Re: electronic intelligence and ethics

From: Michael S. Lorrey (retroman@turbont.net)
Date: Wed Feb 23 2000 - 07:56:05 MST


Zero Powers wrote:

> >From: "Michael S. Lorrey" <retroman@turbont.net>
> >
> > > But what else (if anything) will motivate them? Will there be any
> >"good"
> > > for them other than information? Any "evil" other than ignorance? Will
> > > they care at all about such trivialities as emotion, fairness,
> >compassion
> > > and pain? Whether or not I want to survive the ascendancy of strong EI
> >will
> > > depend largely upon this question. Unfortunately I'll never know the
> > > answers unless and until I survive to that time. Or unless I am
> >persuaded
> > > by the musings of this list. I can't wait to hear your thoughts.
> >
> >Based on my arguments above, I think that since uploaded humans will
> >continue to
> >think of themselves as human, that their motivations will be very similar
> >as
> >they are now, there will merely be increased growth and maturity in an
> >uploaded
> >humans thinking. Because the uploaded human will have greater access to
> >information and capacity to make rational decisions, human society will
> >become
> >closer to the Baysean ideal, so less strife and stupidity will of course
> >occur
> >(except that by those who refuse to augment themselves, of course),
> >although I
> >don't know if it will dissapear entirely.
>
> So do you anticipate that strong EI (or AI if you prefer) will not precede
> uploaded human minds? It seems to me (granted I am *not* a scientist) that
> we are much closer to EI than to uploading brain patterns. Also seems to me
> that once EI becomes strong enough it will be able to "take over." At that
> point we may very well not be able to upload our minds without the
> permission of the EI running the show. From your comments it seems that you
> feel strong EI will only come after, or even as the result of, human mind
> uploading?

Because I see 'uploading' not as an actual matter of scanning the brain and
transferring its contents, like a drive copy, but as a mere matter of slow
migration, with the mind concious throughout, and incorporating the new
electronic capacity as its own throughout the process. The best analogy I can
make is this:

I have a Jeep Cherokee. Eventually, all of its parts will wear out, but because
I only replace one at a time, it is still the same Cherokee 4x4 now as it was
when it was new, and eventually when it is comprised entirely of replacement
parts, it will still be the 'same' Cherokee, as far as the rest of the world is
concerned. Many of the replacement parts are not original designs, but later
designs that are suitable substitutes for the originals. If I add running bars,
a Thule rack, a better stereo, a car phone, satellite navigation, rally lights,
and a lift kit, it will still be the same Jeep, just a more capable Jeep.

So, I do think that since we now have direct neural implant technologies, while
we have no real AI technologies (I don't consider current AI to be anywhere near
human leve intelligence, more on the order of a parrot.), then I think that we
will develop AI as an equal or better intelligence than man as a result of our
migratory augmentation method of upload.

Mike Lorrey



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