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People compare AI to the automation that happened in e.g. car factories. Lots of people were put out of jobs, and that’s just the way things go, they say. But
by tines 1y ago
People compare AI to the automation that happened in e.g. car factories. Lots of people were put out of jobs, and that’s just the way things go, they say.
But the difference is that automotive automation does create way more jobs than it destroyed. Programmers, designers, machine maintainers, computer engineers, mechanical engineers, materials scientists, all have a part to play in making those machines. More people are employed by auto manufacturers than ever before, albeit different people.
AI isn’t the same really. It’s not a case of creating more-different jobs. It just substitutes people with a crappier replacement, puts all the power in the hands of the few companies that make it, and the pie is shrinking rather than growing.
We will all pay for the damage done in pure pursuit of profit by shoehorning this tech everywhere.
- palmotea 1y agoI think one interesting way to frame AI is that it will "degrade" jobs: force speed-ups and remove much of the enjoyable and engaging aspects and replace them with drudgery.
- tines 1y agoThat’s a good way to think of it. I think it’s degrading every aspect of life. We’re so obsessed with metrics and efficiency that we don’t know how to live any more.
- palmotea 1y agoYeah, modern society (essentially neoliberal capitalism) does not prioritize quality of life. The apotheosis is maximum output (shareholder profits), even if that means if the vast majority of people are miserable and unhappy (because the low quality of their work-life is not compensated by the products and services they're given access to).
- tines 1y agoAgreed. And the interesting thing is that now, with smartphones and an endless stream of captivating entertainment (basically Soma), people won't even be able to think long enough to realize they're miserable and unhappy. If you can impose a new way of living on one single generation---an existence directed toward endless free (for now) entertainment---it is enough to change all subsequent generations. Once this takes hold, there's no going back.
- palmotea 1y ago> Once this takes hold, there's no going back. I'm not that pessimistic. If humans are in charge, there'll always change, but it may be in the far future. Though AGI might change that, because I can see one important application being the creation of ever-present minds to continuously watch and control each person who remains, on behalf of some totalitarian entity. Basically 1984 telescreens, but real and far cheaper.