At the time of me writing, this comment is still the most recommended comment with 910 recommendations. 2nd place has 877 recommendations:
Never has a technology been potentially more transformative and less desired or asked for by the public.
3rd place has 790 recommendations:
“A.I. is probably the most important thing humanity has ever worked on. I think of it as something more profound than electricity or fire.”
Sundar Pichai’s comment beautifully sums up the arrogance and grandiosity pervasive in the entire tech industry—the notion that building machines that can mimic and repace actual humans, and providing wildly expensive and environmentally destructive toys for those who can pay for them, is “the most important” project ever undertaken by humanity, rather than a frivolous indulgence of a few overindulged rich kids with an inflated sense of themselves.
Off the top of my head, I am sure most of us can think of more than a few human other projects—both ongoing and never initiated—more important than the development of A.I.—like the development technologies that will save our planet from burning or end poverty or mapping the human genome in order to cure genetic disorders. Sorry, Mr. Pichai, but only someone who has lived in a bubble of privilege would make such a comment and actually believe it.
4th place has 682 recommendations:
“If you think calamity so possible, why do this at all?”
Having lived and worked in the Bay Area and around many of these individuals, the answer is often none that Ezra cites. More often than not, the answer is: money.
Tech workers come to the Bay Area to get early stock grants and the prospect of riches. It’s not AI that will destroy humanity. It’s capitalism.
After that, 5th place has 529, 6th place has 390, and the rest have 350 or fewer.
My thoughts:
2nd place reminds me of Let’s think about slowing down AI. But I somewhat disagree with the comment, because I do sense that many people have a desire for cool new AI tech.
3rd place sounds silly since advanced AI could help with reducing climate change, poverty, and genetic disorders. I also wonder if this commenter knows about AlphaFold.
4th place seems important. But I think that even if AGI jobs offered lower compensation, there would still be a considerable number of workers interested in pursuing them.
At the time of me writing, this comment is still the most recommended comment with 910 recommendations. 2nd place has 877 recommendations:
3rd place has 790 recommendations:
4th place has 682 recommendations:
After that, 5th place has 529, 6th place has 390, and the rest have 350 or fewer.
My thoughts:
2nd place reminds me of Let’s think about slowing down AI. But I somewhat disagree with the comment, because I do sense that many people have a desire for cool new AI tech.
3rd place sounds silly since advanced AI could help with reducing climate change, poverty, and genetic disorders. I also wonder if this commenter knows about AlphaFold.
4th place seems important. But I think that even if AGI jobs offered lower compensation, there would still be a considerable number of workers interested in pursuing them.