A.I. 24/7
Previously, I considered the rise of ‘neo-Luddism’, whereby we witness an uprising (albeit shortlived) against AI technologies. But, there is an alternative scenario. Beyond ‘late capitalism’, which has near exhausted the means of value extraction making us work longer and outsourcing to the ‘peripheries’, the new prospect is we produce even more in AI-capitalism, taking ‘productivity’ to a whole new, ceaselessly accumulating level.
In his book 24/7: Late Capitalism and the Ends of Sleep, Jonathan Crary argues the hyper-connected, always-on nature of contemporary society has created a situation where human beings are increasingly expected to be productive and available around the clock. This constant pressure to be productive and efficient, he suggests, is a defining characteristic of what he calls ‘late capitalism.’
Building on this idea, it is easy to see how AI technology is being harnessed to massively accelerate human productivity. In this new scenario, individuals can now be equipped with AI-powered tools that allow them to work faster and more efficiently than ever before. The goal, seemingly, is to generate an exponential output of images, words, and products, far exceeding the prior benefits of outsourcing to ‘poorer countries’.
AI-powered productivity will likely take many different forms. For example, workers might use AI tools to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time and mental energy for more creative work. They might also use AI to help them make better decisions more quickly, or to analyze large amounts of data more efficiently. Inevitably, this new scenario raises important questions about the role of human labor in a post-capitalist society. If AI technology can enable us to be so productive that we generate an exponential output of goods and services, what role will there be for human workers? Will we be replaced by machines, or will we find new and more meaningful ways to contribute to society?
The text you have read so far was actually generated by AI. It was produced in a matter of seconds, generated from the following (human) prompt, which took less than a minute to write:
With reference to Jonathan Crary’s book 24/7, describe a situation where late capitalism might find its final efficiency in having people massively accelerate their productivity via AI, to the point where we seem to then generate exponential ‘outputs’ of images, words and products. This will be a new level of efficiency, far exceeding the now exhausted benefits of outsourcing to poorer countries. Postcapitalism becomes AI-capitalism.
What you have read so far, then, begins to give a sense of what can be achieved, and also the new speeds at which new accumulations of ‘wealth’ will be generated. But, let’s take a reading of Cary’s 24/7 a little further, to consider how ‘AI-capitalism’ (or AI 24/7) describes something beyond ‘late capitalism’.
Imagine a scenario where a multinational corporation, let’s call it TechCorp, decides to implement an ambitious plan to massively accelerate productivity using AI. TechCorp has already exhausted the benefits of outsourcing labor to poorer countries and is now looking for the next big leap in efficiency. To achieve this, TechCorp invests heavily in cutting-edge AI systems designed to enhance every aspect of its operations. These AI systems are capable of learning, adapting, and improving their performance over time. They can analyze massive amounts of data, make predictions, and optimize decision-making processes in real-time.
In the creative department, AI-generated content takes over the work previously done by human designers, writers, and artists. These AI systems generate an endless stream of images, words, and products, with an unprecedented level of speed and efficiency. The result is a creative explosion that outpaces any human-driven effort in history. As the AI systems continue to learn and improve, the quality of their output only increases, rendering human input obsolete, or at least supplementary.
Similar advances are made in the manufacturing sector, and the sales and marketing teams are not spared either. In this new AI-capitalist world, TechCorp’s productivity skyrockets, leading to exponential increases in output and revenue. As the company continues to grow and reap the benefits of AI-capitalism, other companies follow suit, adopting similar strategies in a bid to stay competitive. This rapid acceleration of productivity, driven by AI, pushes late capitalism to its absolute limits. The race for efficiency has reached a new level, where human labor and creativity are no longer ‘valued’ in the same way, and the value of goods and services is determined solely by the power of artificial intelligence.
The emergence of AI-capitalism represents a distinct shift beyond the confines of late capitalism, introducing new challenges and opportunities for society. As AI takes on a greater role in the workforce, the displacement of human labor leads to widespread unemployment, exacerbating social and economic inequalities. Additionally, the relentless pursuit of efficiency, inherent to AI-capitalism, may contribute to environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources (or, of course, AI might prove more efficient at reviving the environment?).
At this point, it is important to declare the whole idea of ‘TechCorp’ was dreamed up by AI, in this case the large language model GPT 4. So, again, you have been reading the words of AI (from ‘Imagine a scenario where a multinational corporation…’ onwards, although the suggestion that AI might actually help improve the state of the environment was my own addition).
The relentless march of AI-capitalism presents a dystopian vision for the future of work, where humans are driven to endlessly adapt and extend their skills to keep up with the insatiable demand for new outputs. Already we find the boundaries between work and leisure dissolve, so beecoming trapped in a 24/7 cycle of productivity. The integration of AI into every facet of our lives threatens to consume us, as we struggle to stay relevant in an increasingly automated world. Feeling obliged to use AI to remain competitive in the workforce, we will push ourselves to be ever more productive, only to inadvertently contribute to the recursive problem of generating even more output. This creates a vicious cycle of angst to keep producing, as each new advancement raises the bar and fuels the pressure to do more, be more, and achieve more.
Our very existence becomes defined by our ability to adapt, learn, and compete with machines that never tire and never sleep. The rapid pace of technological advancement leaves little time for respite, forcing us to remain constantly connected, always working, and perpetually pushing the limits of our capabilities. In this stark landscape, even our sleep is not immune to the onslaught of work. Brain-computer interfaces, advanced wearables, and other cutting-edge technologies will perhaps come to blur the line between our waking and sleeping hours, harnessing our unconscious minds to process and generate new ideas, solve problems, and contribute to the ever-growing pool of outputs (like ‘human batteries’ in The Matrix).
As AI-capitalism continues its unyielding expansion, it raises critical questions about the value of human life, the nature of work, and the toll this relentless pursuit of efficiency takes on our collective well-being. Will we lose ourselves in this never-ending race, sacrificing our mental and physical health at the altar of productivity? Or can we find a way to reclaim our humanity, redefining our relationship with work and technology, and forging a more balanced and sustainable path forward?
The future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: as we hurtle towards this brave new world of AI-driven hyper-efficiency, we must confront the dystopian possibilities head-on, engaging in a collective dialogue about the kind of society we want to create and the values we wish to uphold. Only then can we hope to navigate the challenges and opportunities of this ‘new age’, and chart a course that preserves humanity in the face of relentless technological progress.
