
Talks from the Hoover Institution
The Obsolescence of the Horse: Predicting the Future of Humanity in a World Dominated by Artificial Intelligence | Hoover Institution
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The rise and decline of horse populations can provide insights into the potential obsolescence of humans in a world dominated by artificial intelligence.
- The analogy between the human-horse relationship and the potential human-AI relationship highlights the need to take the threat of AI seriously and manage the risks associated with its evolution.
Deep dives
The Historical Relationship Between Humans and Horses
The podcast discusses the long historical relationship between humans and horses. It highlights that horses have been an essential element in human economic life for thousands of years, serving purposes such as military uses, transportation, and agricultural work. The Industrial Revolution brought about changes, with horses being replaced by steamships and railroads for long-distance travel. However, the overall increase in demand for horses for short hauls compensated for the decrease in demand for long hauls. The relationship reached an inflection point in the 20th century, where human technology could do almost anything better than a horse. The horse population dramatically collapsed, demonstrating the potential obsolescence of a once vital resource.