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AI optimism is a class privilege

joshcollinsworth.com

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Re: AI optimism is a class privilege

#91

Post by suzzer99 »

I started playing Civ (any version) for the first time a few months ago. I'm somewhat addicted, but at the same time I might find a new game soon because I get upset when the AIs attack me. Sometimes I take it personally and decide to just destroy that AI to the detriment of winning. I also am leery of an AI if they attacked me in a previous game. I also don't like to attack a previously friendly AI out of the blue, even if I'm supposed to to win the game.

I realize these are all silly and "me" problems. But like the author, it's interesting that I actually have to work to emotionally divest myself from being upset at a bunch of 1s and 0s.

Re: AI optimism is a class privilege

#92

Post by plastic-enjoyer »

NonHyloMorph wrote: post #90
random3 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

arguably the history of humanity was about automating humanity. - teeth and nails with knives (in various shapes from bones to steel) - feet with carriages and bicycles and cars - hands with mills and factories on steam engines to industrial robots Literaly every automation was meant to help humans somehow so, this naturally entailed an automation of some human function. This automation is an automation of the human…

The term you're looking for is externalisation not automation. Check out "the fault of epimetheus"; & on the alienation of the machine by automation ca. 19late7s one of its intellectual predecessors: gilbert simondon

I mean, if he is a reader of Nick Land, automation may be right.

Re: AI optimism is a class privilege

#94

Post by lowsong »

small_model wrote: post #89
lowsong wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It seems like the author hasn't really used the latest models The author addresses this point. > While I’m sure the technology and its costs will continue to improve, it’s hard to see how that would mitigate most of these harms. Many would just as likely be intensified by greater speed, efficiency, and affordability. > This sort of technology distributes instability to the many at the bottom, while consolidating be…

The world changes, you either adapt or not. People who saw this coming could have positioned themselves with plan a b/c. No different from when other societal changing technologies arrived in the past. What does crying about it in blog posts achieve.

The adoption of AI in society at large is not foregone conclusion. Acting as if it's unstoppable and washing your hands of the consequences is wilful ignorance. But, it doesn't have to be this way. You do have a choice to not use or encourage this technology.

Re: AI optimism is a class privilege

#95

Post by small_model »

lowsong wrote: post #94
small_model wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The world changes, you either adapt or not. People who saw this coming could have positioned themselves with plan a b/c. No different from when other societal changing technologies arrived in the past. What does crying about it in blog posts achieve.

The adoption of AI in society at large is not foregone conclusion. Acting as if it's unstoppable and washing your hands of the consequences is wilful ignorance. But, it doesn't have to be this way. You do have a choice to not use or encourage this technology.

Way too late now, it's out of the bottle. If you don't use it others will. Best we can do is encourage institutions to safeguard its development.

Re: AI optimism is a class privilege

#96

Post by mikelitoris »

zozbot234 wrote: post #66
EdwardDiego wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's refine terms - internal combustion engine driven automobiles have lead to lead poisoning, air pollution, and CO2 emissions.

The automobile on its own was actually far less polluting than the horse wrt. air quality. It's just that there's a whole lot more of the former than there ever was of the latter. Even wrt. climate change, it turns out that horses produce methane emissions which are far worse for the climate than carbon dioxide.

You are immensely discounting induced demand though.

Re: AI optimism is a class privilege

#97

Post by dodu_ »

small_model wrote: post #89
lowsong wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It seems like the author hasn't really used the latest models The author addresses this point. > While I’m sure the technology and its costs will continue to improve, it’s hard to see how that would mitigate most of these harms. Many would just as likely be intensified by greater speed, efficiency, and affordability. > This sort of technology distributes instability to the many at the bottom, while consolidating be…

The world changes, you either adapt or not. People who saw this coming could have positioned themselves with plan a b/c. No different from when other societal changing technologies arrived in the past. What does crying about it in blog posts achieve.

What "repositioning" did you have to do?

Re: AI optimism is a class privilege

#98

Post by lowsong »

small_model wrote: post #95
lowsong wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The adoption of AI in society at large is not foregone conclusion. Acting as if it's unstoppable and washing your hands of the consequences is wilful ignorance. But, it doesn't have to be this way. You do have a choice to not use or encourage this technology.

Way too late now, it's out of the bottle. If you don't use it others will. Best we can do is encourage institutions to safeguard its development.

Again, you're assuming it's inevitable.

Think of all of the other public health changes over the years: CFCs, leaded gasolene, asbestos, etc. Apparent miracles of technology that looked unassailable in their ubiquity, and through the blood and tears of many they were all but eliminated.

That's the crux of the article. There are harms, and if you ignore them it's because you don't think it'll affect you.

I'm not trying to be rude, we all make our choices and nobody is a saint. I still eat meat even knowing the damage of the meat industry. But don't pretend you don't have a choice here, or wash your hands of the harms because you feel you won't make a difference.

Re: AI optimism is a class privilege

#99

Post by small_model »

lowsong wrote: post #98
small_model wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Way too late now, it's out of the bottle. If you don't use it others will. Best we can do is encourage institutions to safeguard its development.

Again, you're assuming it's inevitable. Think of all of the other public health changes over the years: CFCs, leaded gasolene, asbestos, etc. Apparent miracles of technology that looked unassailable in their ubiquity, and through the blood and tears of many they were all but eliminated. That's the crux of the article. There are harms, and if you ignore them it's because you don't think it'll affect you. I'm not tryin…

It's more comparable to the internet, mobile phones and social media. It is likely to cause some harms as well as provide great utility. I disagree it's not inevitable though and I do think the harms can be mitigated, that where the effort should be focused.
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