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AI Is Breaking the Moral Foundation of Modern Society

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Re: AI Is Breaking the Moral Foundation of Modern Society

#41

Post by barrell »

RobinL wrote: post #9
barrell wrote: post #5

An idea that has been living rent free in my head is that "AI is ultimately nothing but a pure destruction of value". It's promise is unlimited value to everyone on demand; but if everyone can do everything without any effort, it is no longer valuable. Value and scarcity go hand in hand. I realize the hyperbolic framing of the idea, but none-the-less I haven't been able to get it out of my head. This article feels li…

Price and scarcity go hand in hand, not value and scarcity. Diamonds are pretty worthless but expensive because they're scarce (putting aside industrial applications), water is extremely valuable but cheap. No doubt there are some goods where the value is related to price, but these are probably mostly status related goods. e.g. to many buyers, the whole point in a Rolex is that it's expensive.

Price is just a proxy for value. Diamonds do not have inherent utility (to the layman) but they are expensive because we societally ascribe value to them.

Re: AI Is Breaking the Moral Foundation of Modern Society

#42

Post by renewiltord »

masswerk wrote: post #23
renewiltord wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see. What things that I said are no longer coherent when one makes a distinction between IP and creative effort?

Well, let's say, an alternative history novel, is it just ripping off a history textbook or is there more going on?

How about an exact duplicate of the all characters but they have sex with each other?

Re: AI Is Breaking the Moral Foundation of Modern Society

#43

Post by jader201 »

RobinL wrote: post #9
barrell wrote: post #5

An idea that has been living rent free in my head is that "AI is ultimately nothing but a pure destruction of value". It's promise is unlimited value to everyone on demand; but if everyone can do everything without any effort, it is no longer valuable. Value and scarcity go hand in hand. I realize the hyperbolic framing of the idea, but none-the-less I haven't been able to get it out of my head. This article feels li…

Price and scarcity go hand in hand, not value and scarcity. Diamonds are pretty worthless but expensive because they're scarce (putting aside industrial applications), water is extremely valuable but cheap. No doubt there are some goods where the value is related to price, but these are probably mostly status related goods. e.g. to many buyers, the whole point in a Rolex is that it's expensive.

You’re arguing semantics, but not really tying it back to OP’s point regarding AI and price and/or value.

Re: AI Is Breaking the Moral Foundation of Modern Society

#44

Post by zwnow »

raincole wrote: post #14
barrell wrote: post #5

An idea that has been living rent free in my head is that "AI is ultimately nothing but a pure destruction of value". It's promise is unlimited value to everyone on demand; but if everyone can do everything without any effort, it is no longer valuable. Value and scarcity go hand in hand. I realize the hyperbolic framing of the idea, but none-the-less I haven't been able to get it out of my head. This article feels li…

> but if everyone can do everything without any effort, it is no longer valuable It's called utopia. But my issue with AI hype is that it's not clear how it will lead to "everyone can do anything." Like how is it going to free up lands so everyone can afford a house with yard if they want?

Sorry, but its quite the opposite. Its dystopia considering only the already rich really benefit from it.

Re: AI Is Breaking the Moral Foundation of Modern Society

#47

Post by vanschelven »

rustystump wrote: post #35
jmathai wrote: post #10

I feel a lot less pride in my creative work knowing it can be done much too easily with modern AI. It makes me less eager to create which is quite unfortunate. I haven’t felt to bad about my creative works being fed into training models. Taken by itself, my creations are minuscule. But it’s very apparent when I look at AI as a whole, having taken from everyone in aggregate. I feel that.

Perhaps i am a bit odd but i dont understood this take. Why do you do what you do? Why do you create anything? Since before ai all my tiny little works have been public domain and it tickles me pink when i see something of mine out in the wild. Journey before destination. With that said though, the people who press the button and fashion themselves creatives piss me off. Heck anyone who has more than a passing intere…

Journey and destination go hand in hand.

Radio amateurs used to be a thing. Because playing with radios is fun, but also because this provided a way to hear things that otherwise could not be heard.

Re: AI Is Breaking the Moral Foundation of Modern Society

#48

Post by philistine »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #40

AI could be a boon for mankind. it can be a useful tool. We could employ it in a manner which provides more dignity for workers. That is, let them work less hours, have more leisure time etc. That necessitates something which will keep the powers of capital in check, and people don't seem to think that this is possible. Corporations are just so large and powerful, that people feel hopeless. Byt we could still get tog…

Haiti's democracy was never, in its storied 200 years of existence, functioning. France saw fit it never did until the damage was irreparable.

Re: AI Is Breaking the Moral Foundation of Modern Society

#49

Post by anoncow »

barrell wrote: post #5

An idea that has been living rent free in my head is that "AI is ultimately nothing but a pure destruction of value". It's promise is unlimited value to everyone on demand; but if everyone can do everything without any effort, it is no longer valuable. Value and scarcity go hand in hand. I realize the hyperbolic framing of the idea, but none-the-less I haven't been able to get it out of my head. This article feels li…

I think it is a step towards a money free world. Only if we could invent a food printer.

Re: AI Is Breaking the Moral Foundation of Modern Society

#50

Post by nathias »

barrell wrote: post #5

An idea that has been living rent free in my head is that "AI is ultimately nothing but a pure destruction of value". It's promise is unlimited value to everyone on demand; but if everyone can do everything without any effort, it is no longer valuable. Value and scarcity go hand in hand. I realize the hyperbolic framing of the idea, but none-the-less I haven't been able to get it out of my head. This article feels li…

I think it's a fundemental misunderstanding of value. Things are useful regardless of their price, the price is speculative but if there is a cost producing something (from earth, the mind or AI) the price will not be zero. Scarcity is the basis of value only for things that have no other utility and cost, for example some crypto made just for pump and dump.
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