I don’t want Star Wars or Mad Max. Both were Shakespearean and other classic conflicts stories rewrapped in a post-modern world of constant conflict. They only differ in the level of technological weaponry available. Modifying social/cultural norms is missing from our goals. We are trained to compete and vanquish opponents, not to achieve and share. We celebrate war…thank you for your service, soldier (for killing all those bad people)…while denigrating our teachers and nurses to the level of babysitters. Part of the mission needs to include programs to rekindle the spirit of life as a collaborative collective experience for mutual benefit. Without those values, we’ll remain in a zero-sum society where some have to lose so others can win. Include Peace Corp like programs in the mission, not to spread democracy and the American way, but to foster collaboration and shared human community, and wean us from acting like crabs in a barrel.
I'm not seeing where all of these jobs are going to come from, or exactly how workers will be paid for their labor (and by whom?). What "new infrastructure" will we be building? Will everyone be qualified to work in these new positions? How will this happen without destroying the environment? AI uses up huge portions of our land, water, and energy resources. Why would anyone think that's a good thing?
Do you have an example from history where this type of plan actually worked? We need more details in order to see how AI is going to benefit us as a society vs. destroy our ability to earn a living, maintain a level of privacy, etc.
I want to be optimistic about it, but do not see things as you do. Please enlighten us!
What happens when the millions of white-collar college graduates get fired by databanks? Drones are cheap, and the Ukrainians and Iranians have shown us what they can do to fixed, expensive installations.
I totally agree we need a blueprint for the future. It all still seems to be pie-in-the-sky, though, that we can survive without careers, income, une raison de vivre. Infrastructure needs capital to continue - hospitals (my first though only because that was my career), water treatment plants, energy production, court system, governments, retail, transportation and on and on. Without a tax structure how are these entities supported. I intend to read your treatise and hope I find the inspiration and detail that will give me assurances that we have this under control. And, I too agree, the deadwood in the Dem party must be jettisoned.
While I agree most of your premises, the “they’re incompetent “ negativity regarding the Democratic Party is fodder for the “tear it down republicans” to continue to their retro world of denying what’s going on. It’s amplifying the Fox propaganda. We need to encourage a larger context embrace of the realities of what is happening.
How about ‘they’re bought and paid for’ vs. incompetent. But who cares what is fodder for the GOP? Until the Dems clean their party of corporate tools, they will never create the working class coalition necessary for the change we need. The problem here is a liberal class more interested in bleating about evil Republicans than in opposing things like genocide and a corporate coup.
I hope you are supporting David Hogg's groups, he is doing excellent work supporting the election of young progressive candidates to elected office. the DNC made a HUGE mistake booting him from leadership.
I don’t support any ‘groups’, only individual candidates; the same way I support individual writers, not media outlets/platforms.
As an example, I support Green Party candidate Butch Ware in the CA governor’s race. Every Dem on the ballot in the jungle primary falls far short of Ware’s policy Rx, but clueless liberals will vote for Dems because they cowardly follow fallacious lesser evil strategery like lemmings.
yes, the corporate Dems are not incompetent, just status quo. the REPUBLICANS however, are DELIBERATELY incompetent and I'd forgotten just how far back that rot goes until I started reading Andy Borowitz' book "Profiles in Ignorance" which both entertaining and horrifying.
More about the coming AI crisis? Sigh. Yes. More about Mission for America? Yah, you betcha! Hope in the dark (to steal a phrase) is always good, and you both provide it. Thank you.
I hope that serious long term effects are taken into account. I can't help but wonder, for instance, what will happen to the areas where there is now enough water, when that water is transferred to the southwest. Is there any plan to come up with technologies that don't continue to take from the planet? There is only so much available, and continuing to deplete what is in the earth will have long term consequences. If hydrogen is problematic, who is working on a different, safe, sustainable idea? what do we do with all of the vehicles that are currently running on oil? what do we do with all of the nuclear weapons? How do we shift the US consciousness away from the stupor created by the poppy field of convenience and consumerism? How do we shift toward what truly makes our lives worth living: Community connectedness, shared purpose, health, a sense of awe and gratitude, to name a few. I do like the idea of a mission and a blueprint for what we can do to turn the tide.
This is just more of the same neoliberalism. The fantasy that capital and corporate leaders would run the country better, and that salvation comes from more energy consumption.
The problems we are in are the natural consequence of capitalism. They will not be solved by more capitalism.
A great call to action. Building a trump-less America starts now. AI is valuable science when used Constitutionally and morally. Protecting it from extortion abd corruption is a tallborder in our time of trana-natiinal and institutional thieving.
I don’t want Star Wars or Mad Max. Both were Shakespearean and other classic conflicts stories rewrapped in a post-modern world of constant conflict. They only differ in the level of technological weaponry available. Modifying social/cultural norms is missing from our goals. We are trained to compete and vanquish opponents, not to achieve and share. We celebrate war…thank you for your service, soldier (for killing all those bad people)…while denigrating our teachers and nurses to the level of babysitters. Part of the mission needs to include programs to rekindle the spirit of life as a collaborative collective experience for mutual benefit. Without those values, we’ll remain in a zero-sum society where some have to lose so others can win. Include Peace Corp like programs in the mission, not to spread democracy and the American way, but to foster collaboration and shared human community, and wean us from acting like crabs in a barrel.
Update typo free!
You need someone to edit this piece. Are you intending to be mysterious about the what?
Where are we going to get the water to run AI? I'm curious about your thoughts on that. I don't see how AI doesn't lead to desertification.
It's laid out pretty darn well in this: https://www.saikat.us/assets/policy/ai-vision-statement.pdf
typo: "In the context of We’re systematically going.."
sorry, I recently proofread my ex hubby's book (still looking for a publisher, on the dangers of AI, and it's already of of date...)
I'm not seeing where all of these jobs are going to come from, or exactly how workers will be paid for their labor (and by whom?). What "new infrastructure" will we be building? Will everyone be qualified to work in these new positions? How will this happen without destroying the environment? AI uses up huge portions of our land, water, and energy resources. Why would anyone think that's a good thing?
Do you have an example from history where this type of plan actually worked? We need more details in order to see how AI is going to benefit us as a society vs. destroy our ability to earn a living, maintain a level of privacy, etc.
I want to be optimistic about it, but do not see things as you do. Please enlighten us!
What happens when the millions of white-collar college graduates get fired by databanks? Drones are cheap, and the Ukrainians and Iranians have shown us what they can do to fixed, expensive installations.
I totally agree we need a blueprint for the future. It all still seems to be pie-in-the-sky, though, that we can survive without careers, income, une raison de vivre. Infrastructure needs capital to continue - hospitals (my first though only because that was my career), water treatment plants, energy production, court system, governments, retail, transportation and on and on. Without a tax structure how are these entities supported. I intend to read your treatise and hope I find the inspiration and detail that will give me assurances that we have this under control. And, I too agree, the deadwood in the Dem party must be jettisoned.
I definitely would prefer Star Trek over mad max. Maybe throw in a little Jetsons too for some fun.
While I agree most of your premises, the “they’re incompetent “ negativity regarding the Democratic Party is fodder for the “tear it down republicans” to continue to their retro world of denying what’s going on. It’s amplifying the Fox propaganda. We need to encourage a larger context embrace of the realities of what is happening.
How about ‘they’re bought and paid for’ vs. incompetent. But who cares what is fodder for the GOP? Until the Dems clean their party of corporate tools, they will never create the working class coalition necessary for the change we need. The problem here is a liberal class more interested in bleating about evil Republicans than in opposing things like genocide and a corporate coup.
I hope you are supporting David Hogg's groups, he is doing excellent work supporting the election of young progressive candidates to elected office. the DNC made a HUGE mistake booting him from leadership.
I don’t support any ‘groups’, only individual candidates; the same way I support individual writers, not media outlets/platforms.
As an example, I support Green Party candidate Butch Ware in the CA governor’s race. Every Dem on the ballot in the jungle primary falls far short of Ware’s policy Rx, but clueless liberals will vote for Dems because they cowardly follow fallacious lesser evil strategery like lemmings.
yes, the corporate Dems are not incompetent, just status quo. the REPUBLICANS however, are DELIBERATELY incompetent and I'd forgotten just how far back that rot goes until I started reading Andy Borowitz' book "Profiles in Ignorance" which both entertaining and horrifying.
More about the coming AI crisis? Sigh. Yes. More about Mission for America? Yah, you betcha! Hope in the dark (to steal a phrase) is always good, and you both provide it. Thank you.
I hope that serious long term effects are taken into account. I can't help but wonder, for instance, what will happen to the areas where there is now enough water, when that water is transferred to the southwest. Is there any plan to come up with technologies that don't continue to take from the planet? There is only so much available, and continuing to deplete what is in the earth will have long term consequences. If hydrogen is problematic, who is working on a different, safe, sustainable idea? what do we do with all of the vehicles that are currently running on oil? what do we do with all of the nuclear weapons? How do we shift the US consciousness away from the stupor created by the poppy field of convenience and consumerism? How do we shift toward what truly makes our lives worth living: Community connectedness, shared purpose, health, a sense of awe and gratitude, to name a few. I do like the idea of a mission and a blueprint for what we can do to turn the tide.
This is just more of the same neoliberalism. The fantasy that capital and corporate leaders would run the country better, and that salvation comes from more energy consumption.
The problems we are in are the natural consequence of capitalism. They will not be solved by more capitalism.
A great call to action. Building a trump-less America starts now. AI is valuable science when used Constitutionally and morally. Protecting it from extortion abd corruption is a tallborder in our time of trana-natiinal and institutional thieving.