> I would love to see an anti-AI take that doesn't hinge on the idea that technology forces people to be lazy/careless/thoughtless.
I think this might simply be how the human brain works. Take autonomous driving as an example: while the car drives on its own the human driver is supposed to be alert and step in if needed. But does that work? Or will the driver's mind wander off because the car has been driving properly for the last half hour? My gut feeling is that it's inevitable that we'll eventually just shut out everything that goes smoothly and by the time it doesn't it might be too late.
We are not that different from our ancestors who used to roam the forests, trying to eat before they get eaten. In such an environment there is constantly something going on, some critters crawling, some leaves rustling, some water flowing. It would drive us crazy if we could not shut out all this regular noise. It's only when an irregularity appears that our attention must spring into action. When the leaves rustle differently than they are supposed to there is a good chance that there is some prey or a predator to be found. This mechanism only works if we are alert. The sounds of the forest are never exactly the same, so there is constant stimulation to keep up on our toes. But if you are relaxing in your shelter the tension is gone.
My fear is that AI is too good, to the point where it makes us feel like being in our shelter rather than in the forest.
> My gut feeling is that it's inevitable that we'll eventually just shut out everything that goes smoothly and by the time it doesn't it might be too late.
Yes. Productivity accelerates at an exponential rate, right up until it drives off a cliff (figuratively or literally).
I think this might simply be how the human brain works. Take autonomous driving as an example: while the car drives on its own the human driver is supposed to be alert and step in if needed. But does that work? Or will the driver's mind wander off because the car has been driving properly for the last half hour? My gut feeling is that it's inevitable that we'll eventually just shut out everything that goes smoothly and by the time it doesn't it might be too late.
We are not that different from our ancestors who used to roam the forests, trying to eat before they get eaten. In such an environment there is constantly something going on, some critters crawling, some leaves rustling, some water flowing. It would drive us crazy if we could not shut out all this regular noise. It's only when an irregularity appears that our attention must spring into action. When the leaves rustle differently than they are supposed to there is a good chance that there is some prey or a predator to be found. This mechanism only works if we are alert. The sounds of the forest are never exactly the same, so there is constant stimulation to keep up on our toes. But if you are relaxing in your shelter the tension is gone.
My fear is that AI is too good, to the point where it makes us feel like being in our shelter rather than in the forest.