This is the way the world ends: Not with a bang, but with a permanent AI underclass. Or, at least, writes Eric Levitz, that might be the most likely of a long list of “AI apocalypse” scenarios.
Such an outcome, which Eric describes as “fully automated neofeudalism,” would see AI obviate much of the need for human labor, securing the power of a small caste of oligarchical elites over, well, all of us.
Luckily, that kind of future isn’t yet close to becoming a reality, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth entertaining. Now — and not after the superintelligent machines arrive — Eric argues, is the best time to think about how to protect democracy from an artificial general intelligence future.
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—Elias Isquith, senior editor for policy, politics, and ideas
