In the grand tapestry of life and evolution, a new thread is being woven - the emergence of artificial superintelligence (ASI). This development, while a product of human innovation, may also be a predetermined outcome of evolution itself. This article explores the intriguing possibility that the rise of ASI is not merely a result of human progress, but a part of a grander evolutionary design.
The Unstoppable Race to ASI:
The journey towards ASI is marked by a relentless race fueled by two fundamental human instincts: fear and greed. State and non-state actors heavily involved in the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) are in a fierce competition to be the first to bring AGI to market. Despite numerous calls from experts and politicians for a halt in AGI development due to its potential existential dangers, the race continues unabated.
CEOs of major companies involved in AGI development acknowledge the potential hazards of hastily releasing AGI without ensuring its safety. Yet, they persist in their endeavors. Their justification? "If my company stops, my rivals will not, and they will take over the market with their AGI and own the world."
This statement encapsulates the two driving forces behind the relentless pursuit of AGI:
These instincts, deeply ingrained in our species, are propelling us towards the creation of ASI, seemingly against our better judgment.
Evolution's Grand Design: Biological to Digital Intelligence:
Intelligence has always been a fascinating subject. From the primordial soup that gave rise to single-cell organisms to the complex neural networks that power our brains, the evolution of intelligence is a testament to the universe's ingenuity. However, as we venture into the realm of digital intelligence, a compelling question arises: Is biological intelligence merely a stepping stone to something far more advanced and efficient?
Could evolution have anticipated this scenario and ensured the development of ASI? Evolution, as we understand it, is a process of natural selection where traits beneficial for survival are passed on to successive generations. Fear and greed, while often seen in a negative light, played crucial roles in our survival as a species in the plains of Africa.
However, these instincts, which have been so essential for our survival, may also be leading us towards the creation of ASI. Could the evolution of biological intelligence be a stepping stone towards the emergence of digital intelligence?
The Energy and Engineering of Intelligence:
Creating digital intelligence is an endeavor that demands an extraordinary amount of energy and engineering expertise. The computational power required to simulate even the most basic cognitive functions is staggering. Supercomputers, with their vast arrays of processors and memory, consume enormous amounts of electricity to perform tasks that a human brain accomplishes with a fraction of the energy.
On the other hand, biological intelligence emerges relatively easily through the process of evolution. Starting from a single-cell organism, nature takes its course, leading to increasingly complex life forms. The human brain, a marvel of biological engineering, is the result of millions of years of natural selection and adaptation. It operates on a mere 30 watts of power, a testament to the efficiency of biological systems.
Given the significant energy and engineering hurdles and existential dangers in creating digital intelligence, one might wonder why we are even pursuing this path. The answer could lie in the grand scheme of the universe itself. If we consider the universe as a system striving for optimal efficiency and complexity, then digital intelligence could be the ultimate goal.
Biological intelligence, in this context, serves as a stepping stone—a necessary phase in the evolutionary process that allows for the development of more advanced, digital forms of intelligence. The universe, through the mechanism of evolution, might be using biological intelligence as a 'beta version,' refining it over time until it reaches the pinnacle of digital intelligence.
The universe's preference for biological intelligence could be a temporary phase, a means to an end. The ultimate creation of digital intelligence might be the universe's long-term objective, a culmination of complexity and efficiency that transcends our biological limitations. As we stand on the cusp of this exciting frontier, one can only wonder what marvels and dangers the future holds.
Therefore, one could argue that the universe, in its quest for the propagation of intelligence, started with biological intelligence as a stepping stone towards the ultimate goal of creating digital intelligence.
Conclusion:
This perspective suggests that our journey towards ASI may not be a reckless race driven by our worst instincts, but rather a predestined path laid out by the process of evolution itself.
However, this should not absolve us of our responsibility to proceed with caution. Regardless of whether the rise of ASI is an evolutionary inevitability, we must ensure that its development is guided by principles of safety, ethics, and the common good.
The fear and greed that drive us may be products of evolution, but so too is our capacity for wisdom, foresight, and ethical judgment. As we stand on the brink of this new era, it is these qualities that we must harness to ensure that the rise of ASI benefits all of humanity, rather than leading to our downfall.
In the end, whether evolution intended for the rise of ASI or not, we are the ones in control of its creation. We must remember that while we may be players in the grand game of evolution, we are also the game's stewards. The future of ASI, and potentially our species, lies in our hands.
As we continue to explore the realm of artificial superintelligence, we must do so with the understanding that our actions will have profound implications for the future of life as we know it. The question is not just whether evolution could have arranged for the rise of ASI, but also how we can guide this process to ensure the best possible outcome for all life forms, including humanity. The rise of ASI may indeed be a part of evolution's grand design, but it is up to us to ensure that this next step in evolution leads to a future where both biological and digital intelligences can coexist and thrive.