I Think You Might Be Fooling Yourself with AI
6 hours ago
- Richard Feynman's warning not to fool yourself applies especially to AI users, who may feel more productive without evidence.
- No independent scientific study confirms that AI improves productivity; one study found developers were 19% slower using AI.
- Personal anecdotes and layoffs attributed to AI are unreliable—many layoffs are 'AI washing' or cost-cutting for unproven technology.
- AI is economically unsustainable; heavy subsidies keep costs low, but real pricing would be much higher, questioning the value.
- The author admits bias against AI due to externalities like energy use, data center impacts, copyright theft, and internet degradation.
- On moral and ethical grounds, the author chooses not to use AI, arguing the harms outweigh any perceived benefits.