I was in no way minimizing human suffering. But I believe you misunderstood the point I was making. I was specifically responding to this statement, “truly unstable times for the first time in our lives” [emphasis added].
My point was that there have always been, currently is, and always will be “unstable” or worse times. I make a point to focus on what I can control or influence and not spend time worrying about those things that I cannot. I strive to “not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Clearly that is unfortunate. But nowhere near the destruction of humanity that is being prophesized due to AI.
That said - there is indeed a risk that AI could literally destroy humanity, but it has nothing to do with generative LLM models. The risk is that the military buids weapons of mass destruction with AI at the trigger. Unfortuantely, no proposed regulations will mitigate that risk. The military is going to do whatever it wants to do - iti may well be doing it already without our knowledge.
About a decade ago I went through one of my occasional We Are Doomed! jags, and my nonagenarian father looked me dead in the eye and said “Have I ever told you about the Great Depression and WWII?”
No, but for each of us it doesn’t need to destroy humanity. It wiping out our family would be the equivalent for our family.
Perhaps AI is not going to be a human extinction event, but it wiping out millions is sufficient, especially if you are one of those.
There will always be the extremes of ‘there’s no real danger’ and ‘it’s the end of the world!’ But even somewhere in between may be enough to change life as we know it.
My perspective is that it warrants far more caution than it has been given. In Oppenheimer’s time thousands died of radiation before it was fully recognised. AI at least warrants some caution.
That image is remarkably reminiscent of a core Stoic principle, most famously referred to in the Stoic Enchiridion of Epictetus (c. 50 – c. 138). It’s the Dichotomy of Contol, the very first paragraph of the Handbook/Enchiridion.
Some things are up to us and some are not. Up to us are judgment, inclination, desire, aversion—in short, whatever is our own doing. Not up to us are our bodies, possessions, reputations, public offices—in short, whatever isn’t our own doing (Epictetus. The Complete Works. Robin Waterfield, translator. University of Chicago Press, 2022).
Great quote, though I would take issue with Epictetus’s assertion that “Not up to us are … possession, reputations…” The full quote may be out of context, but assuming it is not, then I’d argue that we have a great deal to do with our reputations–for good or bad–and some over our possessions.
I was too young to understand what was happening and I’m not sure we even had a television at the time. Many years later I had a friend that was a few years older than me that had survived polio, but not without some lasting effects.
True - but keep in mind the immense benefits of AI - just like the immense benefits of radiation.
I agree it is valid to be concerned with true safety risks of AI.
But I suspect what is behind most of the paranoia is really a fear of economic displacement by AI. And that is frankly BS. AI will open as many economic doors as it closes - so when the door closes behind you be sure to find a new one to walk into.
As for those who want to keep the same job forever and not retrain - well that’s just too bad. No sympathy here.
The jury is out on that one. In the UK we have spent £1 billion on AI for our NHS. There are opposing views on whether that’s a good investment. Time will tell!
Epictetus and later Marcus Aurelius would assert that a virtuous life is in our power, but what others make of our life, our reputation, is not. We can control what we do, but not how it is interpreted.
Epictetus and Aurelius are right: what others think of us lies beyond our control. But control and influence are not the same thing. We cannot control what others think, but we most certainly shape it by the pattern of our lives. Our conduct over time becomes the pattern from which others form their judgment of us: our reputation. Behavior and reputation are closely connected, though not always aligned with every person’s judgment.
Proverbs 3:3-4 “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”
Proverbs 10:7 “The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.”
Proverbs 20:11 “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.”
Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.”
These are proverbs, which describe general patterns and not guarantees. The virtuous may be slandered, and a false accusation can damage a reputation: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:11). Nevertheless, over time, a life marked by promises kept, honest speech, hard work, faithfulness, and sacrificial charity toward others tends to produce a favorable interpretation of our character, and hence a good reputation. A selfish life given over to vice tends to produce the opposite. The pattern is distorted when those who observe our behavior turn vice and virtue on their heads. There are those who love vice redefine it as virtue to excuse themselves: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).
Not everyone is going to be in a position to just walk through another door when their job is eliminated. We owe it to them—and to ourselves—to ensure that no one gets left behind.
I’m where I am today because I had helping hands and a safety net to see me through three disruptive career transitions. I’d like everyone I share this planet with have that gift.
I agree 10,000% that assistance with retraining or career transition is essential.
But that is NOT what you hear 95% of the time from polliticians, union leaders, etc . It is incredibly rare to hear someone who lost a factory job and is concerned about paying for retraining so he can learn how to fix the new AI robots. Instead what you hear about is whining that the factory should continue using antiquated tech so the workers do not lose their jobs. That attitude is total BS.
When I managed a couple of assembly lines in the early 80s my supervisor was a woman whose husband and son had been unemployed for 2+ years. They loved their old job and wouldn’t look for work in any other industry.
There will always be people who will lose their job due to circumstances beyond their control. Some will do whatever is necessary to pay the bills, and deserve to be helped. So do the ones willing to work but are unable. Then there are some who just don’t want to work.
What do we do with group three? Offer them the choice of a job with a 21st century WPA, or the opportunity to be successful doing . . . whatever?
Nobody should expect a job, business, or livelihood to last forever.
I totally can undesrtand people seeking advice on a career change - or even some kind of financial support in the interim. But to expect society to stay stagnant just so your career is viable? Nonsense.
Whether you are employed or self-employed - anyone I know in a successful career periodically reinvents themselves or reinvents their business model.
