Welcome back to the deep dive. We have a really interesting listener submission for today's deep dive.
Oh yeah.
Yeah. Um, someone sent in a transcript from a conversation they had with an AI chatbot.
Okay.
It all started with like a simple question about food and protein,
right?
But then it kind of spiraled out of control and went into like all sorts of crazy directions about AI and the economy
and even land ownership. Like where did that come from,
right? It's wild. We'll get to that. But first, so the listener was asking the chatbot about amino acids, you know, the building blocks of protein and how we might get them in the future.
Makes sense.
Like, are we going to be eating steaks and burgers forever or are we going to be getting our protein from like algae or something?
Right. Right.
So, the chatbot pointed out that whether it's cattle or microorganisms, it all boils down to sugar, like corn for instance.
Yeah, that's interesting.
Both methods are ultimately using sugar to produce the amino acids we need for protein.
Yeah. So, I guess the question then is like, okay, so where Do AI and robots fit into all of this?
Right. And the AI actually addressed that in the conversation.
Oh wow.
Yeah. It said that while AI and robots could definitely play a bigger role in farming, you know, things like planting and harvesting,
right,
there are still going to be areas where AI falls short.
Like what?
Well, like dealing with unpredictable weather patterns, for example, or maintaining the delicate balance of an ecosystem.
Yeah, that makes sense.
The AI basically pointed out that even with advanced AI, You still need human expertise and adaptability when it comes to working with nature.
So robots aren't going to be taking over farms completely anytime soon.
Not completely. No.
But they could definitely lend a helping hand.
Exactly. The AI acknowledged that even if it doesn't fully replace human jobs, AI could significantly reduce the amount of human labor needed.
So less work for us, but then what happens to those jobs and the people whose livelihoods depend on them?
Yeah, that's the big question, isn't it? And the chatbot actually has some thoughts on that.
Okay, let's hear it.
Well, it said that the types of jobs that are most vulnerable to being replaced by AI are routine jobs. You know, like data entry or factory work.
Basically, anything that can be broken down into a set of instructions.
Exactly. Those are the tasks that AI can learn to do really well.
But what about the jobs that require creativity or critical thinking, like artists or entrepreneurs?
Those are much less likely to be automated anytime soon, at least according to the AI.
So, there's still hope for us creative types.
Uh-huh. Yeah, it seems like AI still struggles with things like nuance decisionm and empathy. Those uniquely human qualities that can't be easily programmed.
Okay. So, some jobs are safe for now, right?
But even if AI only automates certain types of jobs, that could still have a huge impact on the economy, right?
Absolutely. The listener in this conversation actually pointed out that fewer jobs could lead to a decrease in income tax revenue,
which could mean less funding for essential services like healthcare and education.
Exactly. It's a chain reaction.
So, What can we do about it?
Well, one solution that the chatbot proposed is universal basic income or UBI.
Oh, yeah. UBI. I've heard of that.
Yeah. It's the idea of giving everyone a regular unconditional payment to cover their basic needs.
So, kind of like a safety net in case you lose your job to a robot.
Exactly. It's a way to ensure that everyone benefits from technological advancements, not just those who own the means of production.
That makes sense.
But then the listener in this conversation threw a curveball.
Oh,
yeah. Instead of UBI, they proposed a system where individuals receive land instead of money.
Whoa, that's a pretty radical idea.
