• tias@discuss.tchncs.de
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      61
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      10 days ago

      Philip K. Dick wrote a short story (“Autofac”) in which autonomous, self-replicating factories continue to operate and produce goods long after a global war has wiped out most of humanity, and they eat up all remaining resources on earth in doing so. I worry that there’s a system in which a few extremely rich people can continue thriving without involvement of most of humanity, and that they’re (knowingly or unknowingly) moving society in that direction. Who needs the commoners when AI and algorithms can simulate them.

      IIUC the calculation of GDP doesn’t factor in whether the produced goods serve a human need - the system can in theory continue to optimize for ever-increasing GDP while every human on earth starves to death.

        • anomnom@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          edit-2
          10 days ago

          Yeah we need to be kept employed at around 94% (or at least not 100%) while we starve to death.

          • taladar@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            10 days ago

            Well, technically 100% employment wouldn’t be desirable, that would mean nobody can ever switch jobs or take some time off from working to deal with some personal issues or projects.

            • anomnom@sh.itjust.works
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              10 days ago

              No it’s that wages climb too much when unemployment is too low. The Feds even fucking said it during the inflation. They wanted a higher unemployment rate. Super fucked unless there was ever a basic income.

            • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              10 days ago

              I think employment is based on those seeking work. So if you take time off, you wouldn’t be counted. It’s a balance in the market that stops wage rises and inflation when there is unemployment. It’s obviously not desirable for the individual.

        • gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          9 days ago

          I think of GDP as muscle mass on a body builder.

          At a certain point, it just stops making sense and being healthy.

          Some can’t even put on socks anymore, duh.

      • fed0sine@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        8
        ·
        10 days ago

        Check out The Forever Winter, it incorporates the autofac into its world building.

      • Rikudou_Sage@lemmings.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        10 days ago

        Who needs the commoners when AI and algorithms can simulate them.

        Being rich doesn’t exist in a vacuum but only in relation to other people, meaning if only billionaires survive, they’re not rich anymore. They need the poor majority.

        • WamGams@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          10 days ago

          The sad fact of money is its only worth something the moment it leaves your hands.