Personal AI Planning

I don't have much confidence in how AI will go, so this is very speculative, but one consideration for personal planning that I think about:

If AI does become as powerful as some hope (and doesn't kill us all), then maybe your personal situation (money, power) at a particular crucial point will be very important. Examples:

• are you still alive when crucial health advances come that could keep you alive much longer?
• can you afford those crucial health advances? (for yourself and/or loved ones)
• are you still alive when technology to "upload" your mind works well, and can you afford it?
• is there going to be some future grab for resources at a crucial time (before or after uploading...), and will you be in a good position for that?
  • hard for me to speculate about what those resources are, but for a probably-quite-silly example: Maybe we'll auction off whole solar systems?

How you answer these questions could affect whether you live for the next million years, and what that life is like. I see those as reasons to prioritize personal health, money, and power more than you would otherwise.

Note: I'm not actually living my life according to this prescription. If I had to answer why, I think it's partly that I think probably AI progress will stall out before creating such scientific/tech breakthroughs that allow for uploading minds. But even a small chance could be worth optimizing for, so I'm not sure I'm being rational about this.

(This is about personal planning, but sort of parallels some EA considerations, like "value lock-in".)

I see AI as just another tool, much like personal computers or computer programming were in their time. I believe that people will need to learn how to effectively use AI by mastering the art of writing prompts and distinguishing between the various AI tools available.

Just as learning to code was essential for harnessing the power of computers, developing skills in prompt engineering is becoming increasingly important in our AI-driven world. Understanding the strengths and limitations of different AI systems will be crucial for their effective utilization.

That said, I also recognize that AI has unique characteristics that set it apart from traditional tools. Its ability to learn, adapt, and make decisions autonomously introduces new challenges that we need to consider.

Overall, I think viewing AI as a tool to be learned and mastered is a pragmatic approach. It highlights the importance of education and skill development as we prepare for a future where AI plays a significant role in our lives.

I went to buy a ceiling fan recently. The salesperson said I might not want a particular model because it had a light with only 10,000 hours in it, and they've decommissioned replacements. I told him I wasn't worried 😭