Primitive hunter-gatherers, given the broad range of tasks they had to carry out to survive, have a skill set more immune to the “cognitive” smarts of new AI technologies than a highly educated, highly specialized service worker! This reveals something about both the nature of AI and the nature of the division of labor in contemporary capitalism. It helps us understand that AI systems are best viewed as idiot savants, not Renaissance Men.

As Director of Graduate Studies for the University of Washington English Department, I am responsible for reading every application to our MA/PhD program.  I just finished file number four hundred sixty five and am allowed a few days' rest.