“Governments have a weak track record of shaping the economic impact of powerful technologies.” Perhaps too general? Railroads and nuclear power seem to be cases where governments certainly shaped technology’s impact.
It’s more that channeling the technological impact in exactly the direction you want it is impossible.
I agree that governments would struggle to effectively shape the economic impact of AI through policy, but I also think we shouldn't underestimate just how painful this type of transition could be for huge numbers of workers - I don't have particular faith in government safety nets responding adequately.
This links to a point that Alex Imas has been making, the more unpopular AI gets, which isn't helped by doomsday predictions from labs, the more likely it is that societies do end up fighting automation, as that will become a popular political strategy. Not really sure what the answer is here.
“Governments have a weak track record of shaping the economic impact of powerful technologies.” Perhaps too general? Railroads and nuclear power seem to be cases where governments certainly shaped technology’s impact.
It’s more that channeling the technological impact in exactly the direction you want it is impossible.
The global decline in extreme poverty can still be generalised, just to the rejection of communist economic ideas instead.
I agree that governments would struggle to effectively shape the economic impact of AI through policy, but I also think we shouldn't underestimate just how painful this type of transition could be for huge numbers of workers - I don't have particular faith in government safety nets responding adequately.
This links to a point that Alex Imas has been making, the more unpopular AI gets, which isn't helped by doomsday predictions from labs, the more likely it is that societies do end up fighting automation, as that will become a popular political strategy. Not really sure what the answer is here.