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by dtagames 82 days ago
Alex Karp needs to read Richard Dawkins. Neurodivergence is a chromosomal aberration that shows up in the phenotype. It takes evolutionary time scales to affect chromosomes through evolution. Launching a new tech isn't going to do it.

Dawkins also writes in The Selfish Gene that memes, a word he coined, are faster than DNA evolution because we can transmit "better" ideas (through language and art) that lead to better behavior. This kind of memetic transition is what AI is bringing. We're seeing it already. The communication around AI causes fights among friends (pro gen AI vs against, esp in the arts) and layoffs from VC-led companies, as well as spawning all kinds of new business ideas as the article mentions.
2 comments
simianwords 82 days ago
Karp is likely aware of all this. You are right about genetics vs memetics difference but the point here is that genetic differences can affect us at memetic level. People with certain genetic aberrations have ideas that might win the memetic lottery
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dtagames 82 days ago
That's a good observation. Dawkins might characterize that as a generic advantage that's only expressed in a particular environment. That is often a trigger for a successful change in the downstream DNA.

I can think of at least 5 prominent and very wealthy "leaders" who show signs of neurodivergence, including the negative aspect of decreased empathy. Their power and money magnifies those ill effects as well. Perhaps through neglect rather than ill will these people effect the death of many conspecific individuals.

If that succeeds in preventing those (large) populations from competing for resources with the elite rulers or, more likely, alleviates the need to care for them though programs like UBI, then it's an advantage of that "selfish gene." All of these outcomes map nicely to Dawkins's writing.

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bob1029 82 days ago
> It takes evolutionary time scales to affect chromosomes through evolution

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics

If we are mostly concerned with effects, focusing on the genome only tells you a small part of the story.

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