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I do think there is a pretty extreme overlap between generative AI early adoptors and people who are excited to spend half of their waking hours interacting wit
by rurp 4y ago
I do think there is a pretty extreme overlap between generative AI early adoptors and people who are excited to spend half of their waking hours interacting with an AI assisstant. Interest in the raw tech fades pretty fast the further you get from very online groups.
That said, the new tech is powerful and likely to have a large impact, just not as much through new interfaces as the hype suggests.
Unfortunately I think the biggest use-case for generative AI in the medium term will be automating away middle class jobs. The cabability is looking very possible, and the profit motive is immense. Despite the fun creative uses and the strong PR, the development of this tech is extremely profit focused.
Everyday people will likely feel the effects of this tech, but it mostly won't come in the form of fun and games.
- JohnFen 4y agoYes. This is why I'm of the opinion that if the enthusiasts are correct about where this tech is going, it is going to be a disaster. You can't eliminate the ability of most people to earn a meaningful living and expect anything but a dystopian nightmare. This is also why I'm hoping the enthusiasts are completely wrong.
- rurp 4y agoI'm also terrified that the AI optimists are right. I feel like the closest analogy to the "upside" case is the advent of offshoring. Millions of middle class jobs will be wiped out in exchange for higher corporate profits and cheaper socks. Except in the AI case there won't be millions of people in other countries lifted out of poverty; all these profits will flow to the wealthy.