"They'll automate Ed Witten before they automate plumbers" — AI's inverted capability curve
bronzeagepapi · x · 2026-10-28
A widely shared observation: fascinating that we're about to automate Ed Witten—arguably the greatest living theoretical physicist—before plumbers. It captures the counterintuitive shape of current AI capabilities: high-cognition abstract work is being disrupted first, while dexterous physical labor with on-site improvisation lags behind.
More from AGI Musings
- Coding matters less than problem-finding: the shift from code engineers to product engineers — CtrlAltDwayne · 2026-10-28
- Rachel Thomas points to classic paper on articulating the value of not building tech — math_rachel · 2026-10-28
- Hypothetical $2T Anthropic IPO framed as channeling $100B+ a year into the real economy — sanjaykalra · 2026-10-28
- Biotech CEO: drug discovery will lag in the AI revolution, not lead it — vaibhavbetter · 2026-10-28
- AI cyber-wreckage noise far outstrips actual damage so far, argues new analysis — timigod · 2026-10-28
- 'Enjoy the low-polygon era': F-117 meme captures today's AI constraints — willcb · 2026-10-28