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My question is precisely that, what will we want to do if computers do everything, including writing, reading, critiquing, buying, selling and stealing art?

We will be left to ponder our existence and meaning in the vastness of the cosmos? Nope: in this hypothetical future, computers will also be better at that than us.

I'm not threatened by computers if they can design a car, or write a better programs (though my livelihood is threatened for obvious reasons). But why would I want computers writing novels? What is there for me to gain, as a human?

(I'm specifically excluding the "wow, this tech is amazing" angle from it. I'm also amazed by ChatGPT.)



If computers are better at writing novels than humans then what you gain is access to better novels.

I enjoy reading novels, and I wouldn't refuse to read an excellent one because a computer wrote it.


I understand your point of view, but writing novels is an activity that is enjoyable for humans. This to me feels like "we developed an AI that enjoys food better than humans": do we need an automated improvement in food-enjoyment?

Think about whatever you enjoy doing: what if computers do it better, and become cheaper and faster at it, and you are no longer necessary? Sure, you could do it for your mom or partner to see, I guess. Disappointing, isn't it? Now repeat for every conceivable hobby or human activity. Do you see where I'm going?

> access to better novels

Are current novels bad? Do we have a lack of novels? Does the process of novel-writing need "disruption" by AI? Is mankind complaining, "if only we had more and better novels"?




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