An ecological economist would say that GDP counts the goods but doesn't include the bads. If I emphasize for this AI what the amazing opportunity is it's going to allow us to do protein folding stuff that will solve cancer, then of course everybody wants us to move as fast as possible because people are going to have family members that have cancer and we're going to make a lot of profit associated with solving some real legitimate problems. But if we focus on the risk side too much, yeah but if we can apply this to protein folding that can solve cancer is this also going to be used for bio-weapons that intentionally or even via lab leaks having created those monstrous things end up wiping out everybody
In this fourth installment of conversations with Daniel Schmachtenberger, we dive deeper into the nuances of humans using energy, materials and technology. Human’s ability to develop and use tools is one of our greatest strengths - yet has also led to increasing destruction of the natural world. How does technology intensify the binding effects of a world order based on growth? Is there any way out - or could global solutions just make the problem worse?
About Daniel Schmachtenberger:
Daniel Schmachtenberger is a founding member of The Consilience Project, aimed at improving public sensemaking and dialogue.
The throughline of his interests has to do with ways of improving the health and development of individuals and society, with a virtuous relationship between the two as a goal.
Towards these ends, he’s had particular interest in the topics of catastrophic and existential risk, civilization and institutional decay and collapse as well as progress, collective action problems, social organization theories, and the relevant domains in philosophy and science.
For Show Notes and Transcript visit: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/42-daniel-schmachtenberger