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Terence Tao sees a role for AI in science. I'm no genius but he basically described what I've thought all along... We don't need to be "all in" or "all out". I

by glimshe 2mo ago

Terence Tao sees a role for AI in science. I'm no genius but he basically described what I've thought all along... We don't need to be "all in" or "all out". It's the old cliche of "if you only have a hammer every problem looks like a nail". Let's not fall into the trap of thinking that our life needs to be 100% about AI or completely devoid of AI. We can really use this thing to make our lives better. Instead of wasting time on the question of whether we should use it, let's focus on HOW we'll use it. And one thing about Tao: it's really refreshing to have an influential genius "around" who isn't a egomaniacal psychopath trying to rule the world through their XYZ corporation but, instead, being a reasonable and well-balanced person. Big fan.

GPerson 2mo ago
I think it’s more that he seeks to preserve and promote human understanding of mathematics, and sees that grappling with this new technology is necessary. One reason is that for human mathematical practices and institutions to retain legitimacy, they need to justify their value. As Tao explains, one obvious answer to that is made less obvious now with AI.
a2ff6eeb0 2mo ago
I think it's impossible to be half in. AI will eventually be better at things than people, and people will simply be rocks in the gears of progress. The only thing to do is to be all in, or get run over.
- evenhash 2mo ago
  If what you’re saying is true, what’s the use (or even meaning) of being “all in”? You’re a rock either way.
  - a2ff6eeb0 2mo ago
    It's not there yet, and every move we're currently making is towards an extremely inequitable future. Unless things change, not everyone is going to benefit from AI. What are you doing today to end up on the team that wins? Once AI starts under its own direction, human brains won't be competitive. It feels like we're a breakthrough or two away, and with trillions of funding, we'll get there. Every dollar we spend on Claude subscriptions gets us closer.
    - feoren 2mo ago
      > Unless things change, not everyone is going to benefit from AI. What are you doing today to end up on the team that wins? It is going to be a tiny minority of people who "win". The other 99.5% of humans will just be losers who, what, die in the streets? This argument reminds me of Roko's Basilisk. "The humanity-ending torture-loving Basilisk is coming whether you like it or not, so come over here and help me build it!"

by glimshe 2mo ago

GPerson 2mo ago

I think it’s more that he seeks to preserve and promote human understanding of mathematics, and sees that grappling with this new technology is necessary. One reason is that for human mathematical practices and institutions to retain legitimacy, they need to justify their value. As Tao explains, one obvious answer to that is made less obvious now with AI.

a2ff6eeb0 2mo ago

I think it's impossible to be half in. AI will eventually be better at things than people, and people will simply be rocks in the gears of progress. The only thing to do is to be all in, or get run over.

evenhash 2mo ago
If what you’re saying is true, what’s the use (or even meaning) of being “all in”? You’re a rock either way.
- a2ff6eeb0 2mo ago
  It's not there yet, and every move we're currently making is towards an extremely inequitable future. Unless things change, not everyone is going to benefit from AI. What are you doing today to end up on the team that wins? Once AI starts under its own direction, human brains won't be competitive. It feels like we're a breakthrough or two away, and with trillions of funding, we'll get there. Every dollar we spend on Claude subscriptions gets us closer.
  - feoren 2mo ago
    > Unless things change, not everyone is going to benefit from AI. What are you doing today to end up on the team that wins? It is going to be a tiny minority of people who "win". The other 99.5% of humans will just be losers who, what, die in the streets? This argument reminds me of Roko's Basilisk. "The humanity-ending torture-loving Basilisk is coming whether you like it or not, so come over here and help me build it!"