That's a very sober look - thank you for sharing! I find that a lot of noise about AI right now comes from the excitement/anxiety about AI's capabilities by themselves rather than its real impact or meaning (that'll come with time). It's a bit like a kid who just learned to walk or talk - it's a milestone and a major achievement for the parents, but still a way to go till adulthood.
Reading this grounds me when everything online is just AI existential dread. It's important to remind myself that life is more than keeping up with the next AI update. I need to pause and breathe, read a book, do research the old fashioned way not due to the fear of AI inaccuracy but because I enjoy it. I love what you said about how even though AI is an incredibly powerful innovation, we still have to learn to master it. There is still a massive number of people who don't use AI daily and that's important. And the friction is very true. It goes back to your title: "Even God Can’t Skip the Bureaucrats."
It never ceases to amaze how the people most devoted to the idea of The Singularity consistently forget why that word was chosen. It's a reference to the gravitational singularity, the point where spacetime collapses in on itself and past which *all predictions are impossible*. A technological Singularity (theoretically) is a moment where technology is advancing so rapidly that humans can no longer keep up. Where the advance of technology is out of our hands because it's changing so quickly that we can no longer predict where it's going.
Whether we're headed for that or not, there's basically no reason to worry about it happening. There is quite literally nothing you can do. So I'll never understand these people trying to position themselves or whatever to prepare for the event. If it happens, then by definition you can't possibly know where you should be positioned to best benefit.
I really think the answer to your well-stated paradox is that they don't believe in it (or can't cognitively conceive it at all), which is a very human thing to do haha
I am not worried, but curious. Of course AI won't replace humans, this is self-evident if you think about it. Your metabolism will take you to fridge, your social brain to other people. It is like automobiles. Eventually, we will be able to travel faster where we are going, whether it is art or science. There will be casualties, as there were when autos were hard and humans soft with no safety belts. But eventually there will be traffic rules, safety belts and airbags. Some will speed and get fined, other drive drunk, injure people, and get sentenced. Things will settle because we are not stupid. And thanks Alberto :)
Yeah I've been paying more attention to the systems underneath AI (including semiconductors and business) and not too much to spheres of thought amongst AI influencers. I'm starting to see remnants of these thoughts in post titles through my feed (like permanent underclass, and even a post from Dwarkesh about intelligence and power).
For me, what AI researchers have done is just one one part of the whole picture. I think its more important to just be present and see how you can add value and now and be curious about how things work, rather than expend your energy consuming these thoughts and be anxious about the future. These people sort of feed off of that news if you ask me.
Thank you. I found your suggestions sensible and useful. We are already “controlled” by technology: roads, architectures, signs, furniture design, appliances.
Our dependence and delight at these “conveniences” allow us to ignore the way they control our ways of doing things and change our experiences of everyday life. (Darn that stove, I loved the fire.)
I understand why AI is causing tremendous financial anxiety. We need the paycheck for shelter, food, healthcare, etc. But the “ontological” anxiety is manageable. It is not a necessity. The answer is: you are not your job. You can and should cultivate meaningful aspects of your identity and values that have nothing to do with your role in a capitalist system. At least then, if you lose your career, you don’t have to feel like it’s losing a major part of yourself. I recognize this is far easier said than done, but it’s achievable and within our control.
"Nothing you can do about it"---cope! Perhaps there's nothing that any one person, individually, could do against Nazi Germany. But we took up arms, and we won. The notion that the future is already written is pure laudanum. Do not be afraid, do not lie to yourself. Fight!
Cmon Alberto, you're too wise to be certain about the future. And too brave to go down without a fight. Do not anesthetize yourself when the battle is at hand!
This is perhaps one of many articles that reek of naivite and wishful thinking. The author seems to suggest that we all just sit back and let the technology determine our future - the opposite of our humaness. We need to investigate and yes control the tech - not let it control us. Technology and algorithms do not lead to the good life. We must control that life if we are to maintain a human centered future. I think many of us in this country, are tired of the apologists for technology and in particular for AI.
So beautifully expressed! Thanks Alberto.
That's a very sober look - thank you for sharing! I find that a lot of noise about AI right now comes from the excitement/anxiety about AI's capabilities by themselves rather than its real impact or meaning (that'll come with time). It's a bit like a kid who just learned to walk or talk - it's a milestone and a major achievement for the parents, but still a way to go till adulthood.
Reading this grounds me when everything online is just AI existential dread. It's important to remind myself that life is more than keeping up with the next AI update. I need to pause and breathe, read a book, do research the old fashioned way not due to the fear of AI inaccuracy but because I enjoy it. I love what you said about how even though AI is an incredibly powerful innovation, we still have to learn to master it. There is still a massive number of people who don't use AI daily and that's important. And the friction is very true. It goes back to your title: "Even God Can’t Skip the Bureaucrats."
Indeed, maybe breathing deeply is actually the best way to prepare!
It never ceases to amaze how the people most devoted to the idea of The Singularity consistently forget why that word was chosen. It's a reference to the gravitational singularity, the point where spacetime collapses in on itself and past which *all predictions are impossible*. A technological Singularity (theoretically) is a moment where technology is advancing so rapidly that humans can no longer keep up. Where the advance of technology is out of our hands because it's changing so quickly that we can no longer predict where it's going.
Whether we're headed for that or not, there's basically no reason to worry about it happening. There is quite literally nothing you can do. So I'll never understand these people trying to position themselves or whatever to prepare for the event. If it happens, then by definition you can't possibly know where you should be positioned to best benefit.
I really think the answer to your well-stated paradox is that they don't believe in it (or can't cognitively conceive it at all), which is a very human thing to do haha
I am not worried, but curious. Of course AI won't replace humans, this is self-evident if you think about it. Your metabolism will take you to fridge, your social brain to other people. It is like automobiles. Eventually, we will be able to travel faster where we are going, whether it is art or science. There will be casualties, as there were when autos were hard and humans soft with no safety belts. But eventually there will be traffic rules, safety belts and airbags. Some will speed and get fined, other drive drunk, injure people, and get sentenced. Things will settle because we are not stupid. And thanks Alberto :)
Yeah I've been paying more attention to the systems underneath AI (including semiconductors and business) and not too much to spheres of thought amongst AI influencers. I'm starting to see remnants of these thoughts in post titles through my feed (like permanent underclass, and even a post from Dwarkesh about intelligence and power).
For me, what AI researchers have done is just one one part of the whole picture. I think its more important to just be present and see how you can add value and now and be curious about how things work, rather than expend your energy consuming these thoughts and be anxious about the future. These people sort of feed off of that news if you ask me.
Thank you. I found your suggestions sensible and useful. We are already “controlled” by technology: roads, architectures, signs, furniture design, appliances.
Our dependence and delight at these “conveniences” allow us to ignore the way they control our ways of doing things and change our experiences of everyday life. (Darn that stove, I loved the fire.)
Thanks for this. Moderate voices are hard to find in all the AI hype/doomscapes.
I understand why AI is causing tremendous financial anxiety. We need the paycheck for shelter, food, healthcare, etc. But the “ontological” anxiety is manageable. It is not a necessity. The answer is: you are not your job. You can and should cultivate meaningful aspects of your identity and values that have nothing to do with your role in a capitalist system. At least then, if you lose your career, you don’t have to feel like it’s losing a major part of yourself. I recognize this is far easier said than done, but it’s achievable and within our control.
"Nothing you can do about it"---cope! Perhaps there's nothing that any one person, individually, could do against Nazi Germany. But we took up arms, and we won. The notion that the future is already written is pure laudanum. Do not be afraid, do not lie to yourself. Fight!
My friend, you are doing the cope!
Cmon Alberto, you're too wise to be certain about the future. And too brave to go down without a fight. Do not anesthetize yourself when the battle is at hand!
> "If the ideas inside it are correct, then you can’t do anything about them."
Again, I feel like the "ban the technology" option is not being adequately explored here.
Yep. I mean as an individual. This is, after all, a practical guide
This is perhaps one of many articles that reek of naivite and wishful thinking. The author seems to suggest that we all just sit back and let the technology determine our future - the opposite of our humaness. We need to investigate and yes control the tech - not let it control us. Technology and algorithms do not lead to the good life. We must control that life if we are to maintain a human centered future. I think many of us in this country, are tired of the apologists for technology and in particular for AI.