Ralph Müller's cartridge: Faced with AI, the question of the meaning of existence

The growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the world of work raises urgent questions. Human dignity and the very meaning of existence are at stake.

AI is replacing humans in a number of business sectors - administrative assistants, legal secretaries, graphic designers, copywriters... It is called upon in particular for repetitive tasks that lend themselves to automation. Not only is the machine capable of taking on these tasks, it does them more efficiently than we do.

In fact, there are few sectors that have not at least adopted it as an auxiliary. Everywhere, it is synonymous with time-saving and productivity gains. But there's a fine line between support and replacement...

Optimists warn that this technology will create fewer jobs than it destroys. According to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) «Future of Jobs Report 2025», trends in AI and information processing technologies are expected to create 11 million jobs by 2030, while simultaneously replacing 9 million other jobs.

However, most of the jobs created will be directly linked to AI itself. Put simply, the advancement of this type of system requires the parallel development of professions dedicated to its management. As the WEF report points out, technological advances are fuelling an ever-growing need for AI skills, big data, cybersecurity, etc.

As a result, jobs linked to technological culture are showing the highest growth rate worldwide, and employers will expect their employees to master these tools to an ever-increasing extent.

AI certainly creates opportunities. But are we free not to seize them? It seems we will have little choice but to embrace the prospects it offers.

The question is not just the balance between jobs lost and jobs created by AI, but the extent to which it will dictate the contours of a way of life we have every right not to welcome.

The diversity of tasks is likely to become the prerogative of the machines, confining man to the role of technical assistant, responsible for checking that the AIs work according to their program. He will have the honor of being a meticulous valet. He will carefully contemplate an activity in which he will have no further part. He will define himself by inaction and the steady impoverishment of what is expected of him.

Some people just don't seem to realize the absurdity of the existence they wish for. By dint of «facilitating» tasks, man will no longer have any. The desire for ease conceals a taste for nothingness. Indeed, when AI is finally able to do everything, which seems to be the great dream, what will be left for us?

Is doing nothing a project? Do nothing, but to do what? Some people just want AI to live for them, to think, eat, walk and fornicate for them! So that they can, at last, do nothing. They want to be the cuckolds of their own will. Watching the ceiling, or a series - with these new projectors, you can watch the series directly on the ceiling. A life fulfilled by onanism and Uber Eats. The pizza, no doubt, will be delivered by drone.

In short, the question - so easy to mock - of the meaning of life is going to have to occupy us seriously.

Ralph Müller is a youtuber and trainer. Every month, he delivers his scathing analysis of a phenomenon typical of our times.

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All chronicles by Ralph Müller

To its YouTube channel «The Cartridge»