Ray Kurzweil: AI Is Not Going to Kill You, But Ignoring It Might
https://www.pcmag.com/articles/ray-kurzweil-ai-is-not-going-to-kill-you-but-ignoring-it-might
Ray Kurzweil: AI Is Not Going to Kill You, But Ignoring It Might
https://www.pcmag.com/articles/ray-kurzweil-ai-is-not-going-to-kill-you-but-ignoring-it-might
15 Comments
Ray Kurzweil has a new book coming out where he seems to counter anti-AI narratives pushed by “Luddite voices.” He says not developing AI will delay solutions to human suffering. But I think there are some serious issues with AI (copyright infringement, energy use, job loss through automation, etc.) that fuel these concerns.
I think we’re afraid because the AI might decide that the best way to end human suffering would be to kill all humans
I just dont think there is a soul that believes that there will be a lessening of human suffering without CEO’s milking every damn cent they can out of it. I am a skeptic given the current state of late stage capitalism our country is in.
At my job we have a new chief director of digital whatever, pretty much in charge of figuring out how to best use AI to make the company more money. He told us that AI will be able to do our menial tasks soon, making us 30% more efficient (niche engineering). Says “we will be able to do a 5 day work week in 3.5 days soon”. Someone jokes “well thatll be nice” and he responds “Yeah but youll still work 5 days a week, youll just be able to do more work now and add more value for the company.” Also they want us to upload all of our work to an online server so that AI can pretty much learn to do our jobs, which some of my coworkers have spent decades building those skills and expert knowledge. This stuff isnt going to help the average person at all other than maybe medical research for new cures and treatments, etc. Its just all more money for the top.
And call me a cranky boomer (although im in my 20’s) that needs to accept what it is and get with the times (which is probably true unfortunately, you cant stop the wheel of increasing shareholder value), you are also seeing it make society increasingly a more soulless place with the proliferation of AI written posts and art. First time I have felt a serious desire to get off grid.
> “The best way to avoid destructive conflict in the future is to continue the advance of our ethical ideals,” as the computer systems we build will reflect their creators.
So then we’re fucked, basically.
Pro-Tip : A person who’s spent their entire life fantasizing about some hypothetical AI-powered revolution probably isn’t the most unbiased, pragmatic or objective voice on the subject of potential challenges and drawbacks related to AI… Their opinion should probably be taken with a few grains of salt if we’re being honest here.
Bitcoin isn’t going to hurt you but ignoring it over the long term absolutely will.
Ray Kurzweil is another one of those selfish crackpots who is hell bent on living forever and doesn’t care who else has to suffer for it. If you have read any of his work you’ll realize his books could have been composed by Dunning Krueger.
More accurate headline: Grifter and con Kurzweil tries to coattail news in a desperate bid to stay relevant and plug his new book.
Why should anyone care what he has to say these days? He did good work in the past, got scared when he realized that one day he’d die, so he made up a religion about Robot Jesus creating itself and granting humans immortality.
Sorry not sorry Ray, you’re gonna die. There is no Robot Jesus hard take off singularity coming to magic up immortality in time to prevent that no matter how many books you sell claiming it’ll happen.
AI is probably one of the most important advancements for humans.
AI controlled by companies is probably one of the worst things that could happen to humans.
It’s ghastly how the digital revolution that was once such a massive advance for human communication is now banking its future on some of the most socially isolating technology imaginable.
im already busy with climate change, antidemocratic movements, possible WW3, microplastics, the 6th mass extinction and PFAS. gimme a break!
AI isn’t the problem.
How our government/economy reacts to job automation is the problem. Which, so far, is to let rapid automation happen, let those affected sink, and let big business enjoy the desperation wages those people will accept after a few weeks in the bread line.
This is going to be a really big one, bigger than online retail, but you can see the way the government maneuvered to help those affected by online retail… i.e. they didn’t do shit. They weren’t even quick to adjust zoning to turn some of that retail into residential to help curb the housing crisis.
They just let the full force of the wave crash over people, and let the rats try to race out of the way.
But AI is going to affect more jobs in more profound ways. Our government’s actions, thus far, have been mostly around boogie men… afraid that deep fakes could pose a serious threat to their consent machine. They’re investing in AI to make sure we “stay ahead of China”. They’re treating it like a weapon, and, like all weapon production, the focus is rarely on the victims.
The eminent problem we have with AI, is that we don’t have nearly good enough of a government to regulate it effectively. To handle this transition, we really need to elect better people, and fast.
Does dying from starvation because of unemploynent caused by AI count as being killed by AI?
China/Russia etc WILL try to generate better and better AI without pause.
If they get far enough ahead of the West, they will OWN the entire stock market, and destroy the west financially……
And saying “oh please don’t” isn’t going to cut it.
AI wouldn’t be as scary if it were explicitly developed for the good of all, not just the profit of some. (Okay, a few)