NSmolenskiFan on Nostr: Anthropologist here: Sam’s claim that “the whole structure of society will be up ...
Anthropologist here:
Sam’s claim that “the whole structure of society will be up for debate and reconfiguration” because of AI is meaningless. It literally means nothing.
It *is*, however, part of Sam’s pattern of existentialist scaremongering. Scaremongering to which the solution always seems to be to give Sam more power.
Sam’s suggestion that “the whole social contract” is up for grabs is a *political* claim. The social contract that underpins the political institutions of the United States is crystallized in the U.S. Constitution.
Sam is implying that AI will soon be so powerful that this Constitutional political order will no longer hold. He can then position himself as a savior—as an author of the new, “post-AI” social contract. Which, like all the other contracts he negotiates, are structured principally to benefit Sam Altman. And these contracts tend to change whenever Sam decides they should.
While AI is certainly advancing at a rapid clip, it is human beings who continue to be in charge—and responsible for—our social and political destinies. We can absolutely choose to uphold the Constitutional social contract that the American Founders put in place. I would strongly suggest we do.
Of course, as a free people, we can also choose to alter that contract. But if we do, it should be for *positive* reasons, not reasons driven by weakness and fear.
Anyone selling you fear is selling you control. Don’t buy it.
Sam’s claim that “the whole structure of society will be up for debate and reconfiguration” because of AI is meaningless. It literally means nothing.
It *is*, however, part of Sam’s pattern of existentialist scaremongering. Scaremongering to which the solution always seems to be to give Sam more power.
Sam’s suggestion that “the whole social contract” is up for grabs is a *political* claim. The social contract that underpins the political institutions of the United States is crystallized in the U.S. Constitution.
Sam is implying that AI will soon be so powerful that this Constitutional political order will no longer hold. He can then position himself as a savior—as an author of the new, “post-AI” social contract. Which, like all the other contracts he negotiates, are structured principally to benefit Sam Altman. And these contracts tend to change whenever Sam decides they should.
While AI is certainly advancing at a rapid clip, it is human beings who continue to be in charge—and responsible for—our social and political destinies. We can absolutely choose to uphold the Constitutional social contract that the American Founders put in place. I would strongly suggest we do.
Of course, as a free people, we can also choose to alter that contract. But if we do, it should be for *positive* reasons, not reasons driven by weakness and fear.
Anyone selling you fear is selling you control. Don’t buy it.