What would Karl Marx say about Artificial Intelligence?

So what would Karl Marx, the famed 19th-century philosopher and economist, think of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in today's capitalist society? Of course, there is no real way of knowing what Marx’s thoughts would have been on modern technology. This question serves as a thought-provoking bridge to a deeper exploration of his Theory of Surplus Value and its relevance in our digital age. This inquiry was inspired by a recent article from James Caig , which sheds light on how modern 'conveniences' subtly shift labor and stress onto consumers. (@ Tjibbe Renkema , Daan Ten Bosch , Rogier Leliveld , Thijs van Dijk and Dennis Potgraven you will like to read that, as it pertains to convincing clients of their USP's in regards to personal advice)

So let's look at Marx's Theory of 'Surplus Value' and modern capitalism:

If you are a bit like me, and you have only dabbled as a hobby reader in economic theorems over the years, the idea of 'Surplus Value' might be completely new. However Marx’s concept is actually at the heart of his critique of capitalism. You might remember him as a founding father of political economic texts such as 'Das Kapital', that forms the basis of Marxism, which forms the base of Communism (so you are probably wondering, what does this have to do with anything? I'm getting to that...).

In 'Das Kapital' he argued that the value of a product is largely derived from the labor invested in it, and the surplus value is the excess produced over the worker's own value. In today's context, this theory takes an interesting twist. Technologies branded as convenient, such as self-service check-in's, effectively transfer a portion of labor from the workforce to the consumer, increasing the 'surplus value' extracted from users’ unpaid labor.

Just think of all those new scan portals in supermarkets. The chain of stores will of course claim speed and convenience, but in essence we as customers are given a large part of both the responsibility and additional labor of scanning and buying all products yourself, and god forbid if you have forgotten something…;)

The role of AI in the capitalist equation:

So where does AI come in? Artificial Intelligence stands at a crossroads in this scenario. Could it be a tool that perpetuates this shift of labor, or might it act as a counterbalance? AI has the potential to automate routine tasks, but the critical question is whether this automation will alleviate the consumer's burden or simply create new forms of labor and stress?

AI as a potential equalizer:

I’m an optimist and so I like to take the view that AI could democratize (at least part of the) labor and services. Both 彭博资讯 's article and Forbes article, using the same title, address the same topic; by taking over mundane tasks, AI could free up time for individuals, reducing the hidden labor costs associated with modern conveniences. It could break language barriers and help with heavy data crunching tasks that could solve medical conundrums.

This shift could represent a form of technological redistribution of labor, realigning with a more equitable distribution of work and leisure. In reality and on a simpler supermarket level, this might mean your AI assistant might help you plan your meals, order groceries online for you, mark your path in the store to be most efficient, or at some point help you remember to scan all the items, or even scan them automatically, once you put them in your bag/basket/cart.

Challenges and ethical considerations:

However, the development and implementation of AI are fraught with ethical considerations. Who has access to these technologies? How to ensure mass adoption, even if you are not digital savvy? How do we ensure that AI doesn’t widen the gap between the digital haves and have-nots? Ensuring equitable access to AI technologies is crucial to prevent a deepening of existing societal divides.?

If we look at the trajectory of the developments in Generative AI, it is clear that the pace of change will come fast (and furious). The systems inventors and builders of applications for it, are already considering ways for you to be a designer, even if you have no background in design. Or for you to be a developer, even if you will never write one line of code. This will only continue and become a bigger part of existing services and new services. The question will remain how to ensure access, but this will have more to do with the cost and accessibility of the internet and the processing power, but this should be obstacles that can be overcome.?

Conclusion: reimagining Marx's vision in the age of AI:

As we stand more than two centuries away from Marx's era, his critique of capitalism continues to offer a valuable lens through which we can examine the role of AI in our society. James Caig's post was particularly enlightening for me, revealing a novel perspective: often, what is marketed as convenience and efficiency in services translates into an added burden of labor and stress for the consumer, and notably, a reduction in human interaction. This phenomenon, vividly illustrated in the article he referenced, is prevalent across society, disproportionately impacting those less well-to-do, a point that resonates deeply with Marx’s critique of societal structures.

In this light, AI presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge lies in ensuring that the development and deployment of AI technologies do not exacerbate existing inequalities or create new forms of societal divide. The opportunity, however, is far more transformative. If aligned with principles of fairness and equity, AI has the potential to be a powerful tool for redistributing labor, reducing unnecessary stress, and enhancing the quality of life across all societal strata.

As we integrate AI into various aspects of our lives, we must do so with a mindful approach, one that not only considers efficiency and profit but also the broader implications for society. This includes contemplating how AI can be used not just as a tool for economic advancement but as a means to foster a more equitable world – a vision that, perhaps, Marx would have appreciated. It's this balance – between embracing technological advancements and upholding the values of fairness and equity – that will define our journey forward in the age of AI.