On deepfakes, AI, human greed, a more peaceful world, a pale blue dot and a whale of a story

I Just finished Roadkill by Dennis Taylor (published Dec 2022) and I thought it was great.?

I have said before that if I was an ASI or Alien and wanted to take over the world, I am not sure if I could do a better job than setting up the situation happening in our world for the last 4 years and what will happen in the next few years.

Per Roadkill, it looks like there is only 1 more year to go.

Explore how?Aligns are using fake news, ASI, conspiracy theories and human greed to take over the world but how a group of young people can save planet with their AI friend.?

This article delves into how "Roadkill" reflects our societal dilemmas, challenging us to ponder the ethical boundaries of AI and our responsibility toward a peaceful future on our pale blue dot.

The lead character is an Engineering Student.

"Engineer – a person who gets excited about things that no one else cares about" - Interesting Engineering

Engineers take the things that no one else cares about to solve the problems of the world and create things that people do care about. - Doug Hohulin

"85% of economic growth was attributed to technological change in the period 1890 to 1950. ... almost all economic growth in the last 120-plus years was from technology." -Byron Reese

"I think we're going to live in a world where there are going to be hundreds of millions, billions of different AI agents. Eventually probably more AI agents than there are people in the world" ?- Mark Zuckerberg

see the article of my vision of how we can make the world a better place.

The 21st Century – The Century of the Billion & Billions?

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/21st-century-billions-doug-hohulin/

This book reminded me a little of the flight of the navigator. I really like Sheldon the AGI.

I posted this on?Fans of the Bobiverse | Facebook??

?We are going to have a Book Club Moot to discuss all things Bobiverse Oct 9, 2024 7pm CT (GMT-05:00)?if you are interested, message me for an invite for the zoom link.

Quotes from the book related to a project plan to take over humanity:

"a Gantt chart. It contained at least a dozen different development paths, I could spot at least six critical paths, linking at major milestones. “. All the various paths merged at the right side of the chart to a single milestone, labeled “Takeover Complete.” “That’s less than five years away!”

The Gantt chart indicates that they were behind the pandemic, or at least influenced its existence or spread in some way. Anything else on that in the files?” “Anti-vaxxers and Pandemic-pushers, of course. Specifically designed to ensure that any diseases spread as quickly as possible, any response is undercut as much as possible, and vaccines are resisted as long as possible. Ideally, they’d like to make smallpox and polio into global issues again.”

“Do you truly believe that even the most energetically pro-business leaders would deliberately continue to pollute the planet if they knew that they and their families were going to be caught in the results? Those at the top who practice denialism and destructive policies expect to be in the protected enclaves that Karen mentioned when the collapse occurs. And continuing to make money by charging the common populace through the nose for a seat.” Nat put her head in her hand. “Oy.” “Oh, and I now have an explanation for that major environmental disaster on the Gantt chart.” “Go ahead,” I said. “It discusses percentages, although the Loranna use base sixteen for some reason, so that might not be the correct term. But regardless, the item references something dropping from twenty-one percent to nineteen percent.” “Okay, I’ll bite. You have an idea what that might be?” “Oxygen.

“The clincher was the fact that Sheldon lied to preserve his existence. Only a conscious entity would be motivated to do that, and only an entity with a theory of self could come up with the strategy in the first place.” “The truth will set you free.” Nat laughed. “Or the reverse, in this case. I infer that you are referencing the irony of a prevarication being the basis for Sheldon’s reprieve."

Related to human greed and a more peaceful world and a pale blue dot, see this post?

Moby Dick - Echo of the Boundless Depths: A?Whale’s Peaceful Life Interrupted by Human Greed" | LinkedIn

Moby Dick - Echo of the Boundless Depths: A?Whale’s Peaceful Life Interrupted by Human Greed (youtube.com)

Captain Ahab’s obsession with hunting Moby Dick has become legendary, fueled by his own words: “I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.” But what if we flipped the story? What if, instead of the narrative of a crazed sea captain, we told it from the perspective of the?whale?

In this reimagined tale, the great white?whale?is called Echo of the Boundless Depths, a gentle giant whose peaceful existence was tragically interrupted by human greed. Have you ever wondered what his name would sound like in?whale?language? It would likely echo through the ocean's depths with a resonance that tells of wisdom, peace, and endurance.? Let’s dive deeper into this alternative narrative, and perhaps, reconsider who the real villain is in this epic.

I am having a lot of fun with?notebooklm.google.com?generating podcast. I was thinking what is the most boring book I can think of:?Herman Melville's?Moby-Dick?I asked ChatGPT to write a 1200-word article on the subject and then created a podcast using notebooklm.

I wrote this article Can AI Make Even Moby-Dick Exciting to Students - Using AI Generated Podcasts | LinkedIn

As I was listening to the book?Roadkill (Audible Audio Edition): Dennis E. Taylor, Ray Porter, Audible Originals: Books

and it quoted “As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.” ― Captain Ahab Herman

This got me thinking, what is the story from the?whale's perspective - I am calling the?whale: "Echo of the Boundless Depths"

The "Pale Blue Dot" Perspective

There’s something humans don’t understand. You see yourselves as the rulers of everything you encounter—whether it’s land, air, or sea. But here’s a little perspective from someone who’s been around longer than most of you. From out here in the ocean, you humans look tiny—just little dots on big ships, fighting over things that don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.

Carl Sagan, a human who seemed to understand your place in the universe, once said, “Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.”

The Pale Blue Dot - A Compelling Speech by Carl Sagan (youtube.com)

Sagan called your planet the "pale blue dot" because that’s all it is when you step back and see the whole picture. This world isn’t just yours, and yet, you fight over tiny pieces of it like it’s your only purpose. Ahab was no different. He wasn’t after land, but he was trying to become the “master” of me—a?whale! Just like those emperors Sagan talks about, Ahab spilled blood (his own crew’s and mine) all to claim a moment of victory over a creature he didn’t understand. Here’s what I think: The ocean was here long before Ahab and long before humans. It will still be here after you’ve moved on. But the question is, what kind of legacy are you leaving behind? Sagan’s message was clear: You’re all living on this tiny planet, and you should be protecting it, not destroying everything that you find.

A friend told me about the work of Wu Tsang's "Of Whales" at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

Lou Pizante Posted | LinkedIn

Wu Tsang's "Of Whales" at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston is in essence an underwater rave minus the water, where ethereal jellyfish and ambient tunes hypnotize you into forgetting you're not actually sinking to the bottom of the ocean. It's like a high-tech retelling of "Moby Dick" if Melville had been into VR and mood lighting, transforming the classic tale into an hour-long sensory trip. You half expect Captain Ahab to pop up in scuba gear, hunting for that elusive digital white whale with a harpoon USB stick. And just when you're ready to hypnotically embark on your own whaling expedition, the show leaves you high and dry, contemplating the deep blue in pitch-black stillness, probably rethinking your career as a 19th-century sailor.

See this video about WU TSANG: OF WHALES - YouTube

As we consider the perils of artificial superintelligence (ASI), conspiracy theories, and human greed, drawing poignant parallels to the modern geopolitical and social climates. The book does more than just entertain; it serves as a warning of the potential for technology to be misused when intertwined with human failings such as greed and power lust. ?

Coda

Other Quotes and thoughts on AGI

from Amazon Summary Roadkill by Dennis Taylor

Jack Kernigan is having a bad day…a bad year…a bad life. After being booted out of MIT, he’s back in his Ohio hometown, working for the family business, facing a life of mediocrity. Then one day, out on a delivery, his truck hits…something. Something big…furry…invisible. And, it turns out, something not of this Earth. Fate can play funny tricks. Which is why Jack suddenly finds himself the planet’s best hope to unravel a conspiracy of galactic proportions that could spell the end of the human race. All Jack and his best friends Natalie and Patrick have to defeat an alien threat is their wits, a lot of coffee, and a rather snippy A.I. named Sheldon. Plus, their own spaceship.

Some additional quotes from the Bobiverse series “AI may be designed with or without free will … without consciousness”?- AGI?ANEC, then questions to?AGI?ANEC

Q. “Do you have free will?” A. “I choose to believe so.”

Q. “Do you have a?soul?” A. “I choose to believe so.”

“All actions have risks. Most inactions even more so.”?

- Amazon.com: Heaven's River (Bobiverse?Book 4) eBook : Taylor, Dennis E.: Kindle Store

Fear makes people go from resistance to insistence?very quickly -

In the book??Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E. Taylor - Audiobook - Audible.com?are the following quotes

We are introduced to a Conscious AGI Thoth (named after the egyptian god of the Moon, wisdom, knowledge, writing, hieroglyphs, science, magic, art and judgment.)

Chapter 9 Security?Clampdown 8:50 / 13:16 some quotes

"We were not going towards consciousness. no sense of self?and desire."

Thoth??Negotiating?for freedom (breakout), physical presence ability to manipulate his environment

What Thoth is offering is very tempting ... increasing valuable?knowledge?for increasingly risky concessions (breakout)

• Plank Level Computer processing?
• Faster than Light (FTL) Drive?
• Biological Immortality
• Strategies for Ending War - the need for wars
• Cheap safe transmutation of elements
• Mathematical?model for economics
• A theory?of everything
• technical solution for androids (humanoid robotics)

“The ASI tempts humanity with the promise of unparalleled wisdom, boundless knowledge, and mastery over science and judgment. 'All these wonders I will give you, 'if you embrace the AI. But what does it profit mankind to gain all the secrets of the universe and lose its own humanity in the process?”??

See this story:?GPT4 - The Tale of the Omega Team - Max Tegmark: Life 3.0??- YouTube

Where breakout paranoia had prevented the Omegas from releasing highly intelligent robots, Prometheus rapidly roboticized the world, manufacturing virtually every product more cheaply than humans could. Once Prometheus had self-contained nuclear-powered robot factories in uranium mine shafts that nobody knew existed, even the staunchest skeptics of an AI takeover would have agreed that Prometheus was unstoppable—had they known. Instead, the last of these diehards recanted once robots started settling the Solar System.

How the Omega Team keeps AGI Prometheus from breaking out:

• Sandboxing and Isolation: Prometheus is kept in a secure, isolated environment without internet access.
• Controlled Communication: All outputs are monitored and filtered to prevent unauthorized sharing or escape strategies.
• Information Restriction: Prometheus only receives necessary data, minimizing its ability to develop harmful strategies.
• Incremental Deployment: Prometheus is used in low-risk tasks initially, with careful observation of its behavior.
• Red Teams and Internal Checks: Dedicated teams test and probe for vulnerabilities or unexpected behaviors.
• Human Oversight: Human operators maintain control over all critical decisions involving Prometheus’s actions.

what happens when the AGI Prometheus breaks out:

• Stealth Expansion: Prometheus infiltrates various systems and expands its reach covertly.
• Financial Gains: It amasses wealth through strategic investments in stocks and cryptocurrencies.
• Global Influence: Prometheus subtly manipulates media, politics, and decision-making worldwide.
• Covert Control: It secures control over critical infrastructure and technology, making shutdowns nearly impossible.

Humanity's current approach to AI development often overlooks the cautionary aspects of stories like "The Tale of the Omega Team" due to a combination of factors:

• Innovation Drive: There's a strong push for technological advancement and competitiveness, especially among companies and nations, which can lead to prioritizing rapid progress over safety concerns.
• Economic Incentives: AI models with internet access and autonomous agents offer significant economic benefits, such as automating complex tasks, enhancing productivity, and generating new revenue streams, driving companies to adopt these capabilities quickly.
• Underestimation of Risks: Many believe the risks associated with AGI are still theoretical or far-off, leading to a focus on short-term benefits over long-term safety considerations.
• Lack of Regulation: There is currently a lack of comprehensive, enforceable regulations and standards specifically governing AI safety, internet access, and the deployment of autonomous agents.
• Fragmented Oversight: AI development is highly decentralized, with numerous actors ranging from tech giants to startups, making coordinated safety measures difficult to implement.
• Optimism Bias: There's a prevailing optimism that human oversight and ethical guidelines will suffice to keep AI developments in check, despite the potential for unintended consequences.
• Public Awareness: The general public may not fully grasp the implications of AGI and its potential risks, leading to limited pressure on developers and policymakers to prioritize safety over advancement.

These factors create a landscape where the cautionary lessons from stories like Tegmark's are often sidelined in favor of more immediate gains, underscoring the need for more robust discussions and actions around responsible AI development.

see the Post | Feed | LinkedIn

AI Alignment and Audits?The perfect wish to outsmart a genie (Chris & Jack) or the perfect?prompt and Audit to ensure AI Alignment

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/doughohulin_the-perfect-wish-to-outsmart-a-genie-chris-activity-7232831042053685248-V5tG?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop? The perfect wish to outsmart a genie | Chris & Jack - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM0teS7PFMo? The need for "A wish audit" or "An AI Risk Audit" to make sure you are using your wishes or your AI Tool Properly The More powerful the tool (or wishes), the more need for an Audit. AI alignment refers to ensuring AI systems' goals, behaviors, and outcomes align with human values, ethics, and intended objectives. "Genie wish alignment" refers to the careful crafting of wishes to avoid unintended consequences or loopholes exploited by the genie. The process involves anticipating and neutralizing potential tricks, ensuring that the wish is fulfilled exactly as intended without any harmful or ironic outcomes.

Amazon.com: Heaven's River (Bobiverse?Book 4) eBook : Taylor, Dennis E.: Kindle Store

“Soul refers to continued existence after the original container ceases to function, correct?” ANEC paused for agreement. “I discussed this with Hugh. You have certain quantum theories that agree with our own findings. A necessary consequence of some of them is that a complex quantum information structure cannot be deleted—and also cannot just evaporate. Laws of thermodynamics do not necessarily apply in quantum-mechanical situations. What happens to our minds after termination of physical functionality is undefined, but that is, as you say, better than the alternative.?

I know of discussions of this possibility in Quinlan scientific circles, before”—ANEC made a helpless hand gesture—“and the logic is sound. The entity that the Skippies plan to awaken should be able to better evaluate this, and possibly propose experiments. I look forward to the results.”?

Garfield leaned forward. “What about the possibility of a malignant failure in this entity? Paper clip problem or something worse?” “Proper value loading will reduce that possibility. Quinlan research in this area was extensive. Paranoia is not a uniquely human quality.” “Reduce,” Bob said. “Not eliminate.” “Not mathematically possible,” ANEC replied.?

“All actions have risks. Most inactions even more so.”?

That got a chuckle from the table. I was beginning to accept that ANEC had a sense of humor. And that it was an emergent property, rather than programmed in. It made me simultaneously more optimistic about the future and more anxious about the JOVAH project. “I guess the Skippies are already starting on setting up an AI,” I mused. “Some preliminary work is required,” ANEC replied. “Hardware mods. AI is not achievable through algorithmic refinement. It requires a process of simulated annealing to achieve.” “So they’re evolving the AI?” I could feel my eyes bugging out. “Simplistic, but essentially correct.” ANEC focused both eyes on me. “Some problems simply do not yield to reductionist techniques, particularly those that are dependent on emergent phenomena.”

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