I'm sorry it took so long for me to reply for a second time. I want also, and now immediately, to respond to your positive message. First, I admit a deep appreciation for your balanced interpretation of the good and bad inherent in new developments. I admit that my first impression of new and powerful technology is to react with my experiential knowledge that all things new are always exploited by people ruled by fear or greed and by people who need to control their personal environment. (and/or everyone else's). I have always admired how you can be so rational (which you have recently called "flattery." Nessa, I don't think it's flattery when it's a true and accurate descriptive adjective). I who have strong biases and opinions can seldom react with unanimity. I'm also frequently judgmental.
Next I want to comment on your phrase "the arc of human progress.." I'm deeply aware that the arc has always had conflict and war associated with it. Possibly what drives it? Much of human progress has been born out of and flourished from and during that conflict (is that why it's called progress?) Nevertheless, I believe that good does come from conflict (perhaps always) so I should not criticize or condemn it, but instead endure and be thankful for it. Woe is me!
Nessa, I would like to comment about my (and other's smarter than me) concerns with AI. I completely agree that it can be a powerful aid to human growth. But I also believe that, being such a powerful tool, it has a dangerous potential for being used unwisely or maliciously. Think Atom Bomb! Do you know that the military is developing robots with AI to determine whether a person is friend or foe, and if a foe, to choose to kill them? Can you imagine a machine that can kill people? Even when ignoring the military dangers, AI certainly will be connected to the internet. That could turn out to be the first step in AI's ultimate decision that humanity is too imperfect to exist. It could access 3D printers connected to the internet (as probably most are) to produce the robots and weapons to end human existence. What a way for us foolish people to be the avenue for our own destruction.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns. There is absolutely zero doubt that the potential for harm is there and will be there- it is part of the arc of human progress. I have read all about it. The call to action, though, is to learn from our mistakes of uncontained human progress in our past such as social media/devices. We learn by being critical thinkers on the topic and have agency for not allowing for uncontained AI. The truth is it is coming so we should all put our support in the billionaires (there are 7 big shots) that recognize its power and want to use it for good (Suleyman and Hoffman of Inflection AI and Deep mind). The only way to do this is by quelling our fear-mongering, being informed about it, and moving forward with the collective goal to minimize risks and enhance benefits.
I strongly recommend you read the book The Coming Wave by Suleyman. This is why Suleyman says we must pull our "heads out of the sand" and avoid "pessimism aversion" as we discuss AI. He goes into great detail of the risks and benefits of this new powerful human invention. He sets aside a clear plan for containment and calls for it fervently. Again, we have no choice in the fact that this wave is here. We have a choice in where we place our attention and focus.
Lovely harvest, by the way!
I'm sorry it took so long for me to reply for a second time. I want also, and now immediately, to respond to your positive message. First, I admit a deep appreciation for your balanced interpretation of the good and bad inherent in new developments. I admit that my first impression of new and powerful technology is to react with my experiential knowledge that all things new are always exploited by people ruled by fear or greed and by people who need to control their personal environment. (and/or everyone else's). I have always admired how you can be so rational (which you have recently called "flattery." Nessa, I don't think it's flattery when it's a true and accurate descriptive adjective). I who have strong biases and opinions can seldom react with unanimity. I'm also frequently judgmental.
Next I want to comment on your phrase "the arc of human progress.." I'm deeply aware that the arc has always had conflict and war associated with it. Possibly what drives it? Much of human progress has been born out of and flourished from and during that conflict (is that why it's called progress?) Nevertheless, I believe that good does come from conflict (perhaps always) so I should not criticize or condemn it, but instead endure and be thankful for it. Woe is me!
Nessa, I would like to comment about my (and other's smarter than me) concerns with AI. I completely agree that it can be a powerful aid to human growth. But I also believe that, being such a powerful tool, it has a dangerous potential for being used unwisely or maliciously. Think Atom Bomb! Do you know that the military is developing robots with AI to determine whether a person is friend or foe, and if a foe, to choose to kill them? Can you imagine a machine that can kill people? Even when ignoring the military dangers, AI certainly will be connected to the internet. That could turn out to be the first step in AI's ultimate decision that humanity is too imperfect to exist. It could access 3D printers connected to the internet (as probably most are) to produce the robots and weapons to end human existence. What a way for us foolish people to be the avenue for our own destruction.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns. There is absolutely zero doubt that the potential for harm is there and will be there- it is part of the arc of human progress. I have read all about it. The call to action, though, is to learn from our mistakes of uncontained human progress in our past such as social media/devices. We learn by being critical thinkers on the topic and have agency for not allowing for uncontained AI. The truth is it is coming so we should all put our support in the billionaires (there are 7 big shots) that recognize its power and want to use it for good (Suleyman and Hoffman of Inflection AI and Deep mind). The only way to do this is by quelling our fear-mongering, being informed about it, and moving forward with the collective goal to minimize risks and enhance benefits.
I strongly recommend you read the book The Coming Wave by Suleyman. This is why Suleyman says we must pull our "heads out of the sand" and avoid "pessimism aversion" as we discuss AI. He goes into great detail of the risks and benefits of this new powerful human invention. He sets aside a clear plan for containment and calls for it fervently. Again, we have no choice in the fact that this wave is here. We have a choice in where we place our attention and focus.