This is a special post for quick takes by Outsideobsserver. Only they can create top-level comments. Comments here also appear on the Quick Takes page and All Posts page.
Epistemic status: Hot take, do not expect many or any to agree with me but it’s something that has been ruminating with me recently and I am curious for discussion.
Many technofurturists/optimist are are highly divocred front the genuine sentiment and societal understanding of technology’s use for the layperson. Many of the people do not wish to have ultra high tech, ai powered appliances like washer/dryers, fridges, TVs etc. in nearly every aspect of our lives. While tech will and has accelerate humans advancement (and more swiftly heighten existential risk), the perverse nature of tech CEOs, billionaires and to a lesser extent politicians through their lobbies/think tanks precludes them from actually understanding the needs of the masses. Many great things could be done with the tools available to us now, including narrow, hyper specific AI models, but the Molochian nature of capitalism and profit chasing mentalities will either lead to civilizational collapse or extinction.
I think the phrase "genuine sentiment" is hiding a lot of complexity here. The vast majority of laypeople, can not predict very well what options will be available and which will make them happier. What they say they want and what they actually show they want by their purchasing actions do not match very well.
This isn't disagreement, by the way, it's just acknowledgement that Moloch isn't top-down or only applicable to tech CEOs and billionaires. It's bottom-up and affects all humans.