Re: Paradox--was Re: Active shields,was Re: Criticism depth,was Re: Homework, Nuke, etc..

From: Adrian Tymes (wingcat@pacbell.net)
Date: Sat Jan 13 2001 - 12:19:42 MST


John Marlow wrote:
>
> > A: Become one of the super AIs.
>
> Q: How do you do this when the first AI decides it
> will be the ONLY AI?
>
> A: You don't.

Q: How does the first AI in its earliest moments, struggling to come to
terms with itself and learning how to manipulate the world, keep other
AIs from coming into existence in the meanwhile (which will probably be
at least several years)?

A: It can't. Enforcement waits until it can - providing a window for
people to upload, and if necessary, escape the dominating AI's sphere
of influence.

> > Ok, so you'll have to still keep working on saving
> > the world, providing
> > for you and your kin, and generally making things go
> > 'round. If you
> > ever stop, you're superfluous to those who haven't,
> > whatever form they
> > may take. This is true with or without AIs, no?
>
> No. A Rembrandt is not superfluous--whether he
> contributes to making things go round or doesn't.
>
> Same for a John Lennon.

Ah, but they do. Art isn't superfluous: someone has to dream the dream.
I'm talking about doing things for pure pleasure, that produces nothing
for anyone outside of the doer. I.e., indulging in luxury, and letting
pleasure, as opposed to providing value to others, be the only thing
that drives you.



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