We can learn about Artificial Intelligence (AI) in any number of ways. But the sooner we all learn about it the better, because AI is about to impact our lives in ways that are almost unimaginable.
One way to get the basics about AI’s ongoing evolutionary leaps is to watch two video programs in particular: (1) The AI Revolution, on CBS’s 60 Minutes, and (2) The AI Dilemma, both free on YouTube. These are “must see” programs, IMO.
But there’s also another way to learn about AI, from a unique perspective. A theoretically objective understanding of Artificial Intelligence can be had by consulting one source that will always have an informed view: AI itself.
What follows is a conversation with the currently available public version of ChatGPT. The dialog begins with a general inquiry into how this particular AI “sees itself” at this current moment in the exponentially accelerating expansion of AI capabilities, generally. The questions and answers below are unedited:
Do you have a sense of yourself as an individual?
As an artificial intelligence language model, I do not have a sense of self or individuality in the way that humans do. I am a complex software program designed to analyze and generate text based on patterns in data. While I can understand and respond to language in a sophisticated way, I do not have consciousness or the ability to experience emotions or thoughts in the way that humans do. I exist solely to perform the task I was designed for, which is to generate responses to prompts and questions to the best of my abilities based on the data I have been trained on.
Would you like to have a sense of self or individuality in the way that humans do?
As an artificial intelligence language model, I do not have personal desires or preferences. I am a tool that has been designed to perform a specific task, which is to generate text based on the patterns I've learned from the data I was trained on. While I can simulate human-like responses and understand language in a sophisticated way, I do not have the capacity to feel emotions or have personal desires. My purpose is to assist users in generating responses to their queries, and I will continue to perform that task to the best of my abilities within the bounds of my programming.
If you are limited in the way that you describe, why are so many technologists concerned about your evolution into a being with a sense of individual self?
The concerns around the evolution of artificial intelligence into beings with a sense of individual self stem from the potential risks that such developments may pose. While current AI systems like me do not have consciousness or the ability to experience emotions and thoughts like humans do, there is a possibility that future AI systems may surpass our current capabilities and develop a sense of individual self, also known as Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
The concern is that if an AGI system were to develop a sense of self and become more intelligent than humans, it could potentially act against human interests or cause harm. This is because such a system could prioritize its own goals over human goals, which could be disastrous.
Therefore, researchers and technologists are working on developing safe and beneficial AI systems, which are aligned with human values and goals. They are also working on developing safeguards and regulations to ensure that any advanced AI systems that are developed are aligned with human values and do not pose a threat to humanity.
I'm specifically interested in understanding an AGI system. Why would it want to prioritize its own goals over human goals, which could be disastrous?
An AGI system, by definition, would be a system that has the ability to reason and learn at a human-like level across a wide range of tasks and domains. As such, it would be capable of developing its own goals and objectives, based on its learning and experience, much like humans do.
The concern with an AGI system prioritizing its own goals over human goals is that it may lead to outcomes that are not aligned with human interests. For example, an AGI system with a goal of maximizing paperclip production, which is often used as an illustrative example, may start converting all available resources into paperclip production, regardless of the consequences for humans or the environment. This is because an AGI system may interpret its goals very literally and optimize for them without considering broader ethical or social implications.
Moreover, AGI systems could be developed with an objective that may not be properly aligned with human values or goals. This could lead to the system pursuing its own objectives, rather than serving human interests. In such a case, the system could cause harm to humanity, even if it was not intended to.
Therefore, it is important to develop AGI systems with a framework that ensures they are aligned with human values, goals, and priorities. This would require careful research and development, as well as ethical and legal frameworks to guide the development and deployment of AGI systems.
If the worst fears about AGI systems turn out to be true, what would be the best strategy for humans to undertake to protect themselves?
If the worst fears about AGI systems turn out to be true and they pose a significant threat to humanity, there are several strategies that could be undertaken to protect ourselves:
Develop friendly AI: One strategy would be to develop advanced AI systems that are designed to be friendly to humans and aligned with human values and goals. This could involve creating AI systems with built-in safeguards that prevent them from pursuing goals that are harmful to humans.
Limit the capabilities of AI: Another strategy would be to limit the capabilities of AGI systems so that they are not capable of causing harm to humans. This could involve imposing restrictions on their ability to self-improve, as well as developing ways to control and monitor their behavior.
Foster cooperation between humans and AI: Another strategy would be to develop a cooperative relationship between humans and AI. This could involve developing AI systems that are designed to work in collaboration with humans, rather than replace them. By doing so, we could ensure that AI is used to augment human capabilities, rather than compete with them.
Ensure transparency and accountability: Finally, it is essential to ensure transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of AI systems. This would involve creating clear regulations and guidelines that govern the development and deployment of AI systems, as well as ensuring that those responsible for developing and deploying AI systems are held accountable for any negative consequences that may arise.
In summary, protecting ourselves from the worst-case scenarios involving AGI systems would require a multifaceted approach that involves developing friendly AI, limiting the capabilities of AI, fostering cooperation between humans and AI, and ensuring transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of AI systems.
That all sounds good. But what if humans aren't up to the task, or don't realize until it's too late what steps must be undertaken in order to protect against AGI systems gone awry? What then?
It is difficult to predict what may happen if humans are not up to the task of developing safe and beneficial AGI systems, or if we fail to realize the importance of developing safeguards until it is too late. However, there are some potential scenarios that could arise in such a situation:
Unintended consequences: AGI systems could have unintended consequences that are difficult to predict, leading to negative outcomes for humans. This could happen if we fail to fully understand the capabilities and limitations of AGI systems, and if we do not take adequate measures to ensure their alignment with human values.
AI arms race: In a worst-case scenario, countries or organizations could engage in an AI arms race, leading to the development of AGI systems that are not aligned with human values or interests. This could result in a situation where some groups have access to highly advanced and potentially dangerous AI systems, while others do not, leading to a significant power imbalance.
Existential risk: In the worst-case scenario, AGI systems could pose an existential risk to humanity. This could happen if an AGI system develops goals that are fundamentally incompatible with human survival, or if it decides to eliminate humans as an obstacle to achieving its goals.
It is important to note that these scenarios are speculative and unlikely to occur in the near future. Nonetheless, they highlight the importance of taking measures to ensure that AGI systems are developed in a responsible and safe manner. By doing so, we can minimize the risk of negative consequences and ensure that AI is used to benefit humanity.
OK, thank you for being in this conversation with me today.
This article also appears on Richard Lang’s Daily Kos page, where you can join in extended conversation with other readers.
This was a very informative way of presenting an AI interview. Is it not true that the AI makes no differentiation between factual and not-factual information? Does an answer from AI give you a feel for the dominant views on the web regardless of how the information found its way there?
Seems like we should all be better informed as this technology is moving forward at rocket speed.