AI theorists debate something called the “paperclip maximizer problem”. It’s a cautionary tale where a robot is instructed to produce as many paperclips as possible. With no further instructions, the machine runs out of raw materials and starts killing us and destroying the earth in its relentless pursuit of more paperclips.
Very insightful, @Jay Vidyarthi we really need lots of mindfulness to help us reflect on “what we are optimizing” for, AI and otherwise. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
Love this. Made me think of a recent article about optimization culture at work by journalist Anne Helen Peterson. I think you’d dig it. She cites a concept - “one best way” - by a little known French philosopher from over a hundred years ago that is still so relevant today. Describing how structures of optimization (which didn’t have a name then) control and shape our lives through labour relationships. Mind blowing.
Very insightful, @Jay Vidyarthi we really need lots of mindfulness to help us reflect on “what we are optimizing” for, AI and otherwise. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
Love this. Made me think of a recent article about optimization culture at work by journalist Anne Helen Peterson. I think you’d dig it. She cites a concept - “one best way” - by a little known French philosopher from over a hundred years ago that is still so relevant today. Describing how structures of optimization (which didn’t have a name then) control and shape our lives through labour relationships. Mind blowing.
https://slickinbox.com/share/chrisconnolly-the-optimization-sinkhole-d3d67424