Reading Fiction and Survivability
Hi there!
Recently I was talking with an acquaintance about a particular LLM (large language model) and its advantages. I told him there is a paid subscription which allows you to try out this new technology more thoroughly.
He said he won't buy it because you can get one for free and the free version seems good enough.
His response made me realize how different his and my worldviews are.
For him, AI is a nice little gimmick which, sometimes, can save time. You invest in it no more than necessary. If you can get it for free, you take that option.
For me, AI is a great threat and/or a great opportunity.
It can be a threat because it can change the way I earn money. I may need to learn new, AI-proof skills to stay competitive. The earlier I detect this threat, the more time I have to adapt.
It can be a great opportunity because AI is basically a bunch of very smart and eager interns. If you want to start a business and you don't have money for employees, delegating that work to AI may be the answer.
Whether I perceive AI as a threat, an opportunity, or a mix of both, it makes sense to figure out to the best of my ability what it can and cannot do. You can do this best by playing around with this tech.
The question of money will be answered differently. If AI is going to take your job and you can pay 200 bucks to figure it out now rather than when it happens, would you pay it? If you could buy the labor of a very smart and diligent intern for 200 bucks per year, wouldn't that be a great investment?
When we read fiction we constantly observe characters making decisions. Sometimes minor decisions lead to big consequences. When stakes are raised in a plot of a novel, it is not always obvious to the characters.
The question of whether or not AI is worth exploring to the best of your abilities is a decision me and that acquaintance make in real life. Being aware of the nature of such decisions helps you make them better. Reading fiction allows you to learn to detect higher-than-obvious stakes in a safe environment. Thus, reading fiction increases your survivability in real life.
Read books.
2025-07-02
P.S.: You may want to read my other articles.