Feb 18 β€’ 15:01 UTC πŸ‡¬πŸ‡· Greece To Vima

Who Fuels Artificial Intelligence? The Largest Transfer of Value in History

The article discusses the profound societal shifts caused by artificial intelligence, emphasizing the transition of knowledge as a new form of power, fueled primarily by data.

The article outlines the historical context of technological transitions, highlighting how each major shift has fundamentally altered the architecture of social power. From the industrial revolution to the digital age, value has been transferred from manual labor to machines, and more recently from physical commodities to information. With the rise of artificial intelligence, we are witnessing an even deeper shiftβ€”the transfer of knowledge as a form of power into uncontrollable technological systems, moving away from societal ownership.

The author argues that while artificial intelligence requires electricity and innovative algorithms to operate, its most critical 'fuel' is data. Drawing from the ideas of philosopher Pierre Bourdieu, the article emphasizes that AI is not merely trained with statistical information but with symbolic and cognitive capital that represents living manifestations of human experience, language, judgment, and creativity. The absence of this rich data would render advanced technologies ineffective, showcasing the importance of human input in the AI training process.

Furthermore, the discussion raises implications about the future of knowledge and power dynamics in society as AI continues to evolve. The centralization of data in the hands of large tech companies may lead to new forms of inequality and social structures influenced by who controls access to this knowledge, suggesting a need for societal reflection on how we engage with technology and data as we navigate this pivotal moment in history.

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