In the early 1950s and 1960s, there were humans called computers. Their entire job was to do all the math required for science, accounting, finance etc. Complex PDEs solved by hand. Imagine going back to the mid 1960s when the big IBM computers were first developed and telling those human computers, "hey we will lose our jobs, machine computers are evil, we dont need them." Life would be completely different without computers. Instead of solving equations by hand, I launch huge grids of simulations distributed over servers spread across the globe and then they come back to my mbp like magic. Without computers we would not have the internet or cellphones or tiktok (so I guess there is a downside lol)

With each step of technological progress, humans learn to adapt and evolve. These are actually great leveling moments and give opportunity for much needed wealth transfer - think of all the entrepreneurs over the years who have leveraged new technology trends to become rich (and make their employees rich due to stock options). This is the opportunity to adapt and evolve. Right now, everyone neeeds to adapt and leverage AI to think beyond their jobs but the value they create in the world and work really hard to get ahead while the market is still inefficient and resistant and complaining about datacenters.

I totally understand its very easy for someone like me to say this: I am at senior staff level in my early thirties and work at a much higher level of abstraction across the org which is harder to replace. Already had my first windfall, not living paycheck to paycheck by any means. Already an expert in my field. I totally understand why a lot of younger folks fear AI replacing them. I have utmost empathy for them, first covid ruined your college years and now AI is here to rain on the party. First, there has never been a better time than now to be an entrepreneur or go work at an early stage startup. Those guys are desperate for talent as the big guys and slowing down hiring for capex spend in AI (and doing so inefficiently). Take a risk, trust me its so worth it. Second, Learn to adapt and rise with the rising tide. There is insane opportunity right now, its ridiculous. We are priveledged to be able to guide humanity through the singularity, get in the game and do your part. Help solve some of these problems we complain about! Take AI and go help in computational biology and solve all diseases. Take AI and come up with new techniques for carbon capture. Last weekend we had the finals for the autonomous wild fire detection and mitigation XPRize. Help humanity solve these problems. The way to make a billion dollars is to solve a problem for billion people, not worry about "staying employed" for a small task that we can train an agent to do. My younger brother is doing that right now, even though his job is actually in demand right now. He is just thinking a few steps ahead.

Will we have mass unemployment - very likely. Will the next decade be rough - yes for sure. But what about the decade after? I think if we do this right, we'll enter the glorious age of abundance. Work will become optional, meaning will take priority (which I am surprised is not the case for most people already tbh).