In an interview with Bloomberg, Jaron Lanier, Microsoft’s Prime Unifying Scientist, shared his stance on the intersection of artificial intelligence and economic distribution. Lanier, a figure known for his foundational work in virtual reality, discussed the potential of AI to create unprecedented wealth and the imperative to distribute it fairly.

He expressed his concerns about the current trajectory of AI wealth distribution, saying, “I don’t want to create more people who are just dependent on state payout to survive. I want to create more, if you like, creative classes of people who are really good at providing fresh data that makes the models work better. So everybody benefits.”

This statement underlines a growing conversation in Silicon Valley, where AI is not only seen as a technological advancement but also as a catalyst for a new economic framework. Lanier’s comments underscore the importance of recognizing and rewarding the contributions of individuals to AI systems, particularly as these technologies, like ChatGPT, continue to evolve and require vast inputs of human-sourced data.

Lanier further elaborated on the need for transparency and accountability in AI development. “In order to do it, we have to calculate and present the provenance of which human sources were the most important to a given AI output,” he stated.

According to Lanier, Data Dignity is the theory that the economy should be altered to pay people when data about them is used, or the data they created is remixed. This would turn the data into a property that is owned by the user and is compensated by the company for monetizing their property. Furthermore Data Dignity is a collective societal decision that needs to be made to ensure that those providing valuable data are acknowledged and – more importantly – compensated.

What is data dignity? According to Jaron Lanier, "You should have the moral rights to every bit of data that exists because you exist, now and forever." pic.twitter.com/mo7HZobyyZ

— Privacy Project (@PrivacyProject) September 24, 2019

Lanier posits that the rise of AI should not lead to a dependency on state payouts but rather foster an economy where everyone can contribute creatively and be justly compensated. His thoughts come at a critical juncture as AI systems like ChatGPT advance, leveraging vast amounts of data to deliver sophisticated services. Lanier emphasizes the necessity for AI companies to recognize and reward individuals who provide valuable data. This approach, he argues, could transform the current paradigm, aligning it closely with the philosophies associated with Bitcoin — decentralization, empowerment, and transparency.

His advocacy for data dignity echoes the sentiments of Bitcoin advocates who value control over their digital assets.

Just as Bitcoin empowers users to manage their financial transactions with full control and without reliance on centralized authorities, data dignity promotes an economic model where individuals maintain sovereignty over their data, advocating for a system where their contributions to digital ecosystems are recognized and rewarded. Both ideals converge on the belief that in the digital realm, control and compensation are not just necessary, but fundamental rights of individuals.

Nevertheless, Lanier’s call to action requires a societal shift towards transparently attributing and valuing the contribution of individuals to AI systems. He urges that with efficient methods, it’s entirely feasible to trace the origins of the most impactful human-sourced data, a process not yet mainstream in the tech industry.

Despite his critical stance on certain tech industry practices, Lanier remains an optimist, believing in the potential for technology to enhance society. “To be an optimist, you have to have the courage to be a fearsome critic,” he asserts. His belief is that constructive criticism paves the way for improvement, aligning with the proactive ethos of the Bitcoin community, which continually seeks to refine and better its systems.

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