> Now consider a choice between never launching superintelligence or launching it immediately, where the latter carries an % risk of immediate universal death. Developing superintelligence increases our life expectancy if and only if:
> [equation I can't seem to copy]
> In other words, under these conservative assumptions, developing superintelligence increases our remaining life expectancy provided that the probability of AI-induced annihilation is below 97%.
Good philosophers focus on asking piercing questions, not on proposing policy.
> Would it not be wildly irresponsible, [Yudkowsky and Soares] ask, to expose our entire species to even a 1-in-10 chance of annihilation?
Yes, if that number is anywhere near reality, of which there is considerable doubt.
> However, sound policy analysis must weigh potential benefits alongside the risks of any emerging technology.
Must it? Or is this a deflection from concern about immense risk?
> One could equally maintain that if nobody builds it, everyone dies.
Everyone is going to die in any case, so this a red herring that misframes the issues.
> The rest of us are on course to follow within a few short decades. For many individuals—such as the elderly and the gravely ill—the end is much closer. Part of the promise of superintelligence is that it might fundamentally change this condition.
"might", if one accepts numerous dubious and poorly reasoned arguments. I don't.
> In particular, sufficiently advanced AI could remove or reduce many other risks to our survival, both as individuals and as a civilization.
"could" ... but it won't; certainly not for me as an individual of advanced age, and almost certainly not for "civilization", whatever that means.
> Superintelligence would be able to enormously accelerate advances in biology and medicine—devising cures for all diseases
There are numerous unstated assumptions here ... notably an assumption that all diseases are "curable", whatever exactly that means--the "cure" might require a brain transplant, for instance.
> and developing powerful anti-aging and rejuvenation therapies to restore the weak and sick to full youthful vigor.
Again, this just assumes that such things are feasible, as if an ASI is a genie or a magic wand. Not everything that can be conceived of is technologically possible. It's like saying that with an ASI we could find the largest prime or solve the halting problem.
> These scenarios become realistic and imminent with superintelligence guiding our science.
So he baselessly claims.
Sorry, but this is all apologetics, not an intellectually honest search for truth.
Sadly, there is way, way, way too much money in AGI, and the promise of AGI, for people to actually take a step back and understand the implications of what they are doing in the short, medium, or long term.
timfsu•44m ago
copperx•9m ago
Is it a meme? How did so many people arrive at the same dubious conclusion? Is it a movie trope?