We need to start treating AI development, and its potential impact on the possibility of a humane world, as seriously as we treat climate change. I’m not even talking about existential risk or far-flung, distantly possible applications. I am talking about things that are coming in the next half-decade. I’m talking about stuff that’s technically already possible but is still in the implementation phase.

My summary: we need to democratize all powerful institutions like yesterday. Seriously y'all we're running out of time

  • dualmindblade [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    The particular model that example is from can solve math story problems at about the level of an average 9-12 year old. How many jobs can a bunch of average 9-12 year olds replace? A few I guess, they could do tech support or something. On the other hand Dalle-2 can do top notch graphic design among other things, it could currently replace a whole lot of jobs. Did I mention this tech is getting better and more capable every year and the rate at which it's doing so is increasing?

      • Ideology [she/her]
        ·
        3 years ago

        Hello, graphic designer. We've got good news and bad news. The bad news is: we no longer need you to make art. The good news is: you get to take this art a computer made and collect opinions from our test groups.

          • dualmindblade [he/him]
            ·
            3 years ago

            That's not an obvious conclusion, but I assume you mean something like job loss slowing consumer spending, or is that off the mark?

              • dualmindblade [he/him]
                ·
                3 years ago

                Ltv by itself wouldn't imply that, capitalists could be extracting more profit out of their investment, then they're just stealing more value from fewer workers, their labor is worth more which makes sense since they are operating more powerful machines.

                  • dualmindblade [he/him]
                    ·
                    3 years ago

                    I am looking up the stuff you're talking about, haven't formed an opinion yet, but my current thinking is.. nobody really understands economics, not in a predictive sense, there just isn't a good theory that neatly accounts for everything, it might not even be possible. And when you throw AI into the mix I think things get weirder still. With very heavy automation.. even if a small cadre if engineers is needed to main the system, the capitalist could potentially own literally an entire economy, no need to trade with anyone or think in terms of money, they desire something and the army of robots does its best to deliver it. A theory that can't analyze such a situation likewise will miss something about whatever situations like between now and whenever that becomes possible. The point is, whether you find such things plausible or not, the capability gains of AI over the past 10 years have astounded even the craziest of optimists, there's no sign of slowing down. If research came to a screaming halt, implausible, we haven't even reckoned with what's already been created.

      • HumanBehaviorByBjork [any, undecided]
        ·
        3 years ago

        capitalists’ rate of profit would plummet and we’d have a world revolution

        i know marx said it, but marx didn't actually say this