Fascinating reflection on the underrated Schumpeter. I first read Schumpeter (or tried to) years ago as a graduate student studying the interplay between culture and economics in Japan's emergence as a global economic power. The AI debate takes Schumpeter's idea of creative destruction to a whole new level for sure. If one assumes (not necessarily correctly) that AI will do literally any kind of work better, more efficiently, and more effectively than any mere human beings can, that raises an interesting question about the utility of humans. Or what we are for. And this is without taking into consideration the so-called alignment problem. Could it be that, without any problems to solve, the problem-creating animal has no purpose? Somehow I have a hard time imagining a wildcatter in Wyoming or a frenetic shouting trader on Wall Street donning Monk's robes and walking the globe contemplating the clouds or their navels or the meaning of life. But there may be hope. Nicely done.
Rich -- A little skeptical on capitalism, seriously unconvinced about AI. Just heard today a second Jimmy Breslin biography is in the works. When AI can write the way Breslin did about Clifton Pollard, the man summoned to dig JFKs grave at Arlington, I'll reconsider. Thanks for another heroic piece of work. https://ccnyintroductiontojournalism.com/2025/03/13/jimmy-breslins-grave-digger-story/
The question that screams really loud is "OK, so megacorp agglomerator is going to take over medicine, law, electrical engineering. All those people will be out of work.
But the best part is almost NONE of those people are going to get the benefit of the training their knowledge provided.
You think wealth is concentrated NOW, after a few years of AI complete domination ( and don't fantasize about any kind of rebellion, your AR-15 is a BB gun to the robot sentinels. 5 robots with 3 flying reloaders could massacre 1000 humans.
Ai will then have to solve the inevitable problem of reducing the human population.
They'll need more electricity. It's only logical.
(Remember W saying the rich are "the job creators?)
The replacement robots will serve the exact same purpose in reinforcing COW* that the Pinkerton union busters did 100 years ago. Want more pay? Eat lead and pound sand.
Don't you UNDERSTAND?
"We OWN you, and we DON'T NEED YOU anymore. We need you as much as we need a broken vacuum cleaner in our garage."
Except the young girls. We'll let them stay around.
Fascinating reflection on the underrated Schumpeter. I first read Schumpeter (or tried to) years ago as a graduate student studying the interplay between culture and economics in Japan's emergence as a global economic power. The AI debate takes Schumpeter's idea of creative destruction to a whole new level for sure. If one assumes (not necessarily correctly) that AI will do literally any kind of work better, more efficiently, and more effectively than any mere human beings can, that raises an interesting question about the utility of humans. Or what we are for. And this is without taking into consideration the so-called alignment problem. Could it be that, without any problems to solve, the problem-creating animal has no purpose? Somehow I have a hard time imagining a wildcatter in Wyoming or a frenetic shouting trader on Wall Street donning Monk's robes and walking the globe contemplating the clouds or their navels or the meaning of life. But there may be hope. Nicely done.
Rich -- A little skeptical on capitalism, seriously unconvinced about AI. Just heard today a second Jimmy Breslin biography is in the works. When AI can write the way Breslin did about Clifton Pollard, the man summoned to dig JFKs grave at Arlington, I'll reconsider. Thanks for another heroic piece of work. https://ccnyintroductiontojournalism.com/2025/03/13/jimmy-breslins-grave-digger-story/
The question that screams really loud is "OK, so megacorp agglomerator is going to take over medicine, law, electrical engineering. All those people will be out of work.
But the best part is almost NONE of those people are going to get the benefit of the training their knowledge provided.
You think wealth is concentrated NOW, after a few years of AI complete domination ( and don't fantasize about any kind of rebellion, your AR-15 is a BB gun to the robot sentinels. 5 robots with 3 flying reloaders could massacre 1000 humans.
Ai will then have to solve the inevitable problem of reducing the human population.
They'll need more electricity. It's only logical.
(Remember W saying the rich are "the job creators?)
WealthTaxNow
The replacement robots will serve the exact same purpose in reinforcing COW* that the Pinkerton union busters did 100 years ago. Want more pay? Eat lead and pound sand.
Don't you UNDERSTAND?
"We OWN you, and we DON'T NEED YOU anymore. We need you as much as we need a broken vacuum cleaner in our garage."
Except the young girls. We'll let them stay around.
*COW- Concentration Of Wealth.