Tech journalist and science fiction author Cory Doctorow released a new book titled 'The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI,' serving as a follow-up to his previous work on technology degradation. Doctorow told Ars Technica the book attempts to 'sort out the bullshit from the material reality' surrounding AI discussions. The book introduces the concept of 'reverse centaurs' — workers who serve as appendages to machines rather than being augmented by them — addressing concerns about how AI tools are being deployed in workplaces to reduce human autonomy rather than enhance human capabilities.
Last year, Ars Technica featured a lengthy interview with Doctorow about his book 'Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What To Do About It.' Doctorow acknowledged he doesn't enjoy talking about AI but is constantly asked to comment on it. 'I made the tactical error of being sick of talking about AI,' Doctorow told Ars. 'So I wrote a book about why I think it's a dumb thing to keep asking people to talk about, and now I have to talk about it.'
Doctorow Defines Reverse Centaur Concept in Automation Theory
In automation theory, Doctorow explains a 'centaur' describes a human augmented with a technology, like machine learning, or even just driving a car, or using autocomplete. A reverse centaur 'is a machine head on a human body, a person who is serving as a squishy meat appendage for an uncaring machine,' Doctorow said in a speech last December.
Being a centaur is generally viewed as a positive thing, while few people relish being a reverse centaur. Doctorow argues the AI industry seems intent on using those tools to create more reverse centaurs.
Amazon Delivery Drivers and Medical Field Illustrate Reverse Centaur Examples
Doctorow gave the example of an Amazon delivery driver, surrounded by AI cameras monitoring their driving, who essentially serves as a peripheral to the delivery van. In the medical field, Doctorow contrasts incorporating AI tools to help radiologists process X-ray images and spot possible tumors they might otherwise have missed with firing nine out of 10 radiologists and letting AI make the diagnoses, with the remaining radiologist solely responsible for checking the AI's work and ultimately taking the blame for any errors.
FAQ
What is a reverse centaur according to Cory Doctorow?
A reverse centaur is 'a machine head on a human body, a person who is serving as a squishy meat appendage for an uncaring machine,' as Doctorow defined it in a speech last December. This contrasts with a centaur, which describes a human augmented with technology.
What example does Doctorow give of a reverse centaur in the workplace?
Doctorow cites Amazon delivery drivers surrounded by AI cameras monitoring their driving as reverse centaurs, where the human essentially serves as a peripheral to the delivery van rather than being empowered by the technology.
