Eric Sadin: ‘AI reeks of death’

Éric Sadin argues that artificial intelligence (AI) is leading us towards a dystopian future, where our intellectual and creative faculties are replaced by machines. His latest work, Le Désert de nous-mêmes, presents a dark analysis of the AI-driven world we are building. Sadin believes that AI should have been banned from the beginning, but instead, it has been embraced by society and governments.

The interview takes place in Sadin's Paris apartment, where he has baked three croissants and laid out papers with his arguments on the table. He explains that he was unable to sleep on the night ChatGPT was released, as he realized the impending civilizational catastrophe. Sadin's concerns are not unfounded; he argues that AI's influence on society can be seen in various sectors, such as management and aeronautics. While some applications may be beneficial, AI is imposing an idea on us, stifling our autonomy and freedom.

Sadin warns that generative AI is a threat to human language, as it operates under the regime of correlation and analysis of existing data, rather than the association of ideas that characterizes human language. He argues that this type of AI has already existed for years, and its consequences are becoming increasingly serious. From job losses and social isolation to emotional dependence on AI, the future that AI is building is one of death and the past.