Iâd like to add a few thoughts and perspectives that came to mind while reading:
âAI-driven research could dramatically reduce alternative protein costsâbut the same technology will likely help animal agriculture cut down expenses for conventional animal products.â You later write that alternative proteins are likely inherently more efficient conversion systems than animal farming. An additional aspect here could be that alternative proteins have so far received significantly less research and development than the meat industry. This means that the proportional progress through the use of AI in this area could be significantly higher â a kind of âCeiling Asymmetryâ. In other words: there is still a lot of untapped potential in alternative proteins that AI can unlock, whereas conventional meat production systems are already largely optimized.
I find the Truth Asymmetry interesting. I wonder if we will eventually reach a point where an AI concludes that there is no reasonable (scientific) basis to treat farmed animals differently from pets.
âFor example, the industry may already be able to pay for the best human marketers, lobbyists and company leaders. AI could enable animal advocacy organizations to catch up by leveling the playing fieldâ If it eventually no longer comes down to securing the best people but rather the best AIs, this will probably be primarily a question of cost â and here the industry has a considerable advantage due to its financial resources. The âmoral advantageâ of the animal advocacy movement is less relevant here than in the battle for the best human talents.
The Cooperation Asymmetry is also very interesting. In fact, the industry faces the classic âfree rider problemâ: Why should an individual farmer or a small operation pay membership fees to an agricultural association when that association will lobby anyway and the individualâs influence is minimal? Industry associations therefore often need to provide other incentives, such as offering member advice, providing relevant information, and so on.
Iâd like to add a few thoughts and perspectives that came to mind while reading:
âAI-driven research could dramatically reduce alternative protein costsâbut the same technology will likely help animal agriculture cut down expenses for conventional animal products.â You later write that alternative proteins are likely inherently more efficient conversion systems than animal farming. An additional aspect here could be that alternative proteins have so far received significantly less research and development than the meat industry. This means that the proportional progress through the use of AI in this area could be significantly higher â a kind of âCeiling Asymmetryâ. In other words: there is still a lot of untapped potential in alternative proteins that AI can unlock, whereas conventional meat production systems are already largely optimized.
I find the Truth Asymmetry interesting. I wonder if we will eventually reach a point where an AI concludes that there is no reasonable (scientific) basis to treat farmed animals differently from pets.
âFor example, the industry may already be able to pay for the best human marketers, lobbyists and company leaders. AI could enable animal advocacy organizations to catch up by leveling the playing fieldâ If it eventually no longer comes down to securing the best people but rather the best AIs, this will probably be primarily a question of cost â and here the industry has a considerable advantage due to its financial resources. The âmoral advantageâ of the animal advocacy movement is less relevant here than in the battle for the best human talents.
The Cooperation Asymmetry is also very interesting. In fact, the industry faces the classic âfree rider problemâ: Why should an individual farmer or a small operation pay membership fees to an agricultural association when that association will lobby anyway and the individualâs influence is minimal? Industry associations therefore often need to provide other incentives, such as offering member advice, providing relevant information, and so on.