nullagentDec 14, 2024

I was just talking to a colleague about the AI bubble. These companies are in so deep they can't tell the truth. They are all lying about the efficacy, costs to consumers and most importantly how & when this tech works or doesn't.

Is there enough money on the line to kill over?

There's likely a trillion bucks of valuations across the industry. Billions in sunk costs, billions in c suite remuneration, billions in VC mgmt costs.

RIP Suchir

https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/12/13/openai-whistleblower-found-dead-in-san-francisco-apartment/

#OpenAI #AI #VC #SuchirBalaji

OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment

A former OpenAI researcher who raised concerns about the company is dead at 26.

The Mercury News
Show threadMark OtwayDec 15, 2024

@nullagent

I was explaining to a non-tech friend how "AI" works - ie what an LLM is, and does, including hallucinations and the fact that it's basically spicy autocomplete.

Once he understood, he was open-mouthed, aghast. "But all the media articles saying its going to replace 80,000 jobs, and make our lives easier? Is that all BS?"

It was depressing watching it sink in how deep the lie was that's been sold by all these huge corps.

@cstross

Show threadCrucifixion's a DoddleDec 15, 2024

@markotway @nullagent @cstross

Oh it might well replace those jobs. And it'll be absolute dogshit at doing it.

The management class are dumb as fuck.

Show thread0xC0DEC0DE07EADec 15, 2024

@drunkenmadman
This is a common refrain over on @pluralistic’s blog: AI might not be able to do your job, but that doesn’t mean they can’t convince your boss of that.

@markotway @nullagent @cstross

Show threadThadDec 15, 2024
@c0dec0dec0de And I think one of the major lessons in the recent Hollywood writers' strike is that in many instances AI won't really replace humans but will be an excuse to pay them less. (You're not the screenwriter anymore; you're revising the AI's script.) @drunkenmadman @pluralistic @markotway @nullagent @cstross
Show threadNicole Parsons

@Thad @c0dec0dec0de @drunkenmadman @pluralistic @markotway @nullagent @cstross

Women have experienced this process over and over.

Male manager retires or quits, woman gets the job but it's now called a "coordinator" job at 40% less, because a typewriter & secretary was replaced by a laptop & word processor.

Same job responsibilities, different title, less money.

Wage suppression tactics using titles and tech is an old old technique.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/upshot/as-women-take-over-a-male-dominated-field-the-pay-drops.html

https://www.msnbc.com/know-your-value/career-growth/was-paid-less-men-was-managing-s-happened-rcna141751

As Women Take Over a Male-Dominated Field, the Pay Drops

Work done by women pays less because women do it, research shows.

The New York Times
Dec 16, 2024 at 7:02amWeb
Show threadMx. Eddie RDec 16, 2024

@Npars01
My sister was assistant curator at a museum, career track to curator.
Curator retired.
Sister was promoted to "collection manager", which is "curator but woman"; 100% curator duties at 60% curator salary.

Anyway, that museum is closed down now and my sister runs a different one.

Show threadThadDec 16, 2024
@Npars01 Oh, for sure; this is just the same old wage suppression tactics with a shiny new gloss. And yeah, it always hits women and POC way before it gets to white dudes. @c0dec0dec0de @drunkenmadman @pluralistic @markotway @nullagent @cstross
Show thread0xC0DEC0DE07EADec 16, 2024

@Thad Given the topic, I should really work on getting better sources (instead of two white dudes), but: "The future is already here — it's just not very evenly distributed." - William Gibson
"[Bad things start with] low-status subjects to find and remove rough edges from abusive technology, then move the smoothed-over tech up the social power gradient to higher-status workers." - @pluralistic

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/24/gwb-rumsfeld-monsters/#bossware
@Npars01 @drunkenmadman @markotway @nullagent @cstross

Pluralistic: 24 Feb 2021 – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow