2.18.2020
As a disclaimer, this is just stream of consciousness vibe, I have no data to back this up:
Over the years, I have worked with several different groups/individuals on “career” type mentoring “stuff”. Recently I have noticed that I am spending more and more time trying to show people how to use their particular “skill sets” to do side hustles, because I honestly think the jobs are not going to be there to the degree they are now within the next 10 to 20 years. The reality is that we have automated a lot of traditional work away, but now that AI is in the game stand the fuck by, because even analytical thought is being automated. I am not saying this to be doomsday; rather, I feel strongly that we need to take a hard look at what we are trying to “do” as a species and if the existing models work in today’s world.
As uncomfortable as all of this might be, the most difficult aspect of all this is to rid ourselves of the shackles of all the programming we have undergone and try as best we can to look for “truth” even if that truth does not align with our preconceived notions.
Truth be told, in a previous world I would be able to survive - I have a degree in engineering, MBA, Ivy League educated, and a PhD and while that might sound cool, the brutal reality is what I have spent my entire life learning how to do can now be done by a smartphone app - this is the deal.
I am no longer relevant “professionally”; however, I think if most of us would take a hard look at ourselves we would come to the same conclusions.
This does not make us bad people, flawed, worthless, etc; rather, it is an indication that as “a people” we have continued this course of innovation and improving shit since recorded time and now are very close to the point where what we consider “work”, is totally handled. There has to be a reason why we are doing this, why we are so driven to innovate, but at the same time we need to step back and asses things.
I argue that in order for “us” to continue to evolve, we will need to keep “innovating”. In order to really free oneself up to fully participate in the marketplace of innovation, they need to have their basic needs taken care of first - pretty hard to develop some complex program when you are worried about how to pay for healthcare, school, food, you know the basics.
The challenge that I see for all of us is how are we going to ensure full and equitable participation within our society, to include “innovation”, in an economic system that has fully automated human capital.
The time has come for all of us to start asking the hard questions....just my hippie thoughts.
Peace & Love,
Will Dick III
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2.20.20
This morning, I revisited something that totally kicked my ass as a much younger college student - the relation of time between general relativity, which sees "time" as malleable and not relative, and quantum mechanics which views time as universal and absolute. I could never intellectually grasp the concept of time not being relative, and just focused on regurgitating whatever was being taught for test taking never having the first clue. Now that I am older, my mind is more capable of more abstract thinking and I can totally get with the fact that "time" is just a construct.
The only problem is my mind is no longer capable of the intense focus, calculations, etc. that would help get an even better understanding of this as well as contribute to the body of knowledge. As a result, anything I say going forward is not backed up by any sort of data. I am simply just talking out of my ass.
Peace & Love,
Will Dick III