AI Won’t Make Humans Obsolete

Photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash

“If there is some thing that you are meant to do, who the hell cares if there is a machine that can be made to do it just as well or even better? It is still your thing to do.” — L. M. Sacasas, The Convivial Society

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AI has evoked a range of responses from people. Some love it; they are excited at its ability to mimic human abilities. Others are frightened about its unintended, catastrophic consequences like autonomous AI unleasing a third world war.

There’s a third category of people who are sad and demoralised. Humans take pride in their unique capacities and potentialities. They derive a sense of purpose and meaning in their work. If AI can do what they consider as exceptional, how can humans stand out and feel unique?

These people feel a sense of disillusionment, a feeling of pointlessness.

Should writers top writing because AI can write “good enough” stories? Should artists stop painting because AI can create wonderful pictures?

L. M. Sacasas says this is a wrong approach to face AI. The swallow-tailed kite doesn’t stop flying because airplanes fly faster. It flies because it a natural thing to do.

He says we must stop viewing AI through the prism of human exceptionalism. Our capacities and potentialities are independent of machine intelligence. We must continues to challenge ourselves and expand our abilities.Humans are not competing with machines. Compasrison is the thief of joy.

If the kite ignores the airplanes, why should we worry about machines outsmarting us?

We can continue to find meaning in our accomplishmets, which provide us with a sense of joy. Human creativity and judgment are valuable even if machines become superintelligent. There is no reason we should rise our hands helplessly and abandon the pursuit of knowledge.

L. M. Sacasas says,

“Do not resign from life. Let us do what it is ours to do because it is good for us to do it.”

Machines will not devalue humanity. They can’t think, can they? Our fear and inadequacy are baseless. Technological progress does not affect our morale.

Thanks for reading!

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