Our evolving relationship with AI
On April 24, 1907, lamplighters in New York City went on strike [6], leaving many streets unlit. Despite complaints from citizens and efforts from policemen, few lamps were successfully lit due to various challenges. This event marked a significant shift toward electric streetlights, which were simpler to maintain and had begun to replace gas lamps since their introduction in the late 19th century.
By 1927, electric streetlights had completely taken over, leading to the disappearance of the lamplighters’ profession and the Lamplighters Union. The electrification process was unstoppable, no matter how unwilling the public and lamplighters were to adopt it.
And AI is the new electric streetlight; it can be creative, it can be fully automated, it can work on one or several things well, and it may surpass human capabilities. Yes, the AI electric streetlights will replace the old gas lights that we are so used to and carefully maintain. So...
