Spare me! Yet Another Tech Prophet Speaks: Daron Acemoglu’s Machine “Usefulness”

Key Points For Those Who Bother:

Here we go again! Another tech prophet, Daron Acemoglu, has hatched a novel brainfart. He talks about machine “usefulness,” instead of autonomous “intelligence,” being used to benefit workers and spread prosperity. Honestly, I wonder if these high-flying academics ever leave their ivory towers long enough to understand that most workers could do without another must-have, life-changing tech product.

Consequences: If You Can Stomach Considering Annoyingly Positive Spin

In Acemoglu’s dream world, artificial intelligence is no longer looming over workers like the Armageddon. Instead, the machines become useful tools that will “assist” us in tasks, spread wealth, and not, apparently, take over the world. Right, pull the other one. As if we haven’t heard this “technology will save us all” spiel before. How naïve does one have to be to believe this scientifically romanticized poppycock?

Last Word: Because God Forbid We Skip My Esteemed Opinion

Here’s my hot take, sunshine. Acemoglu’s lofty ideas about machine usefulness feel like another attempt to make workers feel warm and fuzzy about the impending robot apocalypse, this time with a clever twist! Sure, the machines aren’t coming to make us all obsolete, they are just going to help us, right? Have a word with yourself, Acemoglu. Your vision is about as believable as a politician promising lower taxes. Wake me up when it’s over.

Original article:https://news.mit.edu/2023/who-will-benefit-ai-machine-usefulness-0929