If some subset of humanity build a general artificial intelligence, and that intelligence takes over, or leaves, I don't see what gut biomes or ISIS matter. Nor do I see why wonkiness (w.r.t. Glen's last e-mail) must occur within a (sub)population of cybernetic or genetically engineered super-intelligent humans that separate themselves from (or control) a legacy human population -- either for biological or sociological reasons. Sure it could occur. Why must it occur? (Here I am assuming that `wonky' isn't just a word with a purposely ambiguous meaning, but is meant to suggest some sort of systemic pathology.
-----Original Message----- From: Friam [mailto:friam-boun...@redfish.com] On Behalf Of Carl Sent: Friday, June 10, 2016 10:59 AM To: friam@redfish.com Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Fascinating article on how AI is driving change in SEO, categories of AI and the Law of Accelerating Returns I was thinking of symbiont in terms of mitochondria, gut biomes, HERVs, etc. I'm also rather increasingly fond of 1G, so if I am to give that up, it doesn't seem to me that some long-term fractional G is going to be worth it. You are of course familiar with Golgafrincham? On 6/10/16 9:23 AM, glen ☣ wrote: > On 06/09/2016 08:26 PM, Carl wrote: >> One might do well to remember that we are symbionts (a Good Thing), so, >> transcendence for who or what? > Excellent question! It's pretty easy to trash faith in various contexts. I > do my best to hunt it down and eradicate it in my own world view. But one > article of faith I'm having a hard time killing is that if _we_ go anywhere > (including across some abstract singularity as well as to Mars), we'll _all_ > have to go, or at least some kernel of us with a chance of growing into a > robust ecosystem. > > One of the better senses of the concept of "machine" comes (basically) down > to a machine is that which can be adequately sliced out of its environment. > Life cannot be so sliced out ... or at least I have yet to eliminate my faith > in our systemic/social nature. We are a film, a lumpy, gooey, sticky, mess. > >> On 6/9/16 6:50 PM, Steven A Smith wrote: >>> The question I suppose, that I feel is in the air, is whether we are >>> accelerating toward an extinction event of our own making and whether >>> backing off on the accelerator will help reduce the chances of it being >>> total or if, as with the source domain of the metaphor, will backing off >>> too fast actually *cause* a spinout? Or perhaps the best strategy is to >>> punch on through? Kurzweil is voting for "pedal to the metal" (achieve >>> transhuman transcendence in time for him to erh... transcend personally?) >>> and I suppose I'm suggesting "back off on the pedal gently but with strong >>> intent" with some vague loyalty and identity with "humans as we are"... > You already know I agree with you. But it helps to repeat it. The "pedal to > the metal" guys sound the same (to me) as climate change deniers. There are > 2 types: 1) people who believe the universe is open enough, extensible > enough, adaptive enough, to accommodate our "pedal to the metal" and settle > into a (beneficial to us) stability afterwards and 2) those who think we (or > the coming Robot Overlords) will be smart enough to intentionally regulate > stability. > > It's not fear that suggests an agile foot. It's open-minded speculation > across all the possibilities. But the metaphor falls apart. It's not > out-driving our headlights so much as barely stable bubbles of chemicals, > which is what we are. And it only takes a slight change in, say, medium pH > to burst all of us bubbles ... like wiping your finger on your face and > sticking it into the head on your beer ... add a little skin oil and it all > comes crashing down. > >>> so who am I to argue with the end of an individual life, culture or species? > Hear, hear. Besides, death is a process. And it may well feel good: > > > http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/brain-metrics/could_a_final_surge_ > in > > ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
