The Path to SuperIntelligence & Escaping the Simulation — With Nick Bostrum

Philosopher Nick Bostrom discusses the likelihood of achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) or superintelligence, claiming it is very likely given the advancements in hardware and algorithms. He emphasizes that while there are risks associated with AGI, it is important to pay heed to them rather than dismissing them. Bostrom envisions a utopian future where AI solves all practical problems, leading to a post-scarcity, post-work society. He explores the challenges and adjustments that would be necessary for humans to thrive in such a world.

Full episode here:

Chapters

00:00 The Downsides and Upsides of AI
16:42 Psychological Adjustments for a Solved World
20:33 Upgrading Human Capabilities in a Solved World
24:14 The Philosophical Implications of Living in a Solved World
34:18 Living in a Simulation: Cracking Out of the Simulation

[Hashtag-Hashtagcucu]

I like that Nick is a very original thinker.

[moonsonate]

00:01 The likelihood of achieving superintelligence is very high.
02:23 Effective accelerationism philosophy in Silicon Valley
06:52 AI shaping the future and the challenges of activism
09:20 The risks of existential risks and the immediate impact of AI on society are worth worrying about.
14:08 Exploring a world where all practical problems are solved
16:26 Achieving fulfillment and purpose through AI-managed maintenance and psychological engineering techniques.
20:20 From post-scarcity to post-work Utopia
22:08 Super Advanced automation technology could lead to a plastic Utopia where we have complete control over our bodies and minds.
26:04 Reimagining human existence in a transformed world
27:52 Human nature is not ready for a perfect world due to evolution under scarcity
31:47 Seeking to enhance human capabilities for a fulfilling future.
33:49 Exploring the possibility of escaping a simulation with superintelligence.
Crafted by Merlin AI.

[henrismith]

How many of us actually believe that what we spend wost of our time on is worth doing? Not logically, like yeah of course when I was loading and unloading trucks all day, sure it's worth doing so people get their stuff in the mail... I wish I could feel a real sense of meaning and contribution from that, but that's not how my brain works. I've tried to turn the entire job into a meditative practice which helped for a while, but when the company just cycles through casuals that work their buts off, get sick, get hurt, and quit, that's hard man. They intentionally decreased our hours from 8 per day to 5 to make us more productive and force us to come in more often to make the same money. Rough when you're not getting healthcare you need and everything costs a fortune. I'm just worried because every time humans invent something that increases productivity and automation work just becomes more demanding if you can even get work.

[darkmatter]

If a civilisation is advanced enough to make a simulated universe, then there should be simulated universes all the way down as each simulated universe creates its own simulated universe, so the chances are that we are a simulated universe - so the argument goes.

Here’s the problem with the simulation hypothesis:

If we are a simulated universe then the chances should be that we ourselves would have created a simulated universe as there would be an order of magnitude number of simulated universes, of which we are just one. But, we aren’t advanced enough to create a simulated universe, so therefore we are the very last simulation created…what are the chances of that - statistically almost impossible. The other option is that we are the very first civilisation to exist.