Reflections on the future of intelligence, AI scaling, and what happens as the cost of thinking approaches zero.

"I've been thinking about where we're headed—about what happens as intelligence keeps scaling, as AI gets smarter, and the cost of thinking drops toward zero. This essay is me trying to make sense of that."

I've been thinking about where we're headed-about what happens as intelligence keeps scaling, as AI gets smarter, and the cost of thinking drops toward zero. This essay is me trying to make sense of that. It’s not a roadmap or a manifesto. Just thoughts- on evolution, memory, purpose, markets, creation, maybe even God. I don’t think I know anything for sure. But I care a lot, and I’m trying to be honest. Take what you will. Ideally, with a lot of skepticism.

Table of Contents

I. Should the Human Race Endure?

When Peter Thiel recently hesitated in response to the question, "You would prefer the human race to endure?" in an NYT interview it sparked a wave of criticism. I've been thinking about that pause. Maybe it's not as strange as it sounds. Maybe it reflects an uncomfortable but important idea that humanity might not be our final chapter. That we could be just one step in a much longer process. Thiel began his answer with, "There are so many questions." I've been trying to think about some of those questions.

As a student who loves to think about the far future and "infinity," I've been thinking a lot about how artificial intelligence might change everything—from production and politics to the endurance of humanity and intelligence. This is a rough sketch. But here's where my thinking is at. Take it with an ocean of salt.

Entropy, Complexity, and the Limits of the Brain

The second law of thermodynamics tells us that entropy is always increasing. In other words, systems tend to grow more disordered and complex over time. As that complexity rises, I think the intelligence required to manage it also increases. This raises a question if the substrate for intelligence needs to eventually be upgraded to manage more...

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