I don't fear these changes. What I do fear are the people who are so enslaved that the concept of retirement results in an ego-death they cannot handle. These people will sell their families, friends, and neighbors because they feel naked without their shackles and chains.
Am I missing the part where we’re all getting universal basic income once AI takes over and we’re left unemployed? I mean at that point aren’t we all going to be homeless and digging for food in trash cans? I’ve been laboring under the assumption that the elites will need to find some way to get rid of us once we’re no longer useful as wage slaves. It’s not like they’re gonna share their wealth with us. I imagine we’ll be too busy trying to survive than finding new hobbies.
Fair enough. I too dream of a life not dominated by working to make money for others. And like you, I have a so many hobbies and interests that boredom is something I find hard to contemplate.
It helps to remember that if they get rid of us, they'll die too.
Every machine breaks and techbro billionares rarely know how to update their own computer drives, much less patch a code or repair and industrial-sized machine. Relying on other programs and robots to do that only exponentially increases that problem.
As someone who is mostly housebound, and unable to do much of anything due to disability, these are issues I should have. But I am privileged enough to receive enough money to live off, so I mainly struggle with pain and not having the energy to do any of the things I'd love to do - have coffee with friends, craft, read more, volunteer, etc. This is obviously assuming I don't magically improve enough to be able to work, but even if I did there are many social things that so many people could do (from social clubs, to volunteering at organisations, to education, and I'm sure there are many things I'm not thinking of).
The fact is that AI is not going to remove inequality or suffering, so there will be more than enough for everyone who is otherwise bored, to actually do. The question of whether people choose to do it instead of lose their time in front of a TV (something I don't believe is completely worthless, but far from necessary), or, more likely, fighting over who deserves the scraps we are 'benevolently' given by our Corporate owners is what we should really be asking.
I have been waiting all my life to have a “universal basic income”. I see my life as those of those smaller nobility in the countryside: lots of hobbies, zero responsibilities, zero grandeur, and above all, zero desire for eternal remembrance through heroic actions.
I’ve mastered the art of doing nothing the best. As a possessor of a rather distractable and volcanic brain myself, I never felt bored - never feel, never will. The aftermaths of the end of the world do not scare me.
"If you’ve never found your own anchor in life, that emptiness can swallow you whole."
So true! I've witnessed this at one place where I worked. An older woman was given a retirement party. She retired after 20+ years in this same office. I was doing most of the copy-editing part-time, and she occasionally did some along with her graphic art work, but now she's retired... Maybe I can be hired full-time at a copy editor? No, a month later she complained to the bosses that she's terribly bored at home. She has no children, no pets, no hobbies, no social or church groups to attend. All she's ever done is work, work, work... And so she tells the bosses that she'll come back and work all they like for FREE. And guess who gets laid off? Me! So, her emptiness kept me from having a job I liked and made the owners of the business ever richer since they didn't even have to pay her a cent or health benefits. Workers shouldn't find their anchor in life in slaving away for others--they should find it within themselves.
I have lived that way, most of my life. Due to globalism we needed to relocate and not having a working permit I needed to fill my time doing many things. There were many times I hated it, but sudenly I realized I was privileged. Then I found that not many people could go to parks or museums or go to a dance class during weekdays because they were in jails (working). I do what Greeks did in their times, study, learn, teach, help others, excercise, get together in groups to discuss about current events, play guitar, etc. I learned about AI and I'm teaching women. I bought a horse 2 years ago and I ride her. Member of a book club, etc. But many times I wonder, now that AI is doing the work faster, would people use their free time to enjoy life?? Or they will continue overworking as usual??
left out the part where UBI becomes a resource held over our heads to make us comply with certain behaviors, attitudes and actions. boredom is the least of our future issues my friend.
idk mate actually I'd like you to quit your job, take a sabbatical and just go somewhere do whatever. this is no suggestion it's just whatever, you do you but maaan
Freedom is terrifying, yet liberating at the same time. But I don't think AI is going to liberate us..I think it will be another tool to enslave us, the masses...after AI takes our jobs, I don't think our lives will get easier. You do have a point though, it's just hard to stay positive in these times.
We have just come off a globalization period of jobs being offshored both physically and virtually due to lower cost globalized labor. Then we have decided to kill the productivity giving golden goose of cheap and abundant energy with NetZero policies. This means basic prosperity has taken a significant hit mainly in the western world. Then we have allowed uncontrolled immigration to inflate the labor capacity. Then we reduced the demand for labor with all forms of automation. Those that have plenty of capital can continue to find ways to skim off the top, but the average Joe or Jane that have to compete with capital in a direct manner will be shit out of luck.
Now here is the fix….
Stop trade with anyone for things we can do ourselves.
Rebuild the value within our local economy with all forms of reshoring.
Stop immigration by automating the low skill jobs.
Provide learning to only our citizens for the higher value jobs.
Stop the NetZero mistake and ensure energy is abundant and highly affordable again.
Stop most of the top skimmers with better capital controls.
Then reinstall baseload national prosperity.
Then take it to the next level with all forms of automation but within a local economic setting.
Then we can pass on the prosperity with a 2-day work week and early retirement at 40 etc.
If you cannot find fun things to do with the prosperous free time, then you need your ass kicked. 😊
I have a "job" job and a fun job. I would absolutely keep doing my fun job if I didn't need the money. I teach, and I think people will still want human teachers even if AI is doing all the horrible boring busywork part of school. We could have SO MUCH FUN learning and exploring together
I don't fear these changes. What I do fear are the people who are so enslaved that the concept of retirement results in an ego-death they cannot handle. These people will sell their families, friends, and neighbors because they feel naked without their shackles and chains.
Am I missing the part where we’re all getting universal basic income once AI takes over and we’re left unemployed? I mean at that point aren’t we all going to be homeless and digging for food in trash cans? I’ve been laboring under the assumption that the elites will need to find some way to get rid of us once we’re no longer useful as wage slaves. It’s not like they’re gonna share their wealth with us. I imagine we’ll be too busy trying to survive than finding new hobbies.
Lately I've been trying to be a bit more positive. There's no elite that cannot be toppled.
Fair enough. I too dream of a life not dominated by working to make money for others. And like you, I have a so many hobbies and interests that boredom is something I find hard to contemplate.
It helps to remember that if they get rid of us, they'll die too.
Every machine breaks and techbro billionares rarely know how to update their own computer drives, much less patch a code or repair and industrial-sized machine. Relying on other programs and robots to do that only exponentially increases that problem.
As someone who is mostly housebound, and unable to do much of anything due to disability, these are issues I should have. But I am privileged enough to receive enough money to live off, so I mainly struggle with pain and not having the energy to do any of the things I'd love to do - have coffee with friends, craft, read more, volunteer, etc. This is obviously assuming I don't magically improve enough to be able to work, but even if I did there are many social things that so many people could do (from social clubs, to volunteering at organisations, to education, and I'm sure there are many things I'm not thinking of).
The fact is that AI is not going to remove inequality or suffering, so there will be more than enough for everyone who is otherwise bored, to actually do. The question of whether people choose to do it instead of lose their time in front of a TV (something I don't believe is completely worthless, but far from necessary), or, more likely, fighting over who deserves the scraps we are 'benevolently' given by our Corporate owners is what we should really be asking.
I have been waiting all my life to have a “universal basic income”. I see my life as those of those smaller nobility in the countryside: lots of hobbies, zero responsibilities, zero grandeur, and above all, zero desire for eternal remembrance through heroic actions.
I’ve mastered the art of doing nothing the best. As a possessor of a rather distractable and volcanic brain myself, I never felt bored - never feel, never will. The aftermaths of the end of the world do not scare me.
"If you’ve never found your own anchor in life, that emptiness can swallow you whole."
So true! I've witnessed this at one place where I worked. An older woman was given a retirement party. She retired after 20+ years in this same office. I was doing most of the copy-editing part-time, and she occasionally did some along with her graphic art work, but now she's retired... Maybe I can be hired full-time at a copy editor? No, a month later she complained to the bosses that she's terribly bored at home. She has no children, no pets, no hobbies, no social or church groups to attend. All she's ever done is work, work, work... And so she tells the bosses that she'll come back and work all they like for FREE. And guess who gets laid off? Me! So, her emptiness kept me from having a job I liked and made the owners of the business ever richer since they didn't even have to pay her a cent or health benefits. Workers shouldn't find their anchor in life in slaving away for others--they should find it within themselves.
I have lived that way, most of my life. Due to globalism we needed to relocate and not having a working permit I needed to fill my time doing many things. There were many times I hated it, but sudenly I realized I was privileged. Then I found that not many people could go to parks or museums or go to a dance class during weekdays because they were in jails (working). I do what Greeks did in their times, study, learn, teach, help others, excercise, get together in groups to discuss about current events, play guitar, etc. I learned about AI and I'm teaching women. I bought a horse 2 years ago and I ride her. Member of a book club, etc. But many times I wonder, now that AI is doing the work faster, would people use their free time to enjoy life?? Or they will continue overworking as usual??
We all have to create our own meaning in life - failing to do that leaves you being defined by external things as described here.
left out the part where UBI becomes a resource held over our heads to make us comply with certain behaviors, attitudes and actions. boredom is the least of our future issues my friend.
You’re right, we’ve been conditioned to confuse labor with purpose, and now the scaffolding’s collapsing.
I wrote an article about the 3 types of people in a post scarcity society based on their life goals.
I think you will enjoy it, here's the link:
https://substack.com/@simpofhumanprogress/note/p-163202766?r=5cbdil
Look in the mirror and get a life
idk mate actually I'd like you to quit your job, take a sabbatical and just go somewhere do whatever. this is no suggestion it's just whatever, you do you but maaan
Freedom is terrifying, yet liberating at the same time. But I don't think AI is going to liberate us..I think it will be another tool to enslave us, the masses...after AI takes our jobs, I don't think our lives will get easier. You do have a point though, it's just hard to stay positive in these times.
You have a point…. But…
We have just come off a globalization period of jobs being offshored both physically and virtually due to lower cost globalized labor. Then we have decided to kill the productivity giving golden goose of cheap and abundant energy with NetZero policies. This means basic prosperity has taken a significant hit mainly in the western world. Then we have allowed uncontrolled immigration to inflate the labor capacity. Then we reduced the demand for labor with all forms of automation. Those that have plenty of capital can continue to find ways to skim off the top, but the average Joe or Jane that have to compete with capital in a direct manner will be shit out of luck.
Now here is the fix….
Stop trade with anyone for things we can do ourselves.
Rebuild the value within our local economy with all forms of reshoring.
Stop immigration by automating the low skill jobs.
Provide learning to only our citizens for the higher value jobs.
Stop the NetZero mistake and ensure energy is abundant and highly affordable again.
Stop most of the top skimmers with better capital controls.
Then reinstall baseload national prosperity.
Then take it to the next level with all forms of automation but within a local economic setting.
Then we can pass on the prosperity with a 2-day work week and early retirement at 40 etc.
If you cannot find fun things to do with the prosperous free time, then you need your ass kicked. 😊
I have a "job" job and a fun job. I would absolutely keep doing my fun job if I didn't need the money. I teach, and I think people will still want human teachers even if AI is doing all the horrible boring busywork part of school. We could have SO MUCH FUN learning and exploring together