Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by throw987987123 629 days ago
That's a moral argument, one with a certain ideloogy that isn't shared by most people rightly or wrongly. Especially if AI only replaces certain industries which it looks like to be the more likely option. Even if it is, I don't think it is shared by the people investing in AI unless someone else (i.e. taxpayers) will pay for it. Socialise the losses (loss of income), privatise the profits (efficiency gains). Makes me think the AI proponents are a little hypocritical. Taxpayers may not to afford that in many countries, that's reality. For software workers we need to note only the US mostly has been paid well, many more software workers worldwide don't have the luxury/pay to afford that altruism. I don't think it's wrong for people who have to skill up to want some compensation for that, there is other moral imperatives that require making a living.

On a nicer planet sure, we would have a system like that. But most of the planet is not like that - the great advantage of the status quo is that even people who are naturally not altruistic somewhat co-operate with each other due to mutual need. Besides there is ways to mitigate that and still give the required services especially if they are commonly required. The doctors example - certain countries have worked it out without resorting to AI risks. I'm not against AI ironically in this case either, there is a massive shortage of doctors services that can absorb the increased abundance Imv - most people don't put software in the same category. There is bad sides to humanity with regards to losing our mutual dependence on each other as well (community, valuing the life of others, etc) - I think sadly AI allows for many more negatives than simply withholding skills for money if not managed right, even that doesn't happen everywhere today and is a easier problem to solve. The loss of any safe intelligent jobs for climbing and evening out social mobility due to mutual dependence of skills (even the rich can't learn everything and so need to outsource) is one of them.