What Should We Optimize Away?

4 hours ago

Dishwashers save little time because dish usage increases to match capacity, leading to more elaborate dish use.
AI similarly generates and fixes bugs, increasing code output without reducing work time, questioning efficiency gains.
Optimization often feels zero-sum; increasing productivity doesn't necessarily enhance well-being or happiness.
Hard tasks, like physical labor or psychological challenges, may build resilience and meaning, suggesting not all should be optimized away.
Lifestyles vary from survivalist to executive, with no clear evidence that easier lives maximize fulfillment.
Delegating physical tasks and then paying for exercise highlights contradictions in modern optimization.
Psychological hardships, embraced by Stoics, might be necessary for personal growth and 'ungettable goat' resilience.
Imperfections, like a noisy dishwasher or annoying people, could serve a purpose in fostering resilience.
Holistic optimization should consider that some inefficiencies or 'bugs' might be beneficial in the broader ecosystem.
The balance between overoptimization and waste is complex, requiring careful consideration of what truly adds value.

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