I just don’t think the AI supremacy scenario is realistic. I think it ignores our current context and postulates a clean break, almost a kind of magical thinking to be frank. AI is likely to intensify current trends not suddenly subvert and reverse them. Palantir, deepfakes, LLM propaganda. The seeds are all here today. To think otherwise - that’s just not how human societies work, not history, none of it. AI is likely to continue to be weaponized, only more so as tech advances.
What I found persuasive was the argument that this bubble could be worse than others due to the perceived geopolitical stakes by US leadership, plausibly leading to mass serfdom as our society implodes, based on the argument that we already have a version of serfdom today. I found that astute.
I do NOT think that scenario is favorable - it just seems like the most likely future. I hold that we should view our situation with clear eyes so that we can make the best decision from where we stand.
Thinking through this, what does that mean for how we should face our present moment? Eventually people will throw off their chains; our leadership is so incompetently invested in class war that the working class is going to continue to be squeezed and squeezed - until it pops. It’s a pattern familiar in history. The question in my mind is not if but when. And the sooner we get our collective act together the less painful it’s going to be. There’s some really bad stuff waiting for us round the bend.
What should we do? The economy depends on us the serfs and soon-to-be serfs. It’s the workers who can take control of it and can shut it down with mass strikes. It’s only this in my view that can plausibly free us from our reckless leadership (which goes beyond the current administration) and the bleak future they are preparing for us.
Let’s say any of these would take off. Let’s put aside the US’ inferior energy picture, industrial base, or key natural resource access that would block the US from making some of these a reality. What are these new techs going to be used for? Many of them: war. Both internationally and domestically - the US is already invading its own cities. Deepfakes are regularly shared among some social media echo chambers already, and LLM propaganda farms have anlready seen documented use. Even pharmaceutical breakthroughs will be used to extract higher prices for the shrinking number of Americans who can afford it. The trends are all here already with no sign of abating. AI isn’t going to address the structural cause of these problems: extreme wealth inequality. AI is a tool to make it worse.
I think holding on to these beliefs about AI must give some people a sense of hope. But a hope based on reality and is stronger than one based in denial. The antidote I believe is solidarity founded on our shared vulnerability before this bleak future.
What I found persuasive was the argument that this bubble could be worse than others due to the perceived geopolitical stakes by US leadership, plausibly leading to mass serfdom as our society implodes, based on the argument that we already have a version of serfdom today. I found that astute.
I do NOT think that scenario is favorable - it just seems like the most likely future. I hold that we should view our situation with clear eyes so that we can make the best decision from where we stand.
Thinking through this, what does that mean for how we should face our present moment? Eventually people will throw off their chains; our leadership is so incompetently invested in class war that the working class is going to continue to be squeezed and squeezed - until it pops. It’s a pattern familiar in history. The question in my mind is not if but when. And the sooner we get our collective act together the less painful it’s going to be. There’s some really bad stuff waiting for us round the bend.
What should we do? The economy depends on us the serfs and soon-to-be serfs. It’s the workers who can take control of it and can shut it down with mass strikes. It’s only this in my view that can plausibly free us from our reckless leadership (which goes beyond the current administration) and the bleak future they are preparing for us.