Recently I read an excerpt from a series of historical analysis and political theory essays written by an Italian man called Antonion Gramsci, who was imprisoned by the Italian Fascist regime in 1926.
Even though what he wrote was relevant to the current affairs of things 100 years in the past, I feel like it is even more relevant today, with the breakneck speed of development of new technology, especially in the AI realm:
As the youth say, "the vibes are off". And off they are indeed. I think the reason why this happens is because we can't really imagine the next 50, nay, 20 years. We are on the precipice of creating something that we're completely unable to control without wreaking havoc on the entirety of human affairs.
I wonder, when we inevitably create general AI, will we rephrase Oppenheimer's infamous phrase to "Now I am become God, destroyer of myself". :d
This isn't meant as AI fearmongering, of course. I don't fall easily into Elon Musk's doomsday proclamations of how "it's too late" to control it and all that. If anything, I'm very hopeful for a better future.
I just wanted to share this interesting quote by Antonio, because I feel like it's very fitting to nowadays' situation and how people feel.
Even though what he wrote was relevant to the current affairs of things 100 years in the past, I feel like it is even more relevant today, with the breakneck speed of development of new technology, especially in the AI realm:
How poignant...in the twilight zone, right on the cutting edge between developments of the past, and vast, technological doors opening up to an utterly incomprehensible future, here we stand...Turning our heads back and forth, unable to figure out what exactly is wrong, even though we sense with all of our perception that something is indeed wrong.The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.
As the youth say, "the vibes are off". And off they are indeed. I think the reason why this happens is because we can't really imagine the next 50, nay, 20 years. We are on the precipice of creating something that we're completely unable to control without wreaking havoc on the entirety of human affairs.
I wonder, when we inevitably create general AI, will we rephrase Oppenheimer's infamous phrase to "Now I am become God, destroyer of myself". :d
This isn't meant as AI fearmongering, of course. I don't fall easily into Elon Musk's doomsday proclamations of how "it's too late" to control it and all that. If anything, I'm very hopeful for a better future.
I just wanted to share this interesting quote by Antonio, because I feel like it's very fitting to nowadays' situation and how people feel.