The Increasing Pace of AI - What Concerns Me

[Tiki]

Right now I am comparison shopping for Home and Contents insurance, trying to avoid the loyalty tax. After getting quotes and narrowing down the field, I am loving ChatGPT's ability to analyze the PDS's as to how each company would respond to a worst case scenario I presented. As a result, I found one company is more suited to my situation than a couple others.

 

[elanshin]

The digital warfare of AI is most certainly coming. It's going to be a question of what is the target.

I don't believe the "hacks" that's happened recently are really rogue ai's - if they were we're probably in a more dire position in what it could potentially do and take over.

 

[drron]

Last night I attempted BPAY on the Netbank app. It is now the Ai version and it is hopeless. One of the bills was for my taxes type ATO into the search and it comes up as can’t be found. Well I have done this several times before. So I go to add a new payer and it comes up this payer is already on your list So scroll down and select it
ATO comes up but with no way to change the reference number. After 3 attempts it comes up with edit button. So finally get to pay. But not over yet. I get 2 pages telling me how to identify a scam before it gets to pay.
But one last thing I have to tick the box saying I have been warned about scammers. This is the ATO. Unfortunately they are a scammer who has to be paid.
For the next couple of payments I used my own computer and it was as before and so much easier to use.

 

[kookaburra75]

I don't believe the "hacks" that's happened recently are really rogue ai's - if they were we're probably in a more dire position in what it could potentially do and take over.

You don't mean that two companies who are planning to float on the stock exchange, have had something go 'wrong' and showed how they are really good guys, to boost their profile and potential share price? Who would think that?

 

[elanshin]

You don't mean that two companies who are planning to float on the stock exchange, have had something go 'wrong' and showed how they are really good guys, to boost their profile and potential share price? Who would think that?

The ipo stuff is only a distraction, depending on your world view, this could basically be viewed as the equivalent of modern day Manhattan project.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I worry that we aren't going to train people on doing and understanding the basics, and then we're all handcuffed to the "techbros" who took all that knowledge from us and will sell it back for a hefty fee.

In my industry, we keep hearing how AI will be a great tool for the capable and experienced as it'll save them time doing grunt work. But..it was doing that grunt work that got me the experience and knowledge I now have...

 

[dajop]

The one thing I haven't got my head around yet, is the logic of it all:
1) AI is going to no doubt further enrich the "tech bros". It will continue the major shift in economic (and therefore political) power away from banks and other participants in the traditional power structure to the tech bros.
2) If it is going to replace a whole stack of low level jobs, what are these people going to do now, how will they survive, particularly in countries without much of a social safety net?
3) If the lower level jobs aren't there and people are relying on handouts, what's going to fuel consumption?
4) If nobody is fueling consumption, there'll be less consumption, so therefore less companies, and less need for AI to help companies because there won't be as many companies.

Does the whole thing fall in a heap eventually?

That's the pessimistic view, I'm sure we'll solve the problems before it comes to that - or if we don't AI will

 

[lovestotravel]

I worry that we aren't going to train people on doing and understanding the basics, and then we're all handcuffed to the "techbros" who took all that knowledge from us and will sell it back for a hefty fee.

In my industry, we keep hearing how AI will be a great tool for the capable and experienced as it'll save them time doing grunt work. But..it was doing that grunt work that got me the experience and knowledge I now have...

That's the same rubbish I keep hearing.

We are a few months away from culling a few hundred people as well at the lower end, and some of the middle management as well

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

The one thing I haven't got my head around yet, is the logic of it all:
1) AI is going to no doubt further enrich the "tech bros". It will continue the major shift in economic (and therefore political) power away from banks and other participants in the traditional power structure to the tech bros.
2) If it is going to replace a whole stack of low level jobs, what are these people going to do now, how will they survive, particularly in countries without much of a social safety net?
3) If the lower level jobs aren't there and people are relying on handouts, what's going to fuel consumption?
4) If nobody is fueling consumption, there'll be less consumption, so therefore less companies, and less need for AI to help companies because there won't be as many companies.

Does the whole thing fall in a heap eventually?

That's the pessimistic view, I'm sure we'll solve the problems before it comes to that - or if we don't AI will

There will be a social dividend. Due to large productivity increases - governments or it companies will pay a dividend to all people to subsidize them. A few people have started talking about this.

 

[SeatBackForward]

governments or it companies will pay a dividend to all people to subsidize them

You genuinely believe that? that it wont just end up in the coffers of those who already don't need it?

 

[dajop]

There will be a social dividend. Due to large productivity increases - governments or it companies will pay a dividend to all people to subsidize them. A few people have started talking about this.

Yeh, have read about that. I do remain extremely sceptical though, especially given where many of the tech bros /cos stand today.

 

[kookaburra75]

There will be a social dividend. Due to large productivity increases - governments or it companies will pay a dividend to all people to subsidize them. A few people have started talking about this.

Interesting thought. But they said that in the 70s, 80s, 90s and so on, as each wave of new technologies we're ruled out. Unfortunately that never happened.

 

[AuSammy]

Interesting thought. But they said that in the 70s, 80s, 90s and so on, as each wave of new technologies we're ruled out. Unfortunately that never happened.

I’ll be in a pine box a long time before any US billionaire run corporation parts with a $1 without a huge fight.

 

[elanshin]

There will be a social dividend. Due to large productivity increases - governments or it companies will pay a dividend to all people to subsidize them. A few people have started talking about this.

Yeh, have read about that. I do remain extremely sceptical though, especially given where many of the tech bros /cos stand today.

No chance of that happening. There are a lot of economies (US in particular) that are broken and the only way to try and fix it is to quietly rob the general public without obviously doing it. That debt isn't going to fix itself and printing more money / making more bonds have run its cycle.

 

[lovestotravel]

I just want to get through the next 5-7 years working before AI takes over most roles in the industry that I work in. At that time I'll be happily retired at 55.

As for my kids, it's so hard to guide them towards jobs for their future.

I keep saying trades, ain't getting a robot into a roof space to run wires or fix plumbing under a house.

 

[SeatBackForward]

As for my kids, it's so hard to guide them towards jobs for their future.

This is so true, we have a 17yr old. A decade ago I would've suggested doing well at high school, going to uni and getting a degree. But I have reservations about suggesting that now. Why would selfish/short-term incentivised management employ a graduate when an AI bot can make all the same mistakes?

Thankfully he's already decided to quit school and picked up an apprenticeship with a major asset owner with a path to trade qualifications and the option to turn that into an engineering degree with ongoing studies. I think today, perhaps that is the right decision.

 

[lovestotravel]

This is so true, we have a 17yr old. A decade ago I would've suggested doing well at high school, going to uni and getting a degree. But I have reservations about suggesting that now. Why would selfish/short-term incentivised management employ a graduate when an AI bot can make all the same mistakes?

Yep, we have lots of "change Managers" and our recent high-ups have a great track record for culling stuff. In saying that the whole last decade they come in, slash burn, hit targets, get a nice bonus and leave

I don't see that changing anytime soon, and will just get worse with AI

 

[SeatBackForward]

Yep, we have lots of "change Managers" and our recent high-ups have a great track record for culling stuff. In saying that the whole last decade they come in, slash burn, hit targets, get a nice bonus and leave

I don't see that changing anytime soon, and will just get worse with AI

Yep, this short term thinking IS the modern world, and AI only accelerates that. When management decide to cut staff, all they see is the value on accounting spreadsheets,. These do not capture the knowledge that isn't written down, the experience that knows how to resolve things.

I've begun calling that short term thinking that telco's insurance, communciations all do as the "Loyalty Penalty" - rather than looking after customers who are already with you and rewarding their custom, they treat you as easy prey to exploit, mostly thinking, they can't be coughd to shop around.

 

[Scr77]

As for my kids, it's so hard to guide them towards jobs for their future.

I keep saying trades, ain't getting a robot into a roof space to run wires or fix plumbing under a house.

I can suggest Mobile Crane industry for people considering a trade. Quite niche, well paid, great variety, somewhere new everyday and work in small teams. Can be qualified in 2 weeks but then spend a lifetime learning.