> Would it be going to far to overlay the timeline of early computing onto the timeline of neoliberalism’s rise, beginning with Pinochet’s coup in 1971, and come to see neoliberalism in its entirety as both epiphenomenon and reinforcer of computerization?
Yes! Actually, funny you suggest this, because you've got it exactly backwards: the Allende government was in the process of turning over their economy to a computer system, and the first thing the Pinochet regime did was totally destroy the hardware that enabled an economy-by-algorithm.
It's an interesting counterexample -- computerization in service of democratic socialism!! -- but it's just one facet of my broader objection, which is that any political system requires you to cede SOME of your life choices to a system too complex for human comprehension. If you want to get really glib, "a system too complex for human comprehension" also describes other human minds (unless you're a P-zombie guy, I guess). Which is not to say that the creep of LLMs into daily life is hunky dory, but I don't know if I buy what you're saying as the explanation for AI perfidy specifically vs. a yet-unsolved problem of human existence.
Okay, these are fair objections. I wasn't aware of Allende's efforts to computerize the economy--very interesting, I'd like to learn more. And yes, to say "in its entirety" is of course wrong.
On your second point I'm not sure I fully understand/agree. Yes, other human minds are too complex to grasp and living in society does entail ceding some level of autonomy. But isn't there a difference between ceding that autonomy to a system composed of decisionmakers and functionaries who are capable of discerning meaning from one that is not?
> Would it be going to far to overlay the timeline of early computing onto the timeline of neoliberalism’s rise, beginning with Pinochet’s coup in 1971, and come to see neoliberalism in its entirety as both epiphenomenon and reinforcer of computerization?
Yes! Actually, funny you suggest this, because you've got it exactly backwards: the Allende government was in the process of turning over their economy to a computer system, and the first thing the Pinochet regime did was totally destroy the hardware that enabled an economy-by-algorithm.
It's an interesting counterexample -- computerization in service of democratic socialism!! -- but it's just one facet of my broader objection, which is that any political system requires you to cede SOME of your life choices to a system too complex for human comprehension. If you want to get really glib, "a system too complex for human comprehension" also describes other human minds (unless you're a P-zombie guy, I guess). Which is not to say that the creep of LLMs into daily life is hunky dory, but I don't know if I buy what you're saying as the explanation for AI perfidy specifically vs. a yet-unsolved problem of human existence.
Okay, these are fair objections. I wasn't aware of Allende's efforts to computerize the economy--very interesting, I'd like to learn more. And yes, to say "in its entirety" is of course wrong.
On your second point I'm not sure I fully understand/agree. Yes, other human minds are too complex to grasp and living in society does entail ceding some level of autonomy. But isn't there a difference between ceding that autonomy to a system composed of decisionmakers and functionaries who are capable of discerning meaning from one that is not?