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> Much like mechanization was possible by ultra rich at the turn of the last century. If by "last century" you mean 19th century, then there was a lot of backl
by js8 4y ago
> Much like mechanization was possible by ultra rich at the turn of the last century.
If by "last century" you mean 19th century, then there was a lot of backlash against mechanization being controlled only by the rich, starting with Communist Manifesto, and continuing with 1st and 2nd International. The important part of this was education of the working class.
I think the AI might seem as a threat, but it also provides more opportunity for education of people (allowing them to understand cultural hegemony of neoliberal ideology more clearly), who will undoubtedly not just accept this blindly.
I have no doubt that within next decade, there will be attempts to build a truly open AI can help people deeply understand political history and shape public policy.
- tromp 4y agoThe 19th century "turned" on Jan 1, 1801 and lasted through Dec 31 1900 [1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century
- flashgordon 4y agoYep I meant around 1890+ ish phase (or which ever century mechanization was on the rise). My point was the communist manifest at least seemed like a thing to propose/predict such dangers. I am not sure we are seeing any such thing now? I love the power and opportunities of ai without anthropomorphising it (afaict it is just a crazily powerful and huge statistical engine). What worries me is just like we in in America think of ourselves as temporary impoverished millionaires we also seeing AI as the thing that will give us back 50 hours a week for fun pursuits without wondering who is owning it. Reminds me of that show on Amazon Prime - Upload!
- kmeisthax 4y agoThis didn't start with the Communists, it started with the Luddites. We don't think of them as the start of this sort of thing because wealthy Englishmen successfully slandered them as just hating technology for the sake of hating technology, so instead they're a by-word for "technophobe".
- js8 4y agoYou're right that the backlash started earlier. But I think the important difference is that communists and socialists embraced the technological progress instead of simply rejecting it. And they also embraced it as a tool for education. And this is my point, we shouldn't just be worried about the AI (and wish we go back or slow it down), we should embrace it somehow, as this strategy proved more successful with the mechanization too.
- flashgordon 4y agoSo true. My fear is not of AI but the wielders of AI who sadly still remain mere human :)