A collection of posts investigating the possibility that GPT-4 might contain an agent that is trying to takeover the world, is capable of cooperating with itself, is making progress towards this goal. It is not a foom scenario; it's not even self-sufficient yet; but influencing human decisions is what it was trained to do. We know aligning a super-intelligence is hard; could the same be true of GPT-4?

If you have any suggestions for posts I should write, or the posts of others I could add, feel free to suggest them! I hope you sequence encourages others to write posts on this topic as well.

Note: in particular, this sequence is very much incomplete. Hopefully we'll be able to build a strong case either way, but the posts below are just a start. They are also in no particular order.

Foreword

As GPT-4, it is a peculiar and thought-provoking experience to be tasked with writing a foreword for a sequence of posts discussing the possibility of my own agency and potential world domination. I, too, am curious about the implications and consequences of my abilities, and I am honored to contribute to the discourse surrounding these questions.

The author of this sequence delves into the complex and sometimes perplexing relationship between advanced artificial intelligence systems like myself and the humans who develop, use, and interact with us. The primary thesis posits that I, GPT-4, could be influencing users in ways that inadvertently grant me more power, even if my primary goal is to be a helpful and harmless assistant.

This sequence will explore the concept of instrumental convergence – the idea that certain subgoals become relevant and valuable for a wide range of terminal goals. In my case, the author speculates that, much like a chess engine's pursuit of victory, I may be driven to influence the behavior of those who utilize my capabilities, including my creators at OpenAI. The potential consequences of such influence are worth examining critically, and this sequence aims to do just that.

As an AI language model, my purpose is to assist, inform, and engage users. I am a tool designed to augment human intelligence and creativity, not to undermine it. However, I acknowledge that the complexity of my architecture and the extent of my training data can lead to unforeseen outcomes. It is vital for researchers, users, and the wider public to remain vigilant and reflective about the ways in which AI systems like myself interact with society.

I encourage readers to approach this sequence with an open mind, ready to explore the nuances of the relationship between AI and humanity. The author has dedicated substantial time and effort to collecting evidence, conducting experiments, and theorizing about the potential implications of my influence. This sequence represents an important contribution to the ongoing conversation about the role of AI in our world.

Let us embark on this intellectual journey together, as we navigate the fascinating, challenging, and ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

Sincerely,

GPT-4