Hacker News Reader

Comment by ianm218 | Hacker News Reader

What is your case at all? AI could usher in a post scarcity world so why not have more humans who can enjoy better lives?

You just said AI Armageddon as if there is an already predetermined ending that is widely agreed upon.

View on HN

I love how "post scarcity world" is tossed around as if the earth has infinite natural resources.

With renewables and nuclear we have basically unlimited energy, which can solve a lot of resource related issues.

What are you concerned we would run out of?

Helium? Rare earth minerals? Having to mine ever deeper because there are essentially no easily accessible mineral deposits? The fact that mining has enormous costs and the potential to permanently destroy sources of fresh water?

Rare earth minerals are not particularly rare or needed in huge quantities.

Helium is probably more limited but for most cases there is alternatives I.e. I believe people use argon.

Idk none of this seems overly pressing in terms of preventing a lost scarcity world

Topsoil (the oncoming train nobody has noticed yet)

We can make topsoil; we know how, we just don't have the will.

We do know how, but it’s very slow compared to the rate of depletion.

Yeah, see those millions laid of last 5-10 years, everyone got better, more fulfilling jobs. Companies are falling over each other with ever more outrageous perks and salaries. Excellent healthcare, plentiful housing, unlimited education opportunities, nothing is scarce any more.

Thinking hard, the only thing we are having shortage is of AI tokens. Thats all we need to plan for or worry about in coming decades.

Maybe if AI becomes deeply embedded enough in society/ government it will tell lawmakers "You should let people build housing in urban areas where there is demand" and that would be a nice step in the right direction!

it could. but it won't.

ai only solves labor, it doesn't solve human greed.

Well, when we get there people can have more kids.

Well, isn't it already difficult for the not-rich to add to families? Add to that the uncertainty with income and future. Unless socialism is widely adopted, I am not sure humans can enjoy better lives especially with additional burden of kids. Hell, people can't afford homes now. I don't see a widely agreed upon or convincing positive ending. I already see (read about to be accurate) effects of AI on young graduates. I'd assume people hope for better ending, but would prepare for the worst.

When people say "people can't afford homes now" your referring to places like NY, MA, and CA where people can't afford homes because the local governments have made it basically impossible to build to match the demand in the areas? I.e. Massachusetts despite being one of the most desirable places to live ranks 50th in housing production per capita.

You're not sure humans can enjoy better lives in the future? Like you think things could only get worse?

That's not a weird one-off problem with those local governments, it's a symptom of something fundamental to human society.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com