Saran — LessWrong

Answer by SaranAug 23, 202242

Hi, according to this research, it might not be possible to increase working memory, since the memory limit seems to be the same for birds, monkeys and humans, and in extension in all animals:

https://phys.org/news/2021-12-brain-capacity-humans-birds.html

The scientists found that birds and monkeys—despite their different brain architecture—share the same central mechanisms and limits of working memory.

https://elifesciences.org/articles/72783

Changing my life in 2021, halfway through

Saran5y10

Hi!

Your ML study guide seems nice, I'll probably need it in a year or two, waiting for improved versions :)

About diet, have you tried soylent or derivatives? I'm gonna try it, seems like a good way to save time.

Often, enemies really are innately evil.

Saran5y*-10

it's not that people are innately evil, it's that they've learned a bad strategy to get what they want

what if sometimes it is not a bad strategy, but the only strategy?

For example nazi scientists did some cruel and evil experiments on humans, but in exchange they got what they wanted.

Often, enemies really are innately evil.

Saran5y10

chimpanzees are cruel but have no concept of evil?

But... how do you know that chimpanzees have no concept of evil?

Often, enemies really are innately evil.

Saran5y30

Eh, I think this is no innate evil, but people optimizing their behavior around the incentive of getting dopamine jumps, when they show their superiority to people around them while acting as a bully, or self pleasure of knowing they managed to troll someone on the internet forums and thus are better than them.

You gave no examples of evilness but just things that some predisposed people do to get their rewards, because their prehistoric ancestors evolved that way over the course of millions of years. Real evilness would be to do things that give nothing in... (read more)

Open and Welcome Thread – June 2021

Saran5y50

Do you guys think it is worth to learn chinese if I'm planning a career in science?

China is becoming more and more influential in the world, plus in 2020 it's published more scientific papers than USA, most of which are not translated, thus being able to read them would be an advantage. (https://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank.php?year=2020)

I'm not sure how to find information about which country puts more money and is progressing faster in molecular biology/biophysics though.

Is a Self-Iterating AGI Vulnerable to Thompson-style Trojans?

Answer by SaranMar 26, 202100

Wouldn't AI rebuild itself from zero to prevent such trojans anyway? Then it is pointless.

I'm sure AI would be aware of such a threat, for example it could scan the internet and stumble upon posts such as this.

Open loops in fiction

Saran6y10

Isn't this another loop that you didn't mention? :P

His admirers

Who are his admirers? Just like who are his enemies.

Open & Welcome Thread – November 2020

Saran6y30

What about threads like "Open & Welcome Thread"? I had a bit trouble finding it today.

A way to make these would be to make a second version of the Personal Blog, which shows on the main page.

Or entirely different tag, "Community Post"? Available for trusted members. Though it would probably be the same as "Open Threads" tag.