Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Beale
This is the topic that I have to avoid in general conversation bec ppl think I'm nuts. My view is that what I call the Robot Apocalypse is near at hand...
I think your post is outlining some ideas that are important, but I'd like to give a few counterpoints.
Calling "Machine Learning" AI is Confusing
I think we're still far away from "AI," and what we currently have is pretty "dumb." Our state of the art in pattern recognition is really different from intelligence, and I'd argue this even applies to stuff like Deep Learning.
I think much of the popular perception of "machines replacing jobs with AI" is misleading, and what we're seeing is information technology enabling lean companies (with workers around the planet) to replace less efficient (and better employing) companies (e.g., Uber versus traditional cab companies).
Furthermore, robotics is still pretty expensive. Yes, a lot of robotics companies are "hot" right now and getting purchased by the likes of Google, but robotic janitors / surgeons are VERY far away. Interacting with reality is really hard.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Beale
Well, am I onto something or should I just keep my mouth shut?
I think this is a serious issue.
However, despite this, I think you're seriously onto something.
I think we're not going to get sentient machines anytime soon, but we don't need sentient machines to see a massive disruption of labor. I know this is weird, but we might begin taking some socialist ideas (e.g., living wage) really seriously in the next 25 years as we watch the definition of full employment shrink to unacceptable levels.
I realize this implies something very dark about the nature of labor.