AI and Socialism
2023
Žižek anecdotally described Capitalism as an undead, an ever-returning body: no matter how much damage it endures, it refuses to die and always returns, more resilient than ever. Capitalism is constantly on the verge of collapse; its very nature is being on the brink of failure as a structure incapable of providing stability: there must always be a continuous movement of creation and resolution of crises. Capitalism is a system with an end in itself condensed into profit, haunting the ever-gain of money to make money as money is the sole plus-value of life. It is an absurd system, starting to unfold its biggest contradiction in our times through the hyperinflation affecting the world, the "great greed inflation" resulting from corporations overindulging and exhausting Capitalism in pursuing its very principles. Guattari and Deleuze already theorised that "No one has ever died from contradictions", and as known, Capitalism cannot die, but its contradictions can be the leading transformative power. Capitalism will move towards a conversion as sickened by the ongoing overfeeding and, ironically, technology, since always a tool of the system, will be the revolutionary catalyser. AI has been developed to respond to Capitalist dogma as an independent and automatised production technology: the goal is to maximise productivity and profit; independent AI automatisation is the only logical consequence for maximum optimisation, hence, replacing expensive and fragile human resources with relentless machines having the same intellect. Yet, it is a self-threatening tool: how will the substituted working individual be able to fuel consumption and still feed the system?
On the horizon, there are new forms of taxation based on the corporate's level of automatisation (human /machine labour ratio) and the probable establishment of the UBI to ensure everyone the unalienable right to live a dignified life. AI is the transformative tool that will ri-equilibrate society and social gaps by freeing us from the struggle of labour, class inequalities and the barriers - built by speculation - that prevent access to basic needs. Despite AI being a tool originating from a Capitalistic system (and being employed in the system's interest), in its intrinsic inception, it is interestingly placed in an intersection between Socialism and Communism. As an example, the basic functioning of it - at the centre of contemporary critiques as AI language models and generative images pillage the work of others and use it to produce new products infringing copyright has a lot of political thinking embedded into it. The main problem is not that AI steals the work of others to create its own but that this happens through corporate logic. AI is privatised or partially privatised by companies that profit - by guaranteeing access and the use of the service - from the work of others (indirectly). Every human production should be free from copyright (comparable to private propriety) and enjoyable by the many, as any human production must aim to enrich society. It must be the duty of every human being to engage in the participatory act of creation to increase knowledge and welfare (the products of AI must be open access as it is already owned by the society, which individuals enrich the archive, sourcing AI). The motto: I create not to profit but to share to reach a greater good. Under this view, AI is the organised mind owned and maintained by the state - as a centralised power - whereas its production's equally distributed to everyone, having the duty to enrich the shared archive. AI is a glimpse of hope, a first step towards a Utopia. However, many claims that AI will negatively flatten society by uniforming the masses to the same standard by destroying the reasoning of contemporary life made of targets and objectives to pursue and, as such, let individuals sink into laziness. Those thinking under these terms are individuals being indoctrinated by Capitalist logic and deceits, addicted to the Neoliberal state doctrines in which the only corpus of life is to work and to produce, as the motto is "work ennobles man."
How can a factory worker be ennobled in behaving like a machine? The only ennobled person owns the means of production hence the worker's body. The fantasised values of work have also been enhanced by Religion, which played a fundamental role - Calvinism, for example - in the propagation of ideology such as work equal rightful life; likewise, the Catholic "Ora et Labora" (pray and work). Indolence is an attitude alien to the good Christian citizen. It is not by chance that Dante places those who sin of Laziness/Sloth in hell as it is one of the seven deadly sins (also known as the capital vices/sins). Capitalistic society is conservative and needs to control individuals to subject them to the system's needs; unsurprisingly, religious doctrines are pillars of the Capitalistic society. A distorted view, perpetrated since modernisation, that overemphasises the importance of production work and disregards other forms of work; it can only promote a self that can only benefit the collective through material production. AI must be seen as a liberator, a force that will finally let us advance by detaching from a rotting system that is not sustainable anymore, freeing us from the senseless modern society that uses humans as machines. AI is a great escape.
AI-GENERATED MANIFESTO
In the wake of a transformative era driven by artificial intelligence (AI), we stand on the precipice of a social revolution that has the potential to reshape the foundations of our capitalist society. This manifesto, titled "The Era of AIS: A Manifesto for the Artificial Intelligence Socialism Revolution," envisions a future where AI serves as a catalyst for profound social change, leading us towards a more equitable and just society.
I. The Promise of AI: Artificial intelligence, with its unprecedented capacity for data processing, pattern recognition, and automation, has the power to reshape economic structures and redefine the distribution of wealth. By harnessing AI's potential, we can unlock opportunities for societal transformation that pave the way towards a more egalitarian society.
II. Challenging the Capitalist Paradigm: Capitalism, with its emphasis on private ownership and profit maximization, has perpetuated inequality and concentrated wealth and power in the hands of a few. The AI Socialism Revolution seeks to challenge this paradigm by reimagining the role of technology and reshaping the economic landscape to prioritize the welfare of all.
III. A People-Centered Economy: At the core of AI Socialism lies the principle of a people-centered economy. By leveraging AI technologies, we can create an economic system that prioritizes the needs and well-being of all individuals, rather than just a privileged few. This entails the development of AI-driven policies and tools to ensure fair distribution of resources, promote social mobility, and eradicate poverty.
IV. Universal Basic Income and Automation: AI-driven automation has the potential to revolutionize labor markets, rendering many traditional jobs obsolete. In response, the AI Socialism Revolution advocates for the implementation of a Universal Basic Income (UBI), which guarantees every citizen a baseline level of income to sustain a dignified life. UBI, combined with AI-driven job creation and retraining programs, ensures that no one is left behind in the face of automation.
V. Democratization of AI: To prevent AI from becoming a tool of oppression, the AI Socialism Revolution emphasizes the importance of democratizing AI. This involves promoting transparency, accountability, and accessibility in AI technologies, enabling widespread participation and empowering individuals and communities to influence and shape the AI-driven decision-making processes that affect their lives.
VI. Redefining Ownership: Under AI Socialism, the concept of ownership is redefined to promote collective well-being. By leveraging AI-powered platforms, we can foster collaborative and decentralized models of ownership, such as platform cooperatives, where the benefits are shared among the participants. This shift in ownership structures aims to counteract the concentration of wealth and empower individuals and communities.
VII. Environmental Sustainability: The AI Socialism Revolution recognizes that a sustainable future is imperative for the well-being of our planet and future generations. AI can play a crucial role in optimizing resource allocation, developing clean energy solutions, and mitigating the environmental impact of industrial processes. Through AI-driven innovations, we can build a sustainable and regenerative economy that addresses climate change and ecological challenges.
The AI Socialism Revolution represents a transformative movement that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable society. By reimagining economic systems, redistributing wealth, and prioritizing the well-being of all individuals, we can forge a path towards a future where technology serves as a catalyst for social progress. Let us embrace the Era of AIS and work together to shape a future where the benefits of AI are harnessed for the collective good.
Reasoning:
Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform capitalism into socialism due to several key reasons:
Automation and Job Displacement: AI-driven automation is poised to replace many traditional jobs, leading to significant disruptions in the labor market. While capitalism tends to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of those who own the means of production, widespread job displacement could exacerbate income inequality and create economic instability. Embracing socialism in the AI era allows us to address these challenges by implementing policies such as Universal Basic Income (UBI) to ensure a fair distribution of resources and provide a safety net for individuals affected by automation.
Redistributing Wealth: Capitalism often perpetuates wealth inequality as the accumulation of capital tends to concentrate wealth among a few individuals or corporations. However, AI can enable more equitable wealth distribution by generating new economic opportunities and promoting resource allocation based on societal needs. Through AI-driven policies like progressive taxation, wealth redistribution can be facilitated, ensuring a more egalitarian distribution of resources and reducing the wealth gap between the rich and the poor.
Democratization of Decision-Making: AI has the potential to democratize decision-making processes by providing data-driven insights and reducing biases inherent in human decision-making. By incorporating AI technologies in governance, we can create more participatory and inclusive systems that prioritize the collective welfare rather than the interests of a select few. This shift can empower individuals and communities, allowing them to have a greater say in shaping policies and decisions that affect their lives.
Resource Optimization and Sustainability: Capitalism often prioritizes profit maximization without sufficient consideration for long-term sustainability. AI can help address this by optimizing resource allocation, reducing waste, and promoting sustainable practices. By leveraging AI's predictive capabilities, we can make informed decisions that prioritize environmental stewardship, renewable energy, and sustainable development. This transition toward a more sustainable economy aligns with the principles of socialism, which emphasize the responsible use of resources for the benefit of all.
Ethical Considerations: As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our lives, it raises ethical questions regarding privacy, fairness, and accountability. Capitalism's profit-driven approach can sometimes overlook these ethical considerations, potentially leading to the exploitation of individuals or the concentration of power in the hands of tech giants. Socialism, in contrast, places greater emphasis on collective well-being and can ensure that AI is deployed ethically, with accountability measures in place to protect individuals' rights and prevent AI from becoming a tool of oppression.
In summary, the transformative potential of AI, coupled with the inherent challenges and limitations of capitalism, provides an opportunity to reimagine our economic and social systems. By leveraging AI to address wealth inequality, promote collective decision-making, prioritize sustainability, and uphold ethical standards, we can move toward a more inclusive and equitable society—ushering in the transformation from capitalism to socialism.
