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The fundamental issue isn't that some technologies are "off", lots of high-level research into things like mathematics and tech has absolutely no direct practic

by Drakim 3y ago

The fundamental issue isn't that some technologies are "off", lots of high-level research into things like mathematics and tech has absolutely no direct practical application. Lots of things are done with the mindset of "planting trees even though we ourselves will never be able to enjoy the shade". The actual problem is the financial madness that's overtaken tech. Bitcoins is a great concept, having a decentralized system not owned by visa for doing payments across the planet would be a huge boon to a lot of people. But it drowned in how much money could be made by treating it as a financial investment. The same thing is happening with AI, and it's not the fault of AI itself as a tech. And frankly, all the comments about how "AI isn't all that, it won't be able to quickly upend every industry on the planet and make us billions" is a disappointing mindset to see. The hacker mentality has been replaced by middle-managers and financial experts.

fragmede 3y ago
If your complaint is simply the money that tech is swimming in, I have some bad news for you about the state of the Internet since 1998. First there was the web boom (and bust) (which was supposed to change the world). (Arguably it did, but eg record labels are still around.) Then there was the the Web 2.0 boom. Then there was crypto, now there's AI. Outside of tech, the world still looks largely the same. American "capitalism" is still filled with inequality, with lots of misery on all levels, and we don't have any more free time than we did before (unless your startup lottery ticket pays out). Sorry for letting my cynicism show, it's pre-coffee, but you'll forgive me for thinking this time it'll be different. It might be, but we've heard that promise before and should be a) just as skeptical but also b) just as enamoured. If you missed out on the crypto boom (and subsequent bust), you've got some catching up to do in this cycles boom (and bust).

by Drakim 3y ago

fragmede 3y ago

If your complaint is simply the money that tech is swimming in, I have some bad news for you about the state of the Internet since 1998. First there was the web boom (and bust) (which was supposed to change the world). (Arguably it did, but eg record labels are still around.) Then there was the the Web 2.0 boom. Then there was crypto, now there's AI. Outside of tech, the world still looks largely the same. American "capitalism" is still filled with inequality, with lots of misery on all levels, and we don't have any more free time than we did before (unless your startup lottery ticket pays out). Sorry for letting my cynicism show, it's pre-coffee, but you'll forgive me for thinking this time it'll be different. It might be, but we've heard that promise before and should be a) just as skeptical but also b) just as enamoured. If you missed out on the crypto boom (and subsequent bust), you've got some catching up to do in this cycles boom (and bust).