Am I crazy for doubting in having kids due to the impact of AI?

Question

I've been thinking a lot lately about the impact that AI will have on our society in the future, and it's been causing me a lot of anxiety. I get nervous every time there's a new AI-related post or a new announcement/release here in HN.I'm starting to consider not having kids. I don't want to bring a child into a world that could potentially be so unstable and unpredictable. I worry that the future will be too difficult for them to navigate, and that they will struggle to find their place in a society dominated by AI.Am I crazy for thinking this way? I know that technology has always had an impact on society, and that we've always found a way to adapt. But AI seems different somehow. It feels like we're entering uncharted territory, and I'm not sure if we're ready for the changes that will come.I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you share my concerns, or do you think that AI will ultimately have a positive impact on society? And if you have children, how do you think they will be affected by the rise of AI?

mindcrime · Accepted Answer

Am I crazy for thinking this way?Absolutely not. That's not to say, by any stretch of the imagination, that it's a fait accompli that AI is going to lead to some future dystopian hellscape. Or that if it does, that that would happen in the lifetimes of your hypothetical children. But some dystopian scenarios are certainly plausible with a lot of open questions about how probable they are. Given that, it's very valid to be concerned about these topic.I know that technology has always had an impact on society, and that we've always found a way to adapt. But AI seems different somehow. It feels like we're entering uncharted territory, and I'm not sure if we're ready for the changes that will come.Look, I'm about as far from a traditional Luddite as you can get. Hell, I actively spend a decent amount of my time on AGI research even now. But even I have to admit that I have some qualms in regards to what the future is going to hold in this regard. I'm not in, or even close to, "complete and total freak out / melt down mode", and I'm not retreating off-grid to my secret bunker with 14 years worth of dried beans and 12 million rounds of 9mm ammo stored away. But I do spend a lot of time just thinking through scenarios, reading what other peple are saying, and just thinking and trying to build a solid case in my mind in regards to what is probably coming.So if you're crazy, then well... you're not the only one.

wmf · Answer

Your kids are going to love AI. Why deny it to them?

anigbrowl · Answer

Yes. You should be hesitating because of climate change. AI is a great reason to have kids. They might get to explore other planets/dimensions or fight a final battle with malicious robots in Gundam suits welded out of old F-35 parts. Environmental degradation, by contrast, just sucks.

brianjking · Answer

I'm personally not having kids, but not because of AI. I can relate to the anxiety and its impact on my life, my wife's, and those I love. Hang in there, are you seeing a therapist?

sibeliuss · Answer

You can't know the future. What you can know is the love for your child, should you have it. It is a great blessing. Don't let AI take that away.

peyton · Answer

Look at Roblox. Kids will figure out how to acquire stuff. I think there will be a lot more gambling.