In 'Bullshit Jobs: A Theory', David Graeber argues that a significant portion of jobs in modern society are meaningless and contribute little to no value. He categorizes these jobs into five types: flunkies, goons, duct tapers, box tickers, and taskmasters. Graeber contends that these jobs are not only inefficient but also psychologically destructive, leading to chronic misery and social divisions. The book is based on his 2013 essay 'On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs' and includes testimonials from workers who feel their jobs are pointless. Graeber suggests solutions such as unions and universal basic income to address the issue of meaningless work.
Francis Spufford's "Red Plenty" is a work of historical fiction that explores the Soviet Union's ambitious quest for economic abundance during the Khrushchev era. The narrative weaves together fictional characters with real historical figures, offering a nuanced portrayal of the era's complexities. Spufford masterfully blends factual events with imaginative storytelling, creating a compelling narrative that challenges traditional historical accounts. The book delves into the Soviet Union's attempts to implement cybernetics and mathematical planning to improve economic efficiency, highlighting the inherent challenges of a centrally planned economy. Ultimately, "Red Plenty" offers a thought-provoking exploration of the Soviet dream and its ultimate failure.
Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg are joined by Omar Shams, the founder of Mutable AI, for a deep dive into Omar’s great piece, The AI Organization. In this conversation, they explore the potential of AI to transform organizational productivity, the limitations of financial metrics in GDP, and AI's role in political processes and societal structures.
This episode was recorded for Turpentine’s show The Riff. Check it out for more like this: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rANlV54GCARLgMOtpkzKt
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LINKS:
Byrne Hobart’s writing: https://thediff.co
Omar Sham’s piece: https://blog.mutable.ai/p/the-ai-organization-part-i
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(01:22) Historical context of technological adoption
(04:47) The Al Organization
(07:15) Economic theories and Al
(13:00) Capitalism vs. Communism
(17:01) Sponsors: Brave | Squad
(19:10) Role of Al in future economies
(20:32) Al's impact on company sizes
(25:50) Al and political influence
(31:27) Effect of Al on legal services
(33:35) Complexity of GDP and human preferences
(43:36) Future of Work and Al Integration
(56:03) Al adoption in various sectors
(01:05:39) Outro
"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg 
