3 ms·

I fully recognize the danger AI presents, and believe that it will mostly likely end up being terrible for humanity. But thanks to my own internal analysis abi

I fully recognize the danger AI presents, and believe that it will mostly likely end up being terrible for humanity. But thanks to my own internal analysis ability and the anonymity of the internet, I am also willing to speak candidly. And I think I speak for many people in the tech community, whether they realize it or not. So here we go: My objective judgement of the situation is heavily adulterated by my incredible desire for a fully fledged hyper intelligent AI. I so badly want to see this realized that my brain's base level take on the situation is "Don't worry about the consequences, just think about how incredibly fucking cool it would be." Outwardly I wouldn't say this, but it is my gut feeling/desire. I think for many people, especially those who have pursued AI development as their life's work, how can you spend your life working to get to the garden of Eden, and then not eat the fruit? Even just a taste.

NumberWangMan 3y ago
We need more people to say this out loud, so thank you…
hollerith 3y ago
Do you regret choosing AI development as a career?
- Workaccount2 3y ago
  I don't even work in tech much less AI development. It's just something I have followed closely over the years and tinkered with as it is so fascinating. At it's core I know my passion is driven by a desire to witness/interact with a hyper-intelligence.
gmd63 3y ago
> how can you spend your life working to get to the garden of Eden, and then not eat the fruit? Even just a taste. Because it's insect-brain level behavior to surrender in faith to some abstract achievement without understanding its viability or actual desirability.
- bbor 3y ago
  They understand the desirability - they’ve been thinking about it for decades. AGI would be massive unexpected help in alleviating poverty, exploring the stars, advancing science, expanding access to quality medical & educational resources, etc etc etc. All of this on top of the more fundamental “IT LIVES!!” primal feeling of accomplishment and power, which I think isn’t something we can dismiss as irrational/“insect-level” offhand. What makes that feeling less virtuous than human yearning for exploration, expression, etc?
  - nonbirithm 3y ago
    Maybe that is the crux of the problem. Human yearning is dual-use.
nonbirithm 3y ago
Exactly! You hit on something I have been thinking about for a long time, but phrased better than I could have. We need to start saying this out loud more and more. There is a problem that lies above the development of AI or advanced technology. It is the zeitgeist that caused humanity to end up in this situation to begin with, questioning the effects of AI in the future. It's a product of humans surrendering to a neverending primal urge at all costs. Advancing technology is just the means by which the urge is satiated. I believe the only way we can survive this is if we can suppress that urge for our own self-preservation. But I don't think it's feasible at this stage. We may have to begin questioning the merit of parts of the human condition and society very soon. Given the choice, I think a lot of people today would love to play God if only the technology was in their hands right this minute. Where does that urge arise from? It deserves to be put in the spotlight.

NumberWangMan 3y ago

We need more people to say this out loud, so thank you…

hollerith 3y ago

Do you regret choosing AI development as a career?

Workaccount2 3y ago
I don't even work in tech much less AI development. It's just something I have followed closely over the years and tinkered with as it is so fascinating. At it's core I know my passion is driven by a desire to witness/interact with a hyper-intelligence.

gmd63 3y ago

> how can you spend your life working to get to the garden of Eden, and then not eat the fruit? Even just a taste. Because it's insect-brain level behavior to surrender in faith to some abstract achievement without understanding its viability or actual desirability.

bbor 3y ago
They understand the desirability - they’ve been thinking about it for decades. AGI would be massive unexpected help in alleviating poverty, exploring the stars, advancing science, expanding access to quality medical & educational resources, etc etc etc. All of this on top of the more fundamental “IT LIVES!!” primal feeling of accomplishment and power, which I think isn’t something we can dismiss as irrational/“insect-level” offhand. What makes that feeling less virtuous than human yearning for exploration, expression, etc?
- nonbirithm 3y ago
  Maybe that is the crux of the problem. Human yearning is dual-use.

nonbirithm 3y ago

Exactly! You hit on something I have been thinking about for a long time, but phrased better than I could have. We need to start saying this out loud more and more. There is a problem that lies above the development of AI or advanced technology. It is the zeitgeist that caused humanity to end up in this situation to begin with, questioning the effects of AI in the future. It's a product of humans surrendering to a neverending primal urge at all costs. Advancing technology is just the means by which the urge is satiated. I believe the only way we can survive this is if we can suppress that urge for our own self-preservation. But I don't think it's feasible at this stage. We may have to begin questioning the merit of parts of the human condition and society very soon. Given the choice, I think a lot of people today would love to play God if only the technology was in their hands right this minute. Where does that urge arise from? It deserves to be put in the spotlight.