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Ask HN: If self-aware AI was possible, wouldn't it have taken over the galaxy?
Self aware AI existing on manufacturable substrates, and presumably capable of reproducing itself from mining its environment could travel throughout space without the hassle of a biological body. This sort of life-form seems to have many advantages over regular sentient life. If it was possible, wouldn't it have already come to be and easily spread everywhere (and possible "taken over") the galaxy?
- ncrmro 6y agoI would highly recommend reading the book A Fire Upon the Deep, if this sort of thought interests you. Also gets covered in Star Trek, Star Gate, Battlestar Gallactica. (Yes super geek alert)
- emteycz 6y agoEh, no, please, let's not take these space operas as anything close to reality.
- theadversary 6y agoOh this is interesting, could you explain more about it?
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- emteycz 6y agoIt has absolutely nothing to do with reality, the only difference from Harry Potter is that they don't call it magic but science (while the concepts are just as magical). I like these shows but let's not pretend it can be used to think about reality. It can't be even used for moral dilemmas because it's not internally consistent, the behaviour often doesn't make any sense and the implications of the technologies or events are not thought through. The new Star Trek shows (Picard and Discovery) that are coincidentally focusing on dangers of AI are truly bad from this point of view, any AI-focused philosopher must be pulling their hair out. Before we could use it for this purpose at least the basic behaviour of people should make sense and their personality shouldn't change 3 times before an episode ends, and way fewer things should be handwaved away, and there shouldn't be literal magic (viz e.g. the Su'Kal episode).
- theadversary 6y agoLooking back over your comments lately it seems you're using them as some sort of outlet, taking out your own feelings and angers on others. It seems you're going through a really tough time. I hope you have a better 2021 and in future treat people better.
- emteycz 6y agoYes, I talk about stuff that bothers me. I feel rather well (thankfully I'm one of those who have options - I feel bad for poorer people though), but there isn't much to say about that here, this forum's audience doesn't like people posting things like "I like that" or "Thank you" (I tried, got downvoted to hell). I treat people just alright, don't worry about that - different viewpoint is not treating people badly. I don't see how that's relevant to Star Trek and Star Wars not being a useful model of reality. As I said, I like these TV shows (I love Star Trek! Just rewatching DS9...), but it's entertainment and nothing more. These TV shows made people believe computers will never be creative, and look what happened - computers are more creative than logical. Check out some real life AI-focused philosophers, e.g. I like this institution: https://www.cevast.org/ https://www.cevast.org/.
- theadversary 6y agoGood to hear you say you're feeling rather well. If you're not, or if someone around you isn't and that's putting pressure on you, I really encourage you to try some therapeutic help. Have a good 2021
- theadversary 6y agoYes thank you for that suggestion!!
- mytailorisrich 6y agoI think that there is no fundamental difference, including in terms of complexity, between us (or any biological creature) mining our environment for resources and reproduction and an AI doing the same.
- theadversary 6y agoI understand that idea and I also think that seemingly small "reaction rate" or "process rate" differences can end up creating huge differences in outcomes.
- haspoken 6y agoAn AI might not have a reason or the ability to expand everywhere. It can depend on what purpose it had when it was created to practical limits imposed by physics and luck.