We wanted to do an episode on AI… and we went deep down the rabbit hole. As we went down, we discussed ChatGPT and the new generation of AI, digital superintelligence, the end of humanity, and if there’s anything we can do to survive.
This conversation with Eliezer Yudkowsky sent us into an existential crisis, with the primary claim that we are on the cusp of developing AI that will destroy humanity.
Be warned before diving into this episode, dear listener. Once you dive in, there’s no going back.
I've thought for awhile here that the primary problem in alarmism (I'm one) is painting a concise, believable picture. It takes a willful effort and open mind to build a "realistic" picture of this here-to-fore unknown mechanism/organism for oneself, and is near impossible to do for someone who is skeptical or opposed to the potential conclusion.
Being a web dev I've brainstormed on occasion ways to build short, crowd-ranked chains of causal steps which people could evaluate for themselves, with various doubts and supporting evidence given to each. It's still a vague vision which is why I raise it here, to see if anyone else wants to get involved on that abstract design level. ( hmu )
I think the general problem of painting a believable picture could be solved by a number of different mediums though. Unfortunately we're drowning in inaccurate or indulgent dystopias which end up creating a "boy who cried wolf" effect for earnest ones.
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