(Cross-posted from my website. Audio version here, or search "Joe Carlsmith Audio" on your podcast app. This is the first essay in a series that I’m calling “Otherness and control in the age of AGI.” See here for more about the series as a whole.) When species meet The most succinct argument for AI risk, in my opinion, is the “second species” argument. Basically, it goes like this. > Premise 1: AGIs would be like a second advanced species on earth, more powerful than humans. > > Conclusion: That’s scary. To be clear: this is very far from airtight logic.[1] But I like the intuition pump. Often, if I only have two sentences to explain AI risk, I say this sort of species stuff. “Chimpanzees should be careful about inventing humans.” Etc.[2] People often talk about aliens here, too. “What if you learned that aliens were on their way to earth? Surely that’s scary.” Again, very far from a knock-down case (for example: we get to build the aliens in question). But it draws on something. In particular, though: it draws on a narrative of interspecies conflict. You are meeting a new form of life, a new type of mind. But these new creatures are presented to you, centrally, as a possible threat; as competitors; as agents in whose power you might find yourself helpless. And unfortunately: yes. But I want to start this series by acknowledging how many dimensions of interspecies-relationship this narrative leaves out, and how much I wish we could be focusing only on the other parts. To meet a new species – and especially, a new intelligent species – is not just scary. It’s incredible. I wish it was less a time for fear, and more a time for wonder and dialogue. A time to look into new eyes – and to see further. Gentleness > “If I took it in hand, > > it would melt in my hot tears— > > heavy autumn frost.” > > - Basho Have you seen the documentary My Octopus Teacher? No problem if not, but I recommend it. Here’s the plot. Craig Foster, a filmmaker, has been feeling b