Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI

," emphasizes that the focus on automating economically valuable work threatens societal stability.

Hao articulated her concerns, stating, "I mean, what is economically valuable work but the things that people do to get paid?" This perspective underpins her critique of AI companies, particularly those defining Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) as systems outperforming humans in most economically valuable tasks. She suggests a deliberate choice by industry leaders to automate jobs, driven by a desire to reduce costs rather than an inherent inevitability of technological progress.

Her arguments resonate with aspects of the Marxist labor theory of value, which posits that the economic value of a good or service is determined by the amount of socially necessary labor required to produce it. While not explicitly endorsing the full theory, Hao's statements highlight the fundamental role of human labor in creating economic value and the potential for widespread automation to disrupt this system. She advocates for a shift towards "labor-assistive technologies" that augment human capabilities rather than replace them.

Hao points to the impact on the job market, noting that while AI may not yet fully replace jobs, the perception of its capability leads executives to lay off workers. She proposes that guardrails are needed to steer AI development towards tools that enhance human work, citing examples where AI could improve healthcare diagnostics or educational outcomes without displacing professionals. Her work underscores a growing debate about the ethical and economic implications of AI, urging a reevaluation of its purpose and societal role.