[RateMyPE]

The biggest problem we have to solve is how to make the benefits of automation reach everyone. And since the next step in automation seems to be AI, I think that using the washing machine analogy can be great.

As the article says, around 2 billion people have washing machines. That leaves around 6 billion having to wash their clothes by hand. What would the solution be? Would giving a washing machine to every household in the world solve the problem?

It's hard to imagine that it would, since there is still a ton of infrastructure needed to run the washing machine. How many of those 6 billion people live in places with functional water and electricity networks?

In my opinion what many AI companies are doing is basically that, trying to provide everyone (in the Western world at least), with a metaphorical washing machine. But the infrastructure, resources and knowledge to effectively use generative AI aren't available to most of the population or small and medium enterprises.

This will further the gap between rich and poor, and the gap between countries that use AI and countries that refuse or can't afford to use it.

[Juliate]

The difference, in the analogy, is that a washing machine is a solution to a specific problem, that has evolved through time and infrastructure development.

AI (and computer technology) is more like electricity in this case. A raw technology that per se does not solve any specific problem, but only if/when applied within a specific infrastructure around it.