Comments on: It's a New Phil, Weeks 85 and 86

By: MDarling

MDarling — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:40:13 +0000

“Delusion proof”
Seems like a reasonable definition of god. Seriously- no expectation out of line, no hope beyond reality (Go Cubs! This could be the year.)

It seems more likely that AI would start plenty delusion proof and aspire to the kind of omniscience that would approximate if not achieve delusion proof-ness. (Delusion proofity?)

By: Phil Bowermaster

Phil Bowermaster — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:50:02 +0000

Stephen –

Corny works for me. Of course, the danger of AI’s who make mankind “their business” is that we get some busybody AIs deciding what’s “best” for us for us.

Karl –

Or maybe, in some cases, too good. That’s how we end up with obesity and other excesses.

Steve –

Assuming for the sake of argument that God is a delusion, the question of whether and how AIs might transform their own desires — whether they would see this as a necessary or desirable thing to do, and what delusions might be involved on their end — hardly strikes me as a non sequitur. Do you assume AI’s will be by their very nature delusion-proof? I hope you’re right, but it’s a huge assumption.

By: Steve Gall

Steve Gall — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:53:18 +0000

The transformation of desire via the god delusion is non sequitur

By: Karl Hallowell

Karl Hallowell — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:37:39 +0000

OTOH, getting what you want is often a good way for you to realize that you didn’t want what you thought you did. Ie, transformation of desire through satiation. Technology is pretty good at delivering that.

By: Stephen Gordon

Stephen Gordon — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:42:41 +0000

Those who pray or meditate often report that they feel a connection with others. Their personal concerns are trivialized as they get outside themselves. This can motivate a person to behave altruistically.

I see no reason why a superintelligence couldn’t be similarly motivated. Sounds like a pretty good route to friendly AI.

Risking severe corniness here – why not have the lessons of say… “A Christmas Carol” taught to such an intelligence.

‘Business!’ cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. ‘Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!’