Humanity is no longer the smartest thing on Earth — and AI changes everything
By
Noah Smith
Fresh out the oven, still warm. Top of the tray.
Summary
A philosophical reflection on humanity's diminishing status as the most intelligent species on Earth, prompted by the author's pet rabbit bite. The article uses this personal anecdote to explore how AI represents a fundamental shift in the hierarchy of intelligence, arguing that humans are no longer the smartest entities on the planet. It draws parallels between the harmless rabbit and a hypothetical tiger to illustrate how humanity's relationship with AI mirrors that of a weaker creature living alongside a far more powerful one. The piece contemplates the existential implications of ceding intellectual superiority to machines.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledHe comes like a day that has passed, and night enters our future with him.
It occurs to me that if my pet rabbit had instead been a tiger, I would now be dead.
You are no longer the smartest type of thing on Earth.
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