Tamay Besiroglu, a famed AI researcher, launched Mechanize, a startup aiming for the complete automation of all work, sparking significant controversy. The announcement drew criticism for its implications and potential impact on the workforce. The stated goal is to replace all human workers with AI agents.
Besiroglu calculated Mechanize’s market potential based on global wages, highlighting the enormous scale of the ambition. The response was largely negative, with concerns raised about job displacement and the potential for economic inequality. Critics also questioned the perceived conflict of interest with Besiroglu's role in Epoch, an AI research institute.
Epoch, Besiroglu's research institute, has faced criticism before for a lack of transparency regarding OpenAI funding. This controversy fueled further concerns surrounding Mechanize's launch. The startup boasts high-profile investors, though not all responded to requests for comment.
Besiroglu argues that complete automation will lead to economic growth and improved standards of living, referencing his research paper on the topic. He acknowledges the current limitations of AI agents, but points to ongoing efforts by various companies to address these issues, including his own efforts at Mechanize. The article ends by noting that while many companies are working to improve AI agents, Besiroglu is still working on the fixes.