Empowering the Sigma

How AI reduces the need for the hierarchy

This is just a brief observation, and it’s one that is rather obvious in retrospect. Yesterday, I published a book that I a) translated, b) edited, c) formatted, and d) designed the cover.

In the past, all of these things would have probably taken at least four different people, and quite possibly ten. Now, I was able to do all of them by myself, with absolutely no need to rely upon anyone else or utilize any social skills in order to get the jobs accomplished in a timely manner.

The same is true of music. I can write, record, produce, master, and release an entire song without ever once trying to explain myself to a recalcitrant bassist or a skeptical guitarist what I want to do.

I don’t think that one’s attitude toward AI is necessarily indicative of one’s SSH rank, but I suspect that one’s SSH rank might have some impact on the ability of an individual to utilize it more effectively. It’s also likely to empower men at the relative expense of women, because I don’t know very many women who are at all enthusiastic about using it or taking action without collective and consensual support.

Here’s my perspective on the anti-AI creative crowd.