Re:You have three minutes to escape the perpetual underclass...
by pu_pe on Saturday January 17, 2026 @03:47AM
(#46656368)
This is a real threat that is not discussed enough. If labor could be completely automated, then the value and political power of workers tends to zero.
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Re:You have three minutes to escape the perpetual underclass...
by uh_uh on Saturday January 17, 2026 @03:56AM
(#46656418)
If you own AGI, human workers are worse than zero. They become an active threat that can kill you.
Re:You have three minutes to escape the perpetual underclass...
by obsoleetorr on Saturday January 17, 2026 @03:52AM
(#46656395)
or as a former Google executive likes to call them, "the eaters"
Re:You have three minutes to escape the perpetual underclass...
by andersmurphy on Saturday January 17, 2026 @04:01AM
(#46656453)
Wonder if that inspired: The tomb of the eaters - in caves of qud.
Re:You have three minutes to escape the perpetual underclass...
by shomp on Saturday January 17, 2026 @03:56AM
(#46656420)
capitalism has always moved in the direction of automation, yielding booming progress and prosperity for much of mankind. the technological comforts we have today far exceed those of a thousand years ago, no one can dispute. but at some point, if there are no more jobs due to "full automation" then the promise of capitalism bringing most people out of poverty will start to fall short. it's a real question, what do we do then? short of adapting, as we always have, i don't see any viable alternatives. OP recommending not playing at all is peak derangement divorced from reality imo
Re:You have three minutes to escape the perpetual underclass...
by mlrtime on Saturday January 17, 2026 @07:26AM
(#46657514)
I don't see any alternatives until AI or technology can solve Cancer, or Heart disease or the major causes of death we have now.
My point being is that modern capitalist society has brought all the technology innovation we see today including the best medical technology/care we've ever had.
Re:You have three minutes to escape the perpetual underclass...
by XorNot on Saturday January 17, 2026 @03:54AM
(#46656409)
I feel like the people who post this sentiment have never done any plumbing, electrical wiring or really just any sort of actual creative manual labor.
Show me the robot that can plumb a new sink in, or brick up an old doorway... Because I'd really like to buy it, those things are hard and time consuming!
Re:You have three minutes to escape the perpetual underclass...
by uh_uh on Saturday January 17, 2026 @03:57AM
(#46656430)
Couple years ago you could have made the same argument about talking computers and here we are.
Re:You have three minutes to escape the perpetual underclass...
by petesergeant on Saturday January 17, 2026 @04:04AM
(#46656478)
Right, like programming
Re:You have three minutes to escape the perpetual underclass...
by mlrtime on Saturday January 17, 2026 @07:28AM
(#46657531)
100%
Smaller tools might be better, humanoid robots can HELP with this but it will still be a tool that we command.
I just fixed a leaking sprinkler, would love to have had a humanoid help me dig the hole, help me turn on/off the shutoff, cut the pipe, glue it back, etc...