HumaneRank: How to preserve human dignity in the era of superintelligence

The impending shift towards AI dominance in the workforce threatens to eliminate the economic value of human labor, prompting urgent discussions about maintaining human dignity and societal stability in a post-AI economy.

The fundamental challenge: The convergence of advanced AI capabilities, lower operational costs, and market dynamics will likely render most human intellectual labor economically obsolete.

• Current trajectories suggest AI systems will surpass human capabilities across most domains
• AI solutions will become significantly more cost-effective than human labor
• Market forces will naturally favor the more efficient AI options over human workers

The UBI limitation: Universal Basic Income presents an incomplete solution to the challenges of widespread AI displacement in the workforce.

• While UBI can address immediate financial needs, it fails to provide meaningful occupation or purpose
• Historical evidence suggests that large populations of idle individuals, particularly males, can lead to social instability
• A more comprehensive approach is needed that goes beyond simple financial support

The HumaneRank solution: A proposed system modeled after Google’s PageRank algorithm would create a new economic framework based on human-to-human value attribution.

• The system would allow individuals to grant monthly endorsements to others who provide value to their lives
• Endorsements would be weighted and calculated using principles similar to PageRank
• Financial resources would be distributed based on individuals’ HumaneRank scores
• Those receiving no endorsements would still receive a basic income

System advantages: The HumaneRank framework offers several beneficial features that address key societal concerns.

• Preserves market efficiency and price mechanisms in the AI-driven economy
• Creates a new value system based on human satisfaction and social contribution
• Naturally resistant to fraud and manipulation due to the requirement for human participation
• Promotes prosocial behavior through iterative gaming mechanics
• Maintains individual freedom in choosing whom to endorse

Implementation considerations: The practical execution of HumaneRank would require careful attention to technical and social factors.

• A simple, accessible user interface would be essential for widespread adoption
• Digital endorsement systems would need robust security measures
• Regular distribution periods would help maintain system stability
• Clear guidelines for initial implementation would be necessary

Looking ahead: While HumaneRank represents an innovative approach to preserving human value in an AI-dominated future, its success would depend heavily on societal acceptance and careful implementation strategies. The system’s ability to create meaningful social connections while distributing economic resources could provide a viable path forward, though extensive testing and refinement would be necessary before large-scale deployment.