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> The dawn of conscious machines will introduce vast new potential for suffering in the world, suffering we might not even be able to recognize, and which might
by malwarebytess 3y ago
> The dawn of conscious machines will introduce vast new potential for suffering in the world, suffering we might not even be able to recognize, and which might flicker into existence in innumerable server farms at the click of a mouse.
May as well say the same of human reproduction, or animal husbandry (especially of the industrialized/factory kind.) We already assume these powers for ourselves, collectively, at the scale of billions, what difference does it make if it's consciousness in silicon instead of flesh?
Civilization, society, progress, all of it is fueled by the suffering of living things -- human and not.
- afastow 3y agoThere is a difference, though it's horrifying. It's that in our case the amount any one person or animal can suffer is unspeakable but ultimately finite because we will eventually die. There will be no such guarantee for digital consciousnesses if they ever come into existence. If the amount we can suffer is unspeakable, the amount they could is unthinkable. Here's a short story worth reading on the topic: https://qntm.org/mmacevedo https://qntm.org/mmacevedo