeaweb.org/research/charts/elephant-curve-world-...

XorNot 4y ago

Isn't the better question "why is this time unique?" The problem isn't new, it's always existed as a pathology of American society. You already have been trading away the gains of technological improvement to an ever shrinking group of people in control of capital. AI isn't creating a new problem, it's a reminder of an old one. Which should make it clear that even bothering to talk about AI specifically is talking about the wrong issue.

chii 4y ago

> but get a fewer piece of the pie i dont think that's true. The average wealth has grown, and even if you didn't get wage growth, the availability of things you could buy with said wage has grown (which is in and of itself a form of wealth).

nemothekid 4y ago
>i dont think that's true. American productivity/wage gap isn't particularly controversial, it's well documented. >The average wealth has grown Globally yes, but as far as Americans are concerned they largely didn't see their wealth grow as the "Elephant curve" [2] shows. A lot of the wealth growth happened in China and India. >the availability of things you could buy with said wage has grown "You'll own nothing. And you'll be happy" is pretty much what you are saying here. The price of real assets has grown tremendously, but at least you can buy a 60" flatscreen TV for $100. [1] https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/ https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/ [2] https://www.aeaweb.org/research/charts/elephant-curve-world-inequality https://www.aeaweb.org/research/charts/elephant-curve-world-...