I've been thinking about robotic labor a lot, lately.
Well, that's not entirely true. I suppose a more accurate introduction for me to say would be that I've been thinking about robotic labor a lot for the past 5 or so years. But... more, lately.
Because it's coming. Soon.
Initially, they'll be enhancing our existing workforce, and filling jobs nobody wants to do.
Initially.
But eventually, they'll come fer our jerbs.
Which, I initially assumed to be a bad thing for personal income and the economy.
But maybe not.
If you look at slavery within human history...
Louis has a point.
And assuming the robots don't become sentient (which, I suppose they probably will, and that'll open up a new chapter in... everything, really) we would have ethical slavery, for a while.
On top of that, we'll have an overabundant supply of energy (I'll write another post on that, later if you want, otherwise, just trust me on this ;)
So, every great thing we want to do... we could do. For very little cost.
Do we even need a currency at that point? Maybe. There might be some things that only the rich (if that's still a thing) can enjoy. But what would those be?
There's only so many seats at the best restaurant in town... but my robot at home is a 5 star chef.
There's only so many seats in the movie theater... but my VR/AR reality at home is better than any theater.
There's only so many spots at the grand canyon... alright, maybe. So there might be lines at places, and maybe excess wealth could be used to skip those lines.
Maybe.
Or maybe life becomes a functional form of communism, without the gulags and the gray coats. Maybe everyone has more than enough.
I hear you saying "that's pretty optimistic" - not necessarily.
If everyone has enough, that sounds like a vacation - great for a few months... but as a life?
What is a life without challenges? Without meaning? Without purpose?
If we look at "born wealthy" children who were raised without the need to earn their way through life... how often does that work out well?
What would a society be like if we were all without challenge?
This utopia I'm imagining gets darker, too.
While the current generation will probably be great, and treat it as a renaissance, what will those born into a world with AGI and robotic labor be like?
My father is very good at remembering numbers, doing math in his head, and various forms of artistic expression.
Calculators and internet came out when he was an adult, photoshop came out when he was in his 40's.
I'm okay at numbers, and drawing.
Calculators and internet came out for me in my teens, computers came out when I was young, and I can type way faster than I can write.
My son will barely need to remember anything.
He was born with google and cell phones but not with self-driving cars, robotic labor, and AI. He probably won't need to learn to drive, as he's 9, and DaaS will likely be everywhere by the time he's 16.
His son definitely won't need to do any of those things. He'll be born with implanted chips, AI and robots.
So, I get to marvel. My son gets a renaissance. What does his son get? Everything? Nothing?
Will he be creative when AI and robots can create for him?
Will he learn when he can download information and skills?
Will he date when he can have a robotic girlfriend with an AI designed to be his perfect mate?
People in my father's generation would balk at that.
They would say that marriage is worth it. It's decades of shared experiences and real. People in my generation would consider it. They'd say that marriage is worth it, but that it's also a lot of work.
People in my son's generation will probably opt into it, treating the robot as an accessory within the relationship, or supplement their dating life with it.
But the next generation?
Do you remember what it was like trying to date as a teenager? How terrifying it was to ask a girl out? How horrible rejection felt, and how painful fights were with your significant others?
You're telling me that growing up with the choice of that -- or a pain-free alternative... that you would pick organic?
I don't think so.
Do you know why McDonalds is so popular?
It isn't because the food is good.
It's because you're guaranteed not to have an experience worse than the last time you went.
Humans avoid pain way more than they seek pleasure. The reason franchises are successful isn't because their food is good - it's because their food is guaranteed to be the same as the last time you went, and the last time you went, it wasn't terrible.
You will get a mediocre sandwich at Subway, or, you'll spend $13 at a mom & pop store on an unknown sandwich of unknown quality.
Realistically, you know the mom & pop store is probably better. But you don't know for sure. You don't know how much it will cost, and you don't know what it will taste like.
Your fears spike. Maybe the sandwiches will be $20. Maybe they'll put too many pickles on. Maybe... I will make a mistake!
No, best to go with the guaranteed choice of just-crappy-enough-be-be-okay "bread" and just-crappy-enough-to-be-okay toppings for a price just high enough to be okay.
AI Dating Robots will be the same thing.
You could gamble on an organic girlfriend who may or may not find you attractive, and may or may not be compatible with you... You could spend money going out to a club or a class, buying all sorts of dinners and drinks for a potential mate who could be disgusted by you, or be disgusting to you upon further examination... or you could order up a babe on Amazon who friggin' loves all the same movies as you and loves to do that thing you like.
Initially, they'll be McDonalds... just-real-enough-to-be-called-food. But as AI and cybernetics progress... I could see them competing with the real thing.
What happens then?
Do we become a purposeless, idle species?
How do we fulfill the human need for growth?
For contribution?
For significance?
Do we even bother reproducing? Or are babies just an app we download and try out for a bit?
"Jeeze, I want to sleep. Cancel subscription."
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