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One tractor can do the work of tens of people easily, and in the last ~150-200 years, we've gone from a vast majority of people producing food to a tiny minorit
by ajsnigrutin 3y ago
One tractor can do the work of tens of people easily, and in the last ~150-200 years, we've gone from a vast majority of people producing food to a tiny minority, while the rest can be social media managers and feng-shui specialist. One excell spreadsheet can do the work of a 100+ paper-based accountants, and that's even before a database and automation.
We could've stopped at tractors, lived the same lifestyle as before, but with 1-2 hours work per day (or even less), but we decided we wanted and needed more, and more is what we got.
- CharlieDigital 3y agoKey difference: productivity gains in agriculture made food not only more plentiful, but also cheaper. We can say the same for the steam engine and transportation. It made it cheaper to move goods and people. Question is whether advancements in AI translate to making some fundamental goods or services cheaper and more accessible.
- Gehinnn 3y agoDoesn't the free market regulate this?
- ricardonunez 3y agoIt is going to make profits more accessible to those at the top; that’s that.
- ajsnigrutin 3y agoAnd gains in computing made computers cheaper. An esp32 which is way way more powerful than desktop machines ~30-40 years ago costs $4, you can buy a full laptop for ~150eur, or a smartphone for even less. Yes, of course AI will make stuff cheaper and more accessible, but you'll want more and more of that stuff. Just count the number of "computers" in your home now, and think what else will become "smart" in the future.
- _a_a_a_ 3y agoHot water, sewers, decent food, television and films, warm & damp-resistant housing, electric lights and much more and I'm glad of it. I remember living in places where hot water had to come from a kettle and the house was cold and in winter the damp rose nearly to the ceiling from the floor. And the food back then was expensive and pretty bad.