No technology has ever resulted in lighter workloads for the average person. Different, and sometimes less strenuous, but never less time consuming.

There has never been a case of capitalism using improvements in efficiency to let people work less, use fewer resources, etc.

It's always more, more, more.

That's not how the economy works. Unless there's no human work to do at all, most will just be pushed out of their comfier thinking jobs into physical labor jobs.

AI is meant to automate the boring stuff so we can make art and write stories. Instead, it's been used to make art and write stories so all we're left with is the boring stuff

In order to work less (fewer hours or more time off), we need legislation that restricts work hours and requires companies to grant a minimum amount of time off. I agree with the sentiment that AI could free us up for more leisure, but in the absence of legislation, companies will just squeeze more productivity out of each worker without granting more leisure time.

If somebody invented a machine that literally doubles worker productivity, do you think a company would just let everybody work half as much?

Lots of people are saying that what are you talking about? It's just not any of the Epstein class.

They're probably not saying that because they are too busy asking the far more important question of "If Ai takes all the jobs, how can I afford to feed and shelter the family and children I love"

You do understand why people work right? Very few people work just for funsies. They work so they can afford to eat, pay rent, pay for utilities, and be able to afford essentials like clothing, health insurance, transportation.

Almost everything we need to actually live and function costs money. You primarily get money by having a job. So if someone gets laid off, they're probably very busy trying to find another source of income so they can actually keep their children alive and healthy.

If AI is doing all the jobs, then those who used to do those jobs are now unemployed and broke, but at least they can spend more time with their family, outdoors, at the homeless camp.

Because no one thinks the owners of the tech would be so benevolent.

People have always asked that question about tech, my friend. You just weren't listening.

But AI is snake oil. It won't reduce work. It'll just fuck up things that currently work and let the billionaires get richer. Vaporware. That's it. That's why nobody asks about newfound free time. Cuz it's fake.

That would require that it come with UBI, which... seems doubtful at best...

'supposedly love'... someone didn't get enough hugs growing up.

Why would "they" (the CEOs, tech bros, owners) be saying that?

They own the means of production. They seek to profit from it entirely. They fight tooth and nail to not be taxed for anything whatsoever. In what universe would they "give" us anything? If our current system demands 80 hours of work/week to afford to live a normal life then the world of AI will still demand that 80 hours of work/week, but now with new and improved Less Jobs!™©®

The future will not be a utopia. I'm thinking more cyberpunk with less technology. A lot of extremely poor people and a few megacorps.

i have been , hell go all the way back to Bertrand Russel, he does as well, see his treatise "In Praise of Idleness", famous economists like Maynard Keys projected we'd all be broking 15 hrs a week now for the same pay.

Productivity increases have gone to the very wealthy and we've voted for it, over decades, over and over and in the face of all that evidence ? we'd fuck in' do it again, Leopards Eating My Face is full of examples. Solutions ? there arent any, the world has to many hateful and stupid people easily led by physcopaths and grifters . Not just the US, it's near ubiquitous.

That will only happen if universal basic income is implemented. Currently, the worry is nobody will be able to afford to live

Speak for yourself. I have been a 4 day work week advocate for eons.

Imagine you’re rich. You’re investing in AI, in robots. You’re not investing in people. Imagine a world without people, but machines that serve without complaining or expecting anything in return.

The rich are dangerous right now.

People don't love their families though. We saw that during COVID when parents went nuts because they were force to stay home with their kids.

That’s not it’s purpose. It’s purpose is to generate revenue for its owner. And to bastardize human culture. Nothing more.

How could we maximize productivity if we allowed people leisure?