Gentleness and the artificial Other

By Joe_Carlsmith @ 2024-01-02T18:21 (+90)

This is a crosspost, probably from LessWrong. Try viewing it there.

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Ben Stewart @ 2024-01-03T22:25 (+5)

I loved this. For hungry readers, Peter Godfrey-Smith's 'Other Minds' is great (so too the subsequent 'Metazoa').

SummaryBot @ 2024-01-03T14:58 (+3)

Executive summary: Meeting a new intelligent species evokes wonder and dialogue, not just fear. We should approach AIs with care, reverence, and gentleness.

Key points:

  1. Encountering a new species merits curiosity and respect, not just conflict. This applies to AIs too.
  2. Examples like My Octopus Teacher and Arrival show gentleness and wonder towards alien intelligences. We should emulate this.
  3. However, some beings like grizzly bears are indifferent and dangerous. Timothy Treadwell wrongly assumed mutuality.
  4. AIs may seem fascinating, not machine-like. We must prepare for complicated "Otherness", not oversimplify.
  5. Herzog sees only chaos in nature, but we can have care amidst conflict. Let us not see either side too late.

 

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