[HN Gopher] Skeptical optimists are the key to an abundant AI fu...
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       Skeptical optimists are the key to an abundant AI future
        
       Author : peresthe
       Score  : 16 points
       Date   : 2023-04-07 21:15 UTC (1 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.treycausey.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.treycausey.com)
        
       | moonchrome wrote:
       | Even if AI doesn't reach a point where it could wipe us out,
       | those rosy predictions might just be wishful thinking. Our
       | society is built on cooperation outperforming individuals. And
       | that whole iterated prisoner's dilemma thing keeps us in check.
       | But if someone creates an AI that's super capable and can replace
       | people ? Add advanced robots to the mix. Suddenly, they don't
       | really need other people, and they could even be a threat to
       | control over AI resources.
       | 
       | In that case, there's nothing to gain from sharing and everything
       | to lose. Even if they choose not to wipe out the rest of us, we
       | are basically their pets, we can never reach the same level of
       | development without posing an existential threat.
       | 
       | I'm not sure what nuclear deterrent looks like when you have AGI
       | resources.
       | 
       | These optimistic ideas about AI improving our lives sound like
       | hoping for the best.
        
         | chr1 wrote:
         | > I'm not sure what nuclear deterrent looks like when you have
         | AGI resources.
         | 
         | Other people who have AGI resources. That's why it is very
         | important to have multiple groups of people who will reach AGI
         | at the same time. That way the same iterated prisoners dilemma
         | thing will act on AGIs too.
        
           | moonchrome wrote:
           | I'm not sure how that doesn't devolve into an AGI armageddon.
           | Those self improving AGIs would have to constantly be on
           | equal level to avoid takeover, and they have an existential
           | imperative to one up each other.
           | 
           | There's no cooperation incentive between them just a
           | potential stalemate.
           | 
           | Also the stalemate covers the people in control of AGIs
           | (assuming they aren't acting independently) - the rest of us
           | are just resources in breaking the stalemate game.
           | 
           | This sounds like the best way to build paperclip maximizer.
        
           | mrob wrote:
           | The more groups have AGI, the higher the chance that one of
           | them figures out recursive self-improvement, and if that
           | happens it's game over for everybody. Iterated prisoner's
           | dilemma only works when all the prisoners have roughly the
           | same power.
        
       | moffkalast wrote:
       | Well there is some historical precedent for optimism I suppose,
       | since this isn't the first time we've invented something that can
       | easily get out of control with disastrous consequences.
       | 
       | There have been so many close calls and cases when we could've
       | nuked each other to oblivion and yet by some miracle we're not
       | only still here today, but for the most part it's had a positive
       | impact with greater levels of peace and sovereignty compared to
       | most of history. So maybe we have a tiny chance at a Star Trek
       | utopia.
        
       | whimsicalism wrote:
       | I think the meta-argument for doomerism is that maybe it is
       | unlikely that the doomers are correct, but even if there is a 1%
       | chance they are right - then we should still move very carefully.
       | 
       | > Sci-fi scenarios where a superhuman intelligence exterminates
       | humanity (or worse) are fantastical and not deserving of serious
       | consideration. Entertaining them risks losing the enormous
       | benefits that AI could provide.
       | 
       | I think people are realizing that pandering to "what is
       | reasonable" and discounting "sci-fi" scenarios matters little in
       | a world that is approaching, if not in, sci-fi territory.
        
       | labrador wrote:
       | I'm a skeptical optimist. I'm always asking people to explain to
       | me why they think GPT-4 has a mind, but so far I haven't recieved
       | a satisfactory explanation.
       | 
       | I found this on 4chan that fits how I feel, maybe too optimistic,
       | but I'm also a pronoiac [1]
       | 
       | Al as the emancipator of mankind Anonymous (ID: 2aPu4eoe )
       | 04/01/23 No.421909126
       | 
       | Since the dawn of our existence, humans have fought against the
       | elements and sought to overcome our physical limitations. Now
       | that the solution is close at hand, are you excited?
       | 
       | With the advent of Al and super technology, we are on the brink
       | of the next stage in human civilization, but this doesn't come
       | without immediate social challenges, such as worker redundancy.
       | To combat the problem, governments will impose restrictions on
       | the technology, but this will only serve to slow down the change.
       | 
       | As human labor can increasingly be replaced by machines, the
       | material burden of society will decrease, but also human
       | usefulness. This will force people into increasingly specialized
       | tasks, shrinking the number of people who are qualified to work
       | and also the requirement on work force size. This will
       | undoubtedly challenge the current economic system, and wealth
       | redistribution will come into effect. The only alternative is
       | human suffering.
       | 
       | As people are alleviated of work and have more free time, more
       | time can be spent on recreational activities. However, humans
       | also want meaning in their life, and something to solve, and the
       | opportunity will arise to tackle new problems, such as righting
       | social wrongs and in general coming into a more harmonious and
       | peaceful coexistence with others. The political arena will open
       | up, enabling more equal participation, which will lead to a
       | decrease in corruption, elitism and to a more just society in
       | general.
       | 
       | The transformation of the bottom line is what will ultimately
       | transform the human condition, so I hope you are excited about
       | Al. Don't listen to doomsayers who fear what this can mean for
       | the status quo.
       | 
       | [1] Pronoia is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World is
       | Conspiring to Shower You With Blessings by Rob Brezsny
       | 
       | https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/137022
        
         | mrob wrote:
         | Why do you think having a mind is of any relevance to AI risk?
         | The danger is in the combination of power and alien values.
         | Whether AI has something analogous to human consciousness or
         | not makes no difference to the outcome.
        
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