[allears]

Post-scarcity? Sure, if you live in a first-world country and are upper middle class or higher. These tech-bro pundits have a very limited world view. The basic essentials of life are very scarce for millions and millions of people, and AI will probably make that worse, not better.

[Marha01]

Why should AI make it worse? Can you point to any other important technology that historically made people in poor countries even poorer? Technological progress generally lifts people from poverty in the long run. There could be issues caused by disruption of established systems in the short term, though.

[watwut]

> Can you point to any other important technology that historically made people in poor countries even poorer? Technological progress generally lifts people from poverty in the long run.

It is very long run. Industrial revolution was disaster for average worker for example. For that matter, all the tech that allowed chattel slavery made whole class of people poorer and significantly worst off.

The accumulation of power and money by smaller group of people means loss of power by poorer people. Those with power then use the power to their own benefit while poorer people dont have that option and become even more poor or worst off.

[overgard]

Uh, I think threatening the work of a large swath of humanity would make a lot of people poor? The rich historically have never shared the wealth until they're forced to.

Just as an example (ironically from google!): "Google co-founder Sergey Brin has spent $82 million to oppose California's proposed wealth tax."

This is a man that has more money that he could ever hope to possibly spend, and he's spending an absurd amount just because the mere thought that he might benefit from the society he lives in and should contribute back to it apparently infuriates him.

[bloppe]

I support progressive income tax and very high capital gains tax. I do not support wealth tax. There are very sound economic and technical arguments against wealth taxes. You can oppose the wealth tax proposal while supporting higher taxes for the rich.

Sergei's wealth is mostly tied up in Google stock that has appreciated a lot. A higher capital gains tax would soak him without unduly distorting the economy and incentivizing capital flight out of CA.