Comment by jstummbillig
1 day ago
> You're assuming that the gains from productivity improvements distribute themselves broadly
No, I am assuming the opposite. I agree: We do need political intervention.
1 day ago
> You're assuming that the gains from productivity improvements distribute themselves broadly
No, I am assuming the opposite. I agree: We do need political intervention.
Right. So then when is the best time for labor to act to ensure those mechanisms are put in place? Before or after AI has eliminated its leverage?
Like I totally realize we're agreed in some sense, but some form of socialism now in the US seems politically untenable, and as soon as AI actually starts making service labor obsolete, we lose our leverage. How do we do something about it?
How do you mean "eliminating the leverage"? White collar jobs go first, robots are right behind. I am relatively certain everyone will be scared shitless of where this is potentially going fairly soon.
The leverage will simply come from existing and being in the same group as roughly ~everyone on the planet.
I mean like: being alive isn't leverage, but controlling the economic output that has made elites rich is.
Mass economic displacement often doesn't produce solidarity, it produces fragmentation, scapegoating, and strongmen. People won't agree on why things are bad.
And the state is way more sophisticated than during the labor movements of the last century or two. If it is aligned with the elites and the masses have no leverage, it has numerous tools for massive surveillance, police and military control, and propaganda that will only get more effective through AI. They might not even need the extreme levers, mass confusion alone might be enough.
There's that old joke: "I have to admit, I'm always so impressed by Soviet propaganda. You really know how to get people worked up," the CIA agent says.
"Thank you," the KGB says. "We do our best but truly, it's nothing compared to American propaganda. Your people believe everything your state media tells them."
The CIA agent drops his drink in shock and disgust. "Thank you friend, but you must be confused... There's no propaganda in America."
parent is saying at that stage the powerfull will not need you anymore
so you become target practice