Does AI Diminish Human Glory? The Cure Matters More Than the Discoverer
nptacek · x · 2026-08-02
Commentator Perry Metzger poses a profound perspective: the value of scientific discovery lies in the result itself—such as a cure for a disease—rather than in the specific human who made the discovery.
Using GLP-1 agonists, arguably the greatest medical revolution in recent years, as an example, he points out that the vast majority of people cannot name the researchers behind them, yet this does not diminish the immense life-saving value of the drug. He refutes the anxiety that 'AI will take away the joy of human exploration,' arguing that those who complain are primarily concerned with their own sense of accomplishment in solving puzzles. He emphasizes that while there will always be countless puzzles left to solve, the point of math, medicine, or even cabinet making was never just to provide humans with games, but to create valuable outcomes.
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