silverjad3

silverjad3 t1_j2cmr7t wrote

Reply to Plan For the Singularity by tedd321

Humans in a society where leaders control what we can and can't do, have always treated their population as a commodity, regardless of whether or not they admit it. I reckon Robots / AI will only fill a need so long as capitalism (or a form thereof) remains functional after all this is said in done. You'll ultimately go one of 4 ways:

​

  1. Robots / AI will be used to reduce cost of business by basically removing humans from the equation. Robots / AI will be as useful to the business as it is capable of pulling in revenue as a result. Which will be f*ck all if no one is working. We return to humans working for income, likely at a drastically reduced salary. This is likely how things will progress in the "short term" until we reach the unsustainable tipping point.
  2. Robots / AI will be used to reduce cost of business by basically removing humans from the equation. In order to keep capitalism functioning, humans will receive stipends (UBI) that will be used to keep our economic systems functioning. Those fortunate enough to have income on the side of this will either have an advantage financially OR governments will penalise you to maintain the status quo.
  3. We will usher in an era of peace and prosperity where Robots / AI are used to assist humans so that we can do as we please without the need for work, money and physical things and pursue more pleasure-related past-times. With humans being as greedy and selfish as they are, I highly doubt this will occur.
  4. Humans will be made completely redundant as a new economy and a new kind of capitalism and trade is ushered in completely ignoring humans, leaving Robots / AI to trade amongst themselves, create their own society and civilisation. Leaving humans to do their own thing, separate from Robots / AI. Humans won't like this and then we got the "Skynet" (used loosely) wars on our hands (assuming AI becomes capable and sentient to do this, else humans will instigate it in the form of sabotage and general rioting).

I'm leaning towards option 2 as I can't see option 1 panning out, and I can't see Robots / AI being given free will to conduct themselves as in option 4 and option 3 is already explained.

​

Edit: A fifth possible option: Robots / AI are restricted and governed to be used only in specific ways that will not destroy our capitalism and the economy and things will continue on as normal. I don't really see this happening though as governments and authorities have proven time and time again they are incapable of keeping up with technology and it will just get away from them. Someone will make some kind of open source AI and by the time its cracked down upon, its already too far advanced to do anything about.

​

Regardless, there is going to be a period of intense disruption and the vulnerable will always be the ones that suffer at the hands of others.

2