Paul Krugman links here to a very interesting article he wrote long ago (he notes that the article is not entirely serious), about the diminishing value of highly educated workers. It's hard to argue with the sentiment; as computer software increases in complexity and power, so too will the range of technical duties it can undertake more efficiently than humans. And with that, large parts of the workforce will need to adapt. He also notes that AI will be (was) a bust.
My take is different, and yet very similar. AI will not be a bust, though practical, human-like AI is at least a century away. There has been steady development in the field of AI over the last decade, but Hollywood has not portrayed a realistic vision and expectation of the evolution of machines.
But I do agree that the nature of human existence will continue to change irrevocably. Many tasks will become increasingly automated, and so they should. In the short term, I think that white-collar workers will benefit greatly as this technology is developed but prior to it being capable of replacing skilled labour. In the long term, I think it will free resources for higher purposes, such as art, philosophy, music, and so on. This is not a bad thing.
Above anything else, I am bullish and excited about the future.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Failings Of Capitalism
Gerald Cohen details the failings of capitalism here. It's hard to disagree with his reasoning; capitalism is at best a flawed, indirect, inefficient, unequal economic system.
Whilst Gerald believes that the capitalist system itself promotes unsatisfiable demand, I do not believe this to be true. Rather, I believe that capitalism exploits a weakness of human nature - the incessant need to attain social prestige through, amongst other things, material wealth.
In any case, is there a better economic system? I don't think so, and I doubt we will ever know. Thus, the task becomes the optimization of capitalism through regulation, redistribution, and so forth.
HT: Club Troppo.
Whilst Gerald believes that the capitalist system itself promotes unsatisfiable demand, I do not believe this to be true. Rather, I believe that capitalism exploits a weakness of human nature - the incessant need to attain social prestige through, amongst other things, material wealth.
In any case, is there a better economic system? I don't think so, and I doubt we will ever know. Thus, the task becomes the optimization of capitalism through regulation, redistribution, and so forth.
HT: Club Troppo.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
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