REVERSE PASCAL'S WAGER
The next round of Autonomous Strategy (aka how to produce knowledge and do strategy at the cusp of AGI) is coming up fast – more information and sign up here. There is already an amazing group shaping up, and we would love to have you join us. We probably won't teach this exact workshop again for a minute, so make sure to sign up if you're interested!
Also, if you missed our Autonomous Strategy Syllabus, you can check it out here.
We woke up today and texted each other: what do you think, was the new and disastrous tariff plan created by an LLM?
Lots of people seem to think so – and whether or not it’s totally true (it was too early in the morning for us to decide for sure), it speaks to a new reality being shaped by LLMs, either literally or discursively. "May you live in interesting times," indeed!
Last week's mass Ghibli event already feels like it was ages ago. Meanwhile online discourse is insane, with so much polarized commentary, now exacerbated by increased economic turmoil. We continue to see endless posts about how everyone and/or specific groups are going to be permanently excluded from making money from their work. “It’s over” for you, and you, and you. In such an economically tortured time, how could that not give you a heart attack?
Another major item doing the rounds is the AI 2027 report, which predicts superintelligence by 2027 (though obviously not without its own biases). Then there are all the people saying “all AI art is fascist” and basically suggesting that if you engage with any of these tools you’re a bad person, complicit with evil power structures.
Now we can add to this the very idea that economic collapse was generated by lawmakers using LLMs like middle schoolers rushing to do their homework.
This overwhelming (and frankly stultifying) landscape is the reason we desperately need ways be constructive, and actually learn, and actually move forward – which is why we started Autonomous Strategy in the first place. We actually don’t think the creative or economic future of these tools is all that clear cut. At Nemesis HQ, we put this in terms of a "reverse Pascal's wager". In the original Pascal's wager, the idea was that it was a good idea to believe in god, just in case god existed, because the potential benefits of belief (eternal life) outweigh the potential benefits of disbelief (hell). In the Nemesis version, it's flipped: it's not a given that AI will turn into a fearsome, godlike force that obliterates us all. So if we're not getting wiped out, literally or economically, it's probably a good idea to figure out how to work with new technologies in a personally advantageous and hopefully progressive manner. At least until we're proven wrong, that is!
No, but for real: reconnecting to the part of ourselves that generates our human attention span, curiosity, and creativity is more important than ever, as is finding new communities in which to share these practices – both of which, we are happy to report, people seem to be doing in our workshop.
And now – a few frequently asked questions about Autonomous Strategy.
What’s the point in anything, AI is taking over...
Not necessarily…Reverse Pascal's Wager!
I can’t make the live sessions
Replay is sent within a day of each session, and the workshop is designed to work well asynchronously
But I’m not a strategist?
We include strategic and creative approaches that are relevant for lots of people in different roles and practices – whether you're strategizing your own projects, working on an art practice, writing about culture or tech, or doing other creative/strategic endeavors, there's a lot of domain overlap in the approaches we share
What’s the format?
It's a combination of lecture/presentation with plenty of time for Q&A (both live and async) as well as some group creative exercises and some self-led solo exercises
I feel like I don’t even know what strategy is anymore
This is so common. We get it, you’re not alone, we answer this!
I’m not technically capable…
No problem, this is a good intro with some approachable beginner's exercises
I’m already an AI expert…
Great, lots of creative/strategic approaches to deepen your practice
Will I be able to connect with people in the group?
Yes, there's the option to meet and stay in touch if you like!
More information and sign up for Autonomous Strategy here.
Drop us a note at info@nemesis.global if you have any questions!