Philip,

But the connection between present events and the Singularitarian future
isn't all that easy to calculate.

Bush, in addition to carrying out his questionable acts of foreign policy &
tax reform, will probably boost DARPA's budget more than Kerry would.
Perhaps this will result in more money for blue-sky nanotech research,
resulting in world-transforming nanotech coming about ten years earlier than
it would have otherwise, and saving the human race from oblivion.

Or maybe not.

On balance, I suspect that Bush being re-elected would be worse for the
long-term future of humanity than otherwise.  However, it's not THAT
crystal-clear to me because there are so many complex factors involved.  And
I don't think that, at this stage, anyone has a clear enough view to make a
significantly more certain assessment.

-- Ben


-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Behalf Of Philip Sutton
Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2004 8:06 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [agi] Re: AI boxing


Hi Ben,

> One thing I agree with Eliezer Yudkowsky on is: Worrying about how to
> increase the odds of AGI, nanotech and biotech saving rather than
> annihilating the human race, is much more worthwhile than worrying
> about who is President of the US.

It's the nature of evolution that getting to a preferred future depends on
getting
through every particular today between here and there.  So the two issues
above may not be as disconnected as you suggest.  :)

Cheers, Philip

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