Thread

1. mgaldys4 · 1790086411 · focus · HN ↗

   Even the Millennium Prize Problems have, in a way, become benchmarks for model companies to prove themselves. The smartest individuals among humans are becoming replaceable. Intelligence has become a product you can quantify and buy with electricity. That feels awful.

   1. skeledrew · 1790087262 · focus · HN ↗

      > That feels awful

      Only if you subscribe to the "humans are special" rhetoric, in which case I'm - maybe - sorry to say the feeling will only intensify.

      1. suddenlybananas · 1790092374 · focus · HN ↗

         I genuinely don't understand how some people are so self-hating.

         1. skeledrew · 1790092868 · focus · HN ↗

            What's self-hating about acknowledging a fact? There's literally nothing a human can do that can't be done by another entity/group with even near-equivalent intelligence, alien or artificial.

            1. suddenlybananas · 1790093055 · focus · HN ↗

               We don't even know if that is true, and even if it were true, that doesn't mean that humans aren't special. We don't have to devalue ourselves. Our values can and should be 100% anthropocentric in my view.

               1. skeledrew · 1790096104 · focus · HN ↗

                  It's interesting that you think that acknowledging we aren't special means we're devaluing ourselves.

                  1. suddenlybananas · 1790108143 · focus · HN ↗

                     I don't really see how going from humans are special to humans aren't special is anything but a devaluing.

                     1. skeledrew · 1790112689 · focus · HN ↗

                        Humans value each other, through the myriad forms of relationships we - strive to - maintain. They may change, but they'll never completely disappear, no matter what. There's just nothing objectively special about any of it, as other organisms also - can - have relationships. Same for the things we do: it can all be done by some non-human entity, be it another organic specie, alien or machine. Become comfortable with the facts as your mental stability likely depends on it now more than ever.

                        1. suddenlybananas · 1790183120 · focus · HN ↗

                           I'm talking about the value of humans qua humanity, not the individual people that I value. I think you're being willfully obtuse.

                           1. skeledrew · 1790229795 · focus · HN ↗

                              Not at all. There's as much value in human qua human as there is value in cat qua cat, or oak tree qua oak tree, ie there is value in the human species in as much as humans are distinct/unique as such.

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