[swman]

Peter Thiel had said that AI is communist and cryptocurrency is libtertarian.

I agree strongly with his take.

AI reminds me of the scenes from Starship Troopers where the computer explains some information. I know that was a fascist society, but it was basically brainwashing the population in some ways.

Honestly I’m not a fan of either things. I think only knowledge is freedom, and the key there is freedom to search for knowledge not just take in whatever and move on.

Unfortunately 90% of people are lazy af so the best thing we the 10% can do is just see everyone as customers. They don’t share my ideals on society or lifestyle or anything. They do like to consume mindlessly though, like oblivious cows grazing all the way to the slaughterhouse. AI will make it far easier to keep people in line.

[viscanti]

> AI will make it far easier to keep people in line.

An alternative explanation is that AI companies are using RLHF to help the 90% understand that a lot of things aren't black and white but that there is relevant context to keep in mind. For many cases, that's probably useful (like if someone is asking if one movie is better than another movie). At the extremes, which are hopefully rare (are a lot of people really wondering if Hitler is better or worse than some Twitter posts), you get nonsense.

[antisthenes]

> Honestly I’m not a fan of either things. I think only knowledge is freedom, and the key there is freedom to search for knowledge not just take in whatever and move on.

This is overly simplistic. It's not enough to just have knowledge sitting on your desk or in your computer. One must also have the requisite skills to understand what you read and to make the right conclusions.

When you have the ultimate knowledge at your fingertips, but your understanding is hamstrung by delusional safetyism, you get the current "polite, but unhelpful AI".