tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9219118682651705399.post3305562568025647754..comments2023-08-17T16:41:21.186+01:00Comments on Plus Ultra Technologies/30 steps: David Friedman: The Economics of Artificial IntelligenceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05520520296089158799noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9219118682651705399.post-66929846452570848292011-11-04T15:48:20.138+00:002011-11-04T15:48:20.138+00:00Thanks for your comments Thomas. First le me say ...Thanks for your comments Thomas. First le me say that these are not my words. I transcribed a lecture by David Friedman. It is he that explained the significance of David Ricardo. I think you are right about the falling in birth rates. If I understand Ricardo and Friedman correctly, they are saying that the birthrate will fall when it goes below the subsistence level. This "subsistence" or "survival" is judged in different ways by different cultures. I would think that what would mean subsistence in some parts of Africa would not mean that in the US.<br /><br />As for the progress of AI falling rapidly, I completely agree with your analysis. I do not think that Friedman would disagree with anything you have said here. Maybe I missed the point you were making about falling costs of AI?Guillermo Santamariahttp://www.plusultratech.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9219118682651705399.post-76005121775595255192011-11-04T15:36:48.808+00:002011-11-04T15:36:48.808+00:00If I understand your representation of Ricardo cor...If I understand your representation of Ricardo correctly, he got it wrong. People in poor countries have more children than people in developed countries. People have lots of children to make sure enough children survive to take care of them in old age. Every country except Ireland (far as I know) that has developed its economy has seen a fall in birth rate. <br /><br />Other things to consider; Moore's Law would indicated that the cost of AI will fall rapidly. And, one effect of AI would probably be that the doubling/halving period of Moore's Law may get dramatically shorter as a result of AI. Even without AI, I expect the cost of goods and services to fall dramatically in real dollars.Thomas Wattsnoreply@blogger.com