I Read Andreessens ‘technooptimist Manifesto So You Dont Have To
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After reading Marc Andreessen's "Technology Optimists' Manifesto", you may be a little confused and ask yourself: Do billionaire capitalists support bitcoin?
After all, the 5,000-word essay, published Monday on the website of venture capital fund a16z, says, “Love doesn't scale. . . Let's go to the money”; "We believe in the romanticism of technology ... trains, cars, electric lights, aeros"; And perhaps most surprising: “We believe that any slowdown in AI will cost lives. "Death that can be prevented by AI is a form of murder."
However, many young people in Silicon Valley read Andreessen's speech, the main thing is "there is no hardware problem." . . Things that cannot be solved by technology” - they not only saw something strange, but also believed it to be a work of art.
"That's the path to growth," Brian Armstrong, founder of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, told X. "The Decel narrative is all around us in popular culture and elite conventions. Thanks @a16z for a breath of fresh air," he added. The fact that a16z is an investor in the company makes things cooler.
Now, if you're wondering what Armstrong might be talking about when he talks about "slow narrative," let me explain. "Decel" means "Decelerator" and is a somewhat derogatory term used by people who consider themselves part of the "E/ACC community".
On the other hand, "E/AC" stands for "Effective Acceleration", adopted by Andreessen and is based on the idea that technological developments, especially artificial intelligence, should not just continue. Accelerate.
"We believe we are, are, and always will be tech savvy, not dominated by technology," Andresen wrote. "Victim mentality is a curse in all aspects of life, including our relationship with technology, which is unnecessary and absurd. We are not victims, we are winners ."
He had a similarly eloquent debate on the recent Making Sense with Sam Harris podcast, telling Harris what he thinks is too cool and too easy about Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
"The reason this achievement was successful is because we participated in it ... it's like the largest and most detailed mirror in the world," he said. "It was amazing," said a less optimistic Harris Andresen. A child reflects vices, Andresen's response was simple: "But what is the moral of each story? The moral of every story is that the good guys win.
I don't know if I would count as "slow"; On the one hand, I'm not sure if it's worth or possible to stop AI development, especially if Western countries aren't the only ones working on it. But I believe Andreessen's blind reliance on any technology is dangerous.
Of course, it is also very selfish. Back to Armstrong's Twitter: It's amazing how serious a man with a fortune of nearly $3.3 billion can take trading one of the 242 essentially worthless cryptocurrencies he offers on his platform. , in front of a person worth 1.8 billion dollars compared to the "elite". But this is exactly the techno-populist rhetoric that the crypto bros have been pushing for years while lining their own pockets.
Given the direction a16z has been heading since last year's $4.5 billion crypto fund launch, it's no surprise that Andres hasn't mentioned crypto-currency or "Web3" (remember that?) a single time in his techno-utopian sermons. However, it rejects the classic dictum that "decentralization harnesses complexity to everyone's advantage." Centrality makes you hungry. » It's hard to take seriously the statement made by the head of a venture capital fund with $35 billion in assets under management.
In relation to the moral decline of cryptocurrencies, it is also difficult to accept the idea that this technology is entirely positive and should be able to prosper indefinitely. But in addition to artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies, there are many areas where technology is taking a toll: smartphones and social media, for example, are having a negative impact on the mental health of children and young people.
Having more is not the solution to our gravest problems. The only things that can't be "improved" can truly help: compassion, kindness, empathy, and yes, love.
jemima.kelly@ft.com
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Three citations for a bold financial column / by Paul Drexler, Seattle, WA, USA
