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The debate over the scope of artificial intelligence and how it will take on absolute relevance in the not-too-distant future continues to grow. Now it is Bill Gates who is giving his opinion and warning that it will transform our lives entirely, to the point of driving us toward an Amish-like lifestyle. What did the founder of Microsoft say?
Bill Gates raised the possibility that humanity might be forced to imitate the Amish lifestyle—a community known for maintaining a traditional way of life and limiting the use of certain technologies—to explain how humanity's relationship with machines could change.
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In an interview on the Decoder podcast with Nilay Patel for The Verge, the billionaire suggested that in a world transformed by AI, some people might choose to stay on the sidelines of technological advancements and even live without depending on them.
Gates did not propose that society as a whole has to abandon technology or that people should live like the Amish, but he did suggest that many would limit its use.
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His reflection points to another possibility: that when artificial intelligence is capable of performing more and more human tasks, there will be those who decide to use it only for certain activities, such as preparing food, creating art, playing sports, or childcare: "We could be like the Amish and use AI only for certain things."
Who are the Amish and how do they live?
To understand the billionaire's example and the scenario he envisions for the near future, one must know that the Amish are Christian communities that tend to prioritize community life, simplicity, and separation from certain aspects of modern society.
Their rules regarding technology vary between communities: some limit the use of cars, electricity, or digital devices, while others allow certain tools when they consider them compatible with their way of life. Therefore, not all Amish live exactly the same way nor do they reject every innovation.
How will AI impact humanity and its lifestyle?
Gates's reflection in his article and in the interview he gave is related to one of his main fears about artificial intelligence: the impact it will have on employment and the way people find purpose in their lives.
The businessman believes that in the next two decades, AI and robots could perform many intellectual and physical tasks, from administrative work to home construction. Although these advances could make products and services cheaper, they could also displace workers and transform entire professions.
"My biggest concern is this 20-year transition period, where there will be winners and losers and a lot of instability, and we have to get through that to reach that period of abundance," Gates pointed out.
As he added, the idea would be to preserve spaces where human contact, creativity, and personal experience continue to have value, instead of automating absolutely everything. However, deciding which jobs should remain in human hands would be a social and political question, not just a technological one.
Gates believes that even if technology ends up generating a greater abundance of goods and services, society will have to find new ways to distribute the benefits and help people maintain a sense of purpose.
His example of the Amish also raises a question about individual freedom: to what extent should we allow technology to transform our daily lives? For Gates, a society with greater abundance could have more leeway to choose which tools to use and which to set aside.
That does not mean that the Amish are a model that everyone must follow, but rather that their lifestyle serves to illustrate that not all communities have to adopt every technological advance.
"We are going to have real choices. We've seen groups, not that big, but like the Amish, who don't live on the technological cutting edge. A large part of humanity could choose not to live on the technological cutting edge thanks to the benefits we get from helping each other or from generating innovative ideas," he explained.
Prior to these statements, in his article The Age of AI has begun. The decisions we make now are crucial, Bill Gates expressed his views on the advancement and power of AI.
As he said, during the transition to the new age of artificial intelligence, humanity will live through "one of the most turbulent moments in history," and added that AI will be "the most dangerous thing humans have ever gotten close to," to the point where "nuclear weapons seem insignificant."
[Publicidad]