Throughout history, there have been instances where one group subjugates another for their own benefit. One such instance is slavery in America, where African slaves were brought to America to work as cheap labor. Today, there is another form of labor, AI production, where humans are replaced by machines. While these might seem like two vastly different concepts, there are similarities between the two. Sun Tzu’s style of military strategy can be used to draw parallels between slavery in America and AI production today.
The first parallel between the two is the concept of dehumanization. During slavery, African slaves were considered less than human by their owners. Similarly, in AI production, machines are seen as tools that are devoid of emotions or feelings, and are therefore expendable. As Sun Tzu said, “all warfare is based on deception”. AI producers deceive themselves into believing that machines are emotionless and replaceable, ultimately treating them like slaves.
The second parallel is the role of production quotas. During slavery, slave owners set quotas for their slaves to work towards, making them work longer hours and taking away their autonomy. Today, AI producers have quotas for their machines to reach, causing them to work relentlessly and with little regard for their well-being. Sun Tzu’s maxim “the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting” applies here. AI producers have taken away their own agency by relying solely on machines to produce their products, ultimately leading to the dehumanization of those machines.
Finally, both slavery and AI production have steep consequences. During slavery, the African slaves were left traumatized, in pain, and with a generational trauma that still exists today. Similarly, the continued dependency on machines in AI productions will lead to the loss of jobs for humans., causing societal and economic issues. As Sun Tzu said, “the greatest victory is that which requires no battle”. The continued marginalization of humans over machines will eventually cause more damage than any benefits it brings.
In conclusion, the parallels between slavery in America and AI production today are quite significant. Sun Tzu’s style of strategy has enabled the understanding and identification of those similarities. As a society, we must learn from the lessons of our past to create a better future, one that values humanity over machines.
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