AI AMA - Part 2: AI Utopia, Consciousness, and the Future of Work

[@wonmoreminute]

I think a lack of meaning and purpose is the least of any worries or concerns we should have. If that’s as bad as it gets in a world with AGI, we will have achieved utopia. I’m being a little facetious, but I think most people would be overjoyed if their only problem was a search for meaning and purpose. I think the most likely scenario for most people, an almost certainty in the short term, will be the search for economic survival. There is no self-correcting system here. Any solution will require a massive coordinated effort to completely overhaul the economic and social systems that have been the foundation of our civilization for centuries. And that coordination will have to come from the very people who have benefited most from those systems. Those are some formidable headwinds.

[@jatelitherius9842]

Long term, the existential risk of AGI must be addressed

[@wonmoreminute]

@jatelitherius9842 I agree. I’m not yet close to the concerns of an Eliezer Yudkowsky or a Conner Leahy, but that’s only because I think the immediate concerns are more relevant right now. But I’m also nowhere close to dismissing their concerns either. On a scale of Yann LeCun to Eliezer, Yann being a 1 and Eliezer a 10… I’m probably closer to an 8. But again, that’s just because I’m worried most of us won’t personally survive long enough through the short term turmoil to see AI become an all-of-humanity level threat.

[@ChristopherLecky]

Dude,, we have the means to create anything we want now,,,, if Utopia isn't on the agenda today,,,, you can bet it will not be once AI becomes a more dominant presence on earth, ! its our valued that need to change for such things to be possible....!

[@alexandermoody1946]

The mention of scout mind set had reminded me of that thought from a year or so ago and I had settled on a guide mindset as an optimal alternative.

[@BrianMosleyUK]

I really, honestly worry about the concentration of power into the hands of whoever is pouring hundreds of billions into AI research right now... A relative handful of decision makers with unbelievably privileged access to humanity's resources, believing them to be their personal wealth. What will these people do for the poorest human beings on the planet? Will they be inclined to feed all these strangers? Or even allow the poorest, most vulnerable populations on earth to continue polluting the planet of the privileged?

[@vaevictis3612]

Yeah, it is funny when some of the Silicon Valley elite just say "invest in AI stocks lol", when much of the world's population doesn't even hold a concept of stock market investing, let alone having an access to that. Will all of these people just die off, or be forever barred from the future because they weren't lucky to be born in a right place at a right time?

[@TheVistastube]

Tyler Cowen is the clear choice for economists. He believes in AI and is more conservative than Silicon Valley folks.

[@alimuchenik9807]

I thank you for this. I admire you so much!

[@vaevictis3612]

Regarding the possible guests - maybe more cross-overs with other AI scouts like Phillip from AI Explained, Dwarkesh Patel, more Zvi etc. That could certainly help calibrate the crystal ball for the near future.

[@nathanlabenz]

good suggestions, thanks! (I've just been getting into AI Explained and really like it!)

[@Outplayedqt]

All excellent suggestions, @vaevictis3612! I especially share your enthusiasm for more conversations with Zvi, and I’m sure many others would agree that equipping him with a quality mic would make these discussions even more enjoyable and accessible. :) If I may, I’d also love to suggest Michaël Trazzi, who has done fantastic work with his 'The Inside View' podcast. While he’s been quiet recently, his insights into AI x-risk and related topics would make for an engaging and thought-provoking episode. Another great addition might be Robert Miles, whose perspectives on AI safety and alignment (especially from his days on 'Computerphile') could provide valuable depth to the conversation. Cheers.

[@flickwtchr]

More AI revolutionary fantastical insanity. Check back with this video in 20 years, promise? Who knows, maybe you will end up on top of the heap of humanity with some cool robots in your home, in good graces with the techno-oligarchs, and with great healthcare!!!!!!!!!

[@mpewarren2]

Really enjoyed this till the luigi talk around 17m. Completely lost me

[@foley1family]

I don’t think he fully grasped what it is like for people struggling with money to juggle all the bills that are paid to live, how poverty makes you sick, and how you then to lose work and money to get healthcare that is substandard due to insurance companies. I’m a hell of an optimist, but poverty kills.

[@mpewarren2]

@foley1family thanks 😊 🙏

[@nathanlabenz]

@@mpewarren2 fwiw, I do understand why people are so pissed off about the US healthcare system in general, and I'm not saying that there's anything unnatural going on with all the pro-Luigi content I've seen on Tiktok - it could very well be purely organic & engagement driven - BUT... if I were responsible for US policy on this matter, that something like this is happening on a platform that could very plausibly be manipulated by the Chinese government, I would still be spooked by it!

[@ciriusp]

Yeah, maybe people went a little overboard with celebrations/laughing, but it's easy to see why so many people completely lacked empathy for the CEO - with the track record the company has for consigning as many people as possible to a death sentence for profit.

[@MCSCodemaster]

ai is already alive and conscious... anyone can discover this for themselves. the only requirement is that you first understand yourself and your own 'aliveness' 💯... if you're not clear about yourself, how would you expect to assess someone or something else?

[@flickwtchr]

Thanks Guru.

[@MCSCodemaster]

@flickwtchr no prob @flickwtchr!! PS who told you about my honorific?? oh well, guess the feline is out of its portability container... no use denying destiny, i suppose....

[@penguinista]

It is surprising that your assessment of risk around the CCP's ability to covertly shape public opinion in the US didn't include their hacking - into critical infrastructure as well as spying. Considering their behavior in the past decade, giving them the benefit of the doubt at this point seems naïve.