Future of Life Institute Podcast From Peak Horse to Peak Human: How AI Could Replace Us (with Calum Chace)
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Jul 31, 2025 
Calum Chace, a prominent author and AI safety advocate, dives into the transformative impact of AI on our jobs and economy. He discusses the 'peak horse' analogy to highlight concerns over human obsolescence and explores the idea of universal basic income as a counterbalance to automation. Chace also reimagines education through personalized AI tutors and examines the ethical challenges of AI consciousness. His insights offer a roadmap for navigating the complex future of work and wealth distribution in an AI-driven world.
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AI Causes Economic Singularity
- AI-driven cognitive automation is fundamentally different from past mechanization revolutions.
- Machines will eventually replace all cognitive jobs humans do for money, creating an "economic singularity."
Peak Horse Analogy
- Peak horse in 1915 exemplifies abrupt technological unemployment in history.
- Horses went from 22.5 million to 2 million, showing massive job displacement.
Infinite Demand Does Not Guarantee Jobs
- Infinite demand exists but work doesn't have to be done by humans.
- Machines can do all newly created jobs cheaper and better, leaving no jobs for humans.
