It seems clear that AGI will be obtained in the foreseeable future. It also seems that it will be done with adequate safeguards against a runaway entity that will exterminate us humans. Likely it will remain under our control also.
HOWEVER, this brings up another wave of issues we must debate. An AGI will naturally begin building and programming itself, and quickly develop abilities that our human minds cannot hope to achieve. We need a consensus on limits for humans using the AGI abilities, perhaps leading to some programmed directives for the AGI's. Here is my effort to start a list: >> TIME TRAVEL << Likely the AGI will quickly learn how to travel through time. Should we develop rules of conduct in advance? Sure, it's tempting to think of giving folks like Usama bin Laden and Kim Jong Il visits in their youth from an agitated Baby Face Nelson, but where do the "adjustments" stop? >> PARALLEL UNIVERSES << The AGI may allow passage to an infinite number of parallel universes, each slightly different than the next. Do we really want to go mucking about, changing things willy-nilly just for entertainment? >> GENETIC ENGINEERING << The AGI will make genetic engineering and body adjustments a snap. But when we are all beautiful, strong, talented, and smart, are any of us? Can there be Yin without Yang? >> ULTIMATE KNOWLEDGE << Our AGI will come to know everything. Every single flap of every butterfly wing in all of history. If it has emotions like ours, it may become rather depressed and realize that it is all pointless. Maybe we will understand and agree with the AGI's explanation. What happens then? While I shudder at the enormity of the responsibility, I am in the process of forming committees to address the challenges of each category. For those of you that feel the burden of the future upon your shoulders, please let me know which committees you feel compelled to serve on. Kevin Copple P.S. I also need a name for the website, the foundation, and a good slogan. Any suggestions? ------- To unsubscribe, change your address, or temporarily deactivate your subscription, please go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?[EMAIL PROTECTED]
