Nobody knows how AI is going to work out but it’s worth operating as if it will and the question that brings you back to is what it means to live a meaningful life for as long as you do.
Photo by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash
I only listen to a few podcasts, one of which is The Diary of CEO with Steven Bartlett. He always interviews interesting guests including political commentator Konstantin Kisin and rebel economist Steve Keen. They went head-to-head on the biggest questions facing the West: immigration, the debt crisis, climate change, Trump, China and the future of AI.
It was wild at times.
Konstantin Kisin is a satirist, social commentator and author. He’s best known as the co-host of the Triggernometry podcast and the author of ‘An Immigrant’s Love Letter to the West’. He writes on Substack. Born in the Soviet Union and now based in Britain, he has become one of the most prominent voices on free speech, culture and the rise of populism.
Steve Keen is an economist, author and one of the most vocal critics of mainstream economic thinking. A former Professor of Economics, he is the author of several books including ‘Debunking Economics’ and ‘The New Economics: A Manifesto’.
The Biggest Threat to Humanity
They engaged in a rigorous and candid review of a variety of subjects, all connected by AI.
AI is the biggest threat to humanity.
That was the underlying, shared belief. They argued AI is the fact that you’re creating something that’s smarter than you and if you’re creating a superior species you will become an imperious species – “best case scenario you become a pet; worst case scenario you become a cow.”
From their perspective they observe a group of young, ultra-rich, powerful white men involved in a gold rush except it’s not gold. It’s power, its destiny, it’s the ultimate technological breakthrough, it’s your name in history. These are way more powerful than gold.
“What I see happening is a bunch of young men who are absolutely determined to get there as quickly as possible and there is no way in hell they’re going to stop.”
Dark Side
There’s a very dark side to their observations. Kisin said, “Anytime you have a combination of economic problems and social instability and cultural problems you put all those things together it’s not a good time. It’s a time when conflict, violence, civil unrest, all these things are much more likely.”
“Civil unrest is absolutely guaranteed. What you are now seeing is, I fear, the beginnings of a totally new level of separation between people. We are on the road to civil unrest and violence.”
Kisin got to a point near the end of the podcast where he sounded resigned to the inevitable overthrow of humanity by AI.
I don’t share that view, but I do agree with the next statement he made.
“You’re going to die and you’re going to die very, very soon. All of us. And so, the question is how you spend the days between today and that day in a way that when you look back and feel like you did the right thing.”
A Meaningful Life
That’s a profound question. And its great news for those who share the good news of Jesus. The ultimate answer to the most intelligent way to live is to know your reason for being on earth and in knowing that, to understand your origin.
The Christian faith is founded on the belief that we have a loving Creator, who made us for a divine purpose and pleasure.
“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
The ultimate answer to a meaningful life is to know God and live for God. In fact, Jesus said that is what eternal life is all about. “This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (NIV)
Ironically, the billionaires of today are seeking eternal life, through AI, on earth or Mars.
They have big, innovative, progressive dreams. Kisin paints their compelling, futurist picture,
Big Dreams
“With my frontier model I’m going to solve cancer; with my frontier model I’m going to solve inequality; with my frontier model will make sure that human beings never fight another war again; with my frontier model will make sure that no child ever dies in infancy ever again.”
How can you be against this?
How can you say we must go slower?
“Why should I be careful when I’m saving lives billions of lives? I am saving humanity from nuclear disaster. I am saving humanity from climate change which will destroy this planet. If we just go harder at this problem five years from now, we can set up life on a different planet and not worry about climate change.”
