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Reverse centaurs are the answer to the AI paradox(pluralistic.net)
50 points by jason_s 2 hours ago | 12 comments
jason_s 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Darn, I meant to link to https://doctorow.medium.com/https-pluralistic-net-2025-09-11... which is easier to read because of the typeface.

johschmitz 12 minutes ago | parent [-]

I am reading on mobile and actually preferred the pluralistic link, glad you posted that one.

1023176 an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

AI for his own pundit profession is not allowed but "open source hackers do amazing things with AI"?

He evidently has no clue about open source (people just plagiarize with AI and don't do amazing things).

If he wants to build resistance as stated in the last paragraphs maybe he should be a bit more careful.

SequoiaHope 36 minutes ago | parent [-]

Plenty of people are doing novel hard work with AI in open source: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48867961

malfist 2 minutes ago | parent [-]

So novel the person you link to says he's mimicking an existing CAD software

delichon 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> A reverse centaur is a machine that uses a human being as its assistant

So like a political, military or religious machine does. We're already bred for it. We're Konrad Lorenz's geese, desperate to be led. It's the path of least resistance.

aliclark 6 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm not sure his argument holds that foundational models will no longer function after the bubble pops. There's plenty of open weight models that are competitive which are more likely to exist in a world with abundant cheap GPUs.

hattmall 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Great analogy and really good points. I'm hopeful for a "slow pop" on the bubble though but we'll see! Very nice and so much easier to actually read a non-ai generated article too.

DonHopkins an hour ago | parent [-]

I feel so much less immiserated and precaratized.

Sharlin 28 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

(2025)

mmooss an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

> This is a political act of resistance. Margaret Thatcher's motto, after all, was "There is no alternative," by which she meant, "Stop trying to think of alternatives." The bully's trick is to present your defeat as a fait accompli: "Resistance is futile."

More broadly, that trick is the most effective and important today: No matter the issue, people - including on HN - will tell you how powerless they are and how pointless it is. It's such a social norm that they will actively resist and attack anyone who violates it and suggests otherwise - goodness forbid you have hope, an idea, or want to do something. I see many adopt bizarrely false perspectives and opinions for which the only sensible explanation (IMHO) is they are strong defenses against action and empowerment - many/most won't even talk about serious issues like climate change (see - I bet you're triggered by the suggestion of discussing it).

People never accomplish anything without believing in it first. It's old, basic military psyops to preach hopelessness to the enemy soldiers, in dropped pamphlets, radio broadcasts, through propaganda campaigns. Sorry, I forgot - we can't talk about those things either.

Until people believe, nothing will change. When they believe, everything will change. That's why there is so much impetus toward despair.

skybrian 32 minutes ago | parent [-]

I don't find empty platitudes like "you can just do things" all that inspiring. I prefer seeing a specific example of something you could do and an explanation about why it might help.