Pacing the Machines
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Today someone posted yet another article on AI that “models are now writing most code” (probably, code isn’t the hard part of software) and all other jobs are a fast-follow (lord, let product managers be next) and so it’s time to learn AI because, of course, you’ll be Left Behind™ if you don’t.
(Never mind AI, at this point I’m genuinely fantasizing daily about what leaving computers behind would look like... Could I downgrade my life? Move somewhere cheaper? The urge to wander off into the woods when you live in a provincial park in rural Canada remains tempting.)
And folks are worried and saying now we’ve gotta start teaching our kids AI so they don’t get left behind too (maybe not ChatGPT; I hear its “recommendations” can be somewhat problematic)!
Now is actually a fantastic time to invest in emotional resilience and sense-making methodologies that do not rely on machines. In organizing local communities that connect young folks with the expansive world around them rather than the fractional world of screens. In sports and play and reading and music. In farming, creatures, and the naturalistic world. In connection. Depth over breadth. There’s a wonderfully massive intricate and interesting world around us that is entirely unmediated.
Take some time to consume a few other things besides the idea that the only way to thrive in society is to adopt the tools of Progress (oppression, extraction, and exploitation). How else might reality be ordered? Around betterment over progress, perhaps? So much within our dominion.
I think we’re going to be okay (note: I don’t think this means it will be easy) if we are careful about our adoption of AI tools and take it at the pace more in line with human energies.
At the end of the day, I choose to believe that we should not pace the machines. They can be used as tools to help you stay grounded, but if you feel too accelerated in this process, slow down. Do less. You also don’t have to start right away. Early investors in technology often benefit in the short-term, but the long-term successes often build on more informed perspectives. You’re technology experts; you can catch up (or don’t, that’s okay too). Or focus on only the parts that make sense to you or you feel ethically aligned with (one of the constant challenges with progress).
Methodical, intentional technology selection will always be a best practice. Rushing to pace with tech zealots is going to cause as much harm as delaying. I say take your time. Don’t fall for the multipolar traps of silicon valley. They really need you to believe the doom narrative for the game to function.
A multipolar trap is a coordination failure where multiple competing actors are each individually incentivized to take an action that is collectively harmful—but no single actor can stop doing it without being outcompeted by the others [Sounds a lot like that “left behind” narrative, huh?].
(Honestly, if AGI is right around the corner, I wonder, what’s the rush? We soon won’t need tools or interfaces or even machines per se. We won’t need to learn, right? Why would you need “skills”? We’ll just speak need into existence [“tea, earl grey, hot”], right? And it’ll be free to do so...right?
And, if ASI is right around the corner, I think reality will start to fracture in interesting ways and we won’t be corporeal for long. I expect to die before then, and I will 100% incinerate myself so as not to be re-sleeved on the SalesForce Cortical Stack™ eternally.)