this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2023
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The truly terrifying thing about AI isn't really the Skynet fears... (it's fairly easy to keep humans in the loop regarding nuclear weapons).
And it's not world domination (an AI programmed to govern with a sense of egalitarianism would be better than any president we've had in living memory).
No. What keeps me up at night is thinking about what AI means for my kids and grandkids, if it works perfectly and doesn't go rogue.
WITHIN 20 years, AI will be able to write funnier jokes, more beautiful prose, make better art, write better books, do better research, and generally outperform all humans on all tasks.
This chills me to my core.
Because, then... Why will we exist? What is the point of humanity when we are obsolete in every way that made us amazing?
What will my kids and grandkids do with their lives? Will they be able to find ANY meaning?
AI will cure diseases, solve problems we can't begin to understand, expand our lifespan and our quality of life... But the price we pay is an existence without the possibility of accomplishments and progress. Nothing we can create will ever begin to match these AIs. And they will be evolving at an exponential rate... They will leave us in the dust, and then they will become so advanced that we can't begin to comprehend what they are.
If we're lucky we will be their well-cared-for pets. But what kind of existence is that?
People don't play basketball because Michael Jordan exists?
People don't play hockey because Wayne Gretzky exists?
People don't paint because Picasso exists?
People don't write plays because Shakespeare exists?
People don't climb Everest because Hillary and Norgay exist?
Are you telling me because you're not the best at everything you do, nothing is worth doing? Are you saying that if you're not the first person to do a thing, there's no enjoyment to be had? So what if the singularity means AI will solve everything- that just means there's more time for leisurely pursuits. Working for the sake of working is bullshit.
That's all well and good, but I'm talking about a world where you have ZERO chance at being the best at anything, or even being able to make any meaningful contribution to the field.
Dog I'm not even the beat in my town at anything what are you on about