5 ms·

I'm obsessed with the idea of Darwin Machines (and I think you should be too). I've been tinkering with the idea in python but I just don't have enough ML expe

I'm obsessed with the idea of Darwin Machines (and I think you should be too). I've been tinkering with the idea in python but I just don't have enough ML experience. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in Darwin Machines please reach out!

turtleyacht 2y ago
Thank-you. Was wondering about your thoughts on emotions. Are they merely byproducts of the chemical evolution of the brain, or are they emergent artifacts of intelligence? A system cannot feel, but we can map neurochemistry as mechanistically as any other process. It would be interesting to discover whether a "pure brain" exists, or whether even its inputs, when considered in whole, colored its nature.
- calepayson 2y ago
  Honestly, no idea. I could imagine a Darwin Machine being a "pure brain", as you put it. While we have emotions because our brains built a pure brain atop an existing and messy infrastructure. Or, emotions could just be the subjective experience of thoughts competing. Calvin goes deeper into things like this in the book, but I suspect emotions help intelligence to some extent insofar as they provide environmental change. It's good for the long term health of an ecosystem to shake things up so that nothing gets too stagnant.
  - turtleyacht 2y ago
    Thank-you for your reply. I think it would be interesting to see whether things get complex enough to where, necessarily running on its own and outpacing our monitoring of it, there will be a need for a governing module that the machine identifies as, well, our emotions. Fear, authority, or what it identifies it as. I assume it will need to diagnose and repair itself, so will need to reflect. Who knows, maybe just fiction.
- IAmGraydon 2y ago
  Aren't emotions just the brain's way of experiencing the pain/pleasure feedback system for non-physical stimuli?
  - turtleyacht 2y ago
    Yes, feedback for good and bad. Usually we want to control or ignore it, by conscious training or its negative associations.
DrMiaow 2y ago
It is the focus of my long-term crazy side project. https://youtu.be/sqvHjXfbI8o?si=7qwpc15Gn42mUnKQ&t=513 https://youtu.be/sqvHjXfbI8o?si=7qwpc15Gn42mUnKQ&t=513

turtleyacht 2y ago

Thank-you. Was wondering about your thoughts on emotions. Are they merely byproducts of the chemical evolution of the brain, or are they emergent artifacts of intelligence? A system cannot feel, but we can map neurochemistry as mechanistically as any other process. It would be interesting to discover whether a "pure brain" exists, or whether even its inputs, when considered in whole, colored its nature.

calepayson 2y ago
Honestly, no idea. I could imagine a Darwin Machine being a "pure brain", as you put it. While we have emotions because our brains built a pure brain atop an existing and messy infrastructure. Or, emotions could just be the subjective experience of thoughts competing. Calvin goes deeper into things like this in the book, but I suspect emotions help intelligence to some extent insofar as they provide environmental change. It's good for the long term health of an ecosystem to shake things up so that nothing gets too stagnant.
- turtleyacht 2y ago
  Thank-you for your reply. I think it would be interesting to see whether things get complex enough to where, necessarily running on its own and outpacing our monitoring of it, there will be a need for a governing module that the machine identifies as, well, our emotions. Fear, authority, or what it identifies it as. I assume it will need to diagnose and repair itself, so will need to reflect. Who knows, maybe just fiction.
IAmGraydon 2y ago
Aren't emotions just the brain's way of experiencing the pain/pleasure feedback system for non-physical stimuli?
- turtleyacht 2y ago
  Yes, feedback for good and bad. Usually we want to control or ignore it, by conscious training or its negative associations.

DrMiaow 2y ago

It is the focus of my long-term crazy side project. https://youtu.be/sqvHjXfbI8o?si=7qwpc15Gn42mUnKQ&t=513 https://youtu.be/sqvHjXfbI8o?si=7qwpc15Gn42mUnKQ&t=513