Duvenaud: fearing 'loss of meaning' from AI job loss is really fearing ostracism
zetalyrae · x · 2026-11-10
- David Duvenaud (Cambridge) argues that fearing "loss of meaning" from AI-driven job loss sounds trivial next to fearing death, but the two fears share roots.
- The desire for meaning likely evolved to prevent being ostracized — which could be fatal.
- Most sources of meaning (helping others, being skilled) are also reasons for others to support you, so meaning loss is effectively the same threat as death.
- Commenters add: in opioid-era America, loss of meaning was literally synonymous with death.
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