Is the Singularity Steering us Toward the Greatest Inequality in History?
It's a possibility. So far, the answer is yes: inequality will increase.
However, by definition, inequality is a relative measurement. So we can have increasing (relative) inequality, and at the same time have increasing (absolute) living standards for the 'average' person.
Some openly promote the idea of increasing basic living standards for all [which is a good policy, of course] while also talking about creating a new generation of trillionaires [not even in this spell-checker yet]. In other words, radically accelerating the ratio of inequality between the super-wealthy and the basic living salary. Imagine the richest having many orders of magnitude more wealth than the 'average' person. The ethical merits of this feel wrong, but the question is: Is it a good policy if it improves the lives of everyone? [A good topic for discussion.]
Science, technology and innovation will soon present the most obvious opportunities for equality.
The pioneers that seek massive financial rewards argue that their actions and outcomes are worth it. Yet, in a few decades, AI will drive the majority of science, technology and innovation -- not humans. In that era, there is indeed a clear argument for equality, for everyone.
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