[sxp]

Saying "AI will cure cancer" is like saying "science will cure cancer" or "doctors will cure cancer". In general, all three statements are true about technological progress.

> Second, AI is used to disproportionately benefit the privileged while worsening inequality.

That's bullshit. Computers and other gadgets always start out as toys of the rich, but they quickly trickle down to everyone else. Compare the multi-thousand dollar cell phone of the 80s use by the rich to the multi-dollar cell phones of today used by billions. I don't mind if billionaires spend their money on AI now so that the R&D results in cheap AI in a decade that can be used by everyone.

The author also goes and lists people harmed by computer problems without provide a benchmark of the number of people similarly harmed by human problems.

[maerF0x0]

> Computers and other gadgets always start out as toys of the rich

But is this a function of moore's law? I have to say that OpenAI's training costs seems to be growing exponentially, not declining exponentially.

[qgin]

Open source models seem to be lagging by about a year. But for the end user with a powerful enough computer, you can do GPT 3.5 level work for no additional cost right now.

[bugglebeetle]

Technology is an amoral form of power that accrues to those who have access to it, as well as have the most access to it. In unequal societies, this accrual is to those who already have wealth, political power, etc. If the opposite was true, as you claim, the most technologically advanced countries would have seen decreasingly inequality in the period you fit. In reality, they’ve only seen the opposite.

[xetplan]

It is because your view of inequality is bullshit. Your views are exactly in line with Khmer Rogue.

Cambodia in 1977 was a much more equal society than America in 2024. Can't argue with that.

[bugglebeetle]

I have zero idea what you’re talking about. You seem to be in conversation with yourself.

[ninetyninenine]

Not all products trickle down to be used in egalitarian way.

When they do trickle down often it can happen as a monopoly technology where supply is controlled by a few powerful entities.