←back to thread

AI capex is so big that it's affecting economic statistics

(paulkedrosky.com)
339 points throw0101c | 3 comments | 18 Jul 25 19:59 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
oytis ◴[18 Jul 25 20:21 UTC] No.44609364[source]▶
I just hope when (if) the hype is over, we can repurpose the capacities for something useful (e.g. drug discovery etc.)
replies(16): >>44609452 #>>44609461 #>>44609463 #>>44609471 #>>44609489 #>>44609580 #>>44609632 #>>44609635 #>>44609712 #>>44609785 #>>44609958 #>>44609979 #>>44610227 #>>44610522 #>>44610554 #>>44610755 #
baxtr ◴[18 Jul 25 21:00 UTC] No.44609785[source]▶
Re hype: Why is it that so many people are completely obsessed with replacing all developers and any other white-collar job? They seem to be totally convinced that this will happen. 100%

To me, this all sounds like an “end-of-the-world” nihilistic wet dream, and I don’t buy the hype.

Is it’s just me?

replies(18): >>44609829 #>>44609831 #>>44609835 #>>44609847 #>>44609848 #>>44609859 #>>44609865 #>>44609872 #>>44609891 #>>44609930 #>>44609963 #>>44610002 #>>44610117 #>>44610206 #>>44610410 #>>44610656 #>>44611004 #>>44612310 #
noitpmeder ◴[18 Jul 25 21:06 UTC] No.44609835[source]▶
Because developer and other white-collar job salaries are the top expense of most companies.
replies(3): >>44609943 #>>44610178 #>>44610836 #
kulahan ◴[18 Jul 25 21:18 UTC] No.44609943[source]▶
Oh boy I can’t wait until we get rid of the highest paying jobs!

Your response doesn’t explain why so many people are hyped about it, just why CEOs are.

replies(2): >>44610000 #>>44611118 #
fnimick ◴[18 Jul 25 21:23 UTC] No.44610000[source]▶
There's a lot of non-engineering people who are very happy to see someone else get unemployed by automation for a change. The people who formerly were automating others out of a job are getting a taste of their own medicine.
replies(2): >>44610042 #>>44610229 #
linotype ◴[18 Jul 25 21:29 UTC] No.44610042[source]▶
Of course that would cause a tremendous drop in demand for the services the schaudenfreuden folks provide, hurting them as well.
replies(2): >>44610072 #>>44610260 #
JumpCrisscross ◴[18 Jul 25 21:32 UTC] No.44610072[source]▶
> that would cause a tremendous drop in demand for the services the schaudenfreuden folks provide, hurting them as well

You're correct. But it doesn't matter. Remember the San Francisco protests against tech? People will kill a golden goose if it's shinier than their own.

replies(1): >>44610215 #
oytis ◴[18 Jul 25 21:52 UTC] No.44610215[source]▶
If this goose is also pricing others out of housing market it's not entirely unreasonable
replies(1): >>44610243 #
1. JumpCrisscross ◴[18 Jul 25 21:55 UTC] No.44610243[source]▶
> If this goose is also pricing others out of housing market it's not entirely unreasonable

It's self-defeating but predictable. (Hence why the protests were tolerated to backed by NIMBY interests.)

My point is the same nonsense can be applied to someone not earning a tech wage celebrating tech workers getting replaced by AI. It makes them poorer, ceteris paribus. But they may not understand that. And the few that do may not care (or may have a way to profit off it, directly or indirectly, such that it's acceptable).

replies(1): >>44610363 #
2. oytis ◴[18 Jul 25 22:15 UTC] No.44610363[source]▶
I don't quite follow. What exactly have non-tech people of San Francisco got from all the tech people working there? How did they become richer (ok, apart from landlords) or how would they become poorer if they lose their jobs?
replies(1): >>44610922 #
3. rcpt ◴[18 Jul 25 23:22 UTC] No.44610922[source]▶
Tech workers pay a lot of taxes in addition to supporting the local economy.

https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-multiplier-effect-of...