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The threat to humanity from AI

111 replies

Youreeavinalaff · 01/04/2023 14:03

Just read a terrifying article about the threat AI poses to humanity.
https://time.com/6266923/ai-eliezer-yudkowsky-open-letter-not-enough/
ChatGPT (AI chatbot) is amazing - my kids have been talking with it and setting it tasks and challenges. It's incredible. Apparently it's making such sudden and huge leaps in its abilities that Elon Musk and others are petitioning to pause it along with AI labs and programmes for 6 months whilst safety mechanisms and limitations are put in place. Reading this article however makes me feel that these won't be sufficient. We're about the unleash something we can't control by the look of it - or something we can't persuade all nations to agree to. I am worried.

The Open Letter on AI Doesn't Go Far Enough

One of the earliest researchers to analyze the prospect of powerful Artificial Intelligence warns of a bleak scenario

https://time.com/6266923/ai-eliezer-yudkowsky-open-letter-not-enough

OP posts:
Notwavingbutsignalling · 30/04/2023 00:32

Why can’t we have AI free zones?

I think I some people will try and create those ( off grid) communities

MobilityCat · 30/04/2023 09:20

shadypines · 01/04/2023 23:17

I know it's sad @UnDruidlyWords I saw a mother walking her 2/3 yr old along main road to nursery, on her phone, seemingly oblivious to the fact he kept stepping into the road and then she crossed the side road without looking. Sweet Jesus where is the parenting?
I think these are the people AI will take advantage of, those whose common sense and care has already gone to batshit.

People glued to their phones as they go about are the rise of the Phone Zombies.

MobilityCat · 30/04/2023 09:26

notsayingmuch · 01/04/2023 15:06

If there is a planet where AI took over and killed off it's progenitor lifeform then it is probably sitting for eternity looking at a screen saying the alien equivalent of 'new batteries needed: call engineer'.

Thayri, a Galadorian space colony. (Where Terminator came from).

MobilityCat · 30/04/2023 09:33

Switchwitch · 01/04/2023 16:00

Yes, I've seen what the generation they're actually working on is supposed to do. I guess until they can get something that picks up sodding Lego off the floor then I'll remained unconvinced.

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Alexa, feed my kids

shadypines · 30/04/2023 18:43

I observe on my half hour bus journey to work that most high school children are connecting with their phone rather than anything/one else. Many moons ago myself and my friends would be chatting and laughing on our way to or from school.
Then at work ( a college) most of the students spend their out of lessons time on their phones.
Sad.

anunlikelyseahorse · 30/04/2023 19:07

If I can have a domestic robot bring it on I say!

Hawkins003 · 01/05/2023 22:33

shadypines · 30/04/2023 18:43

I observe on my half hour bus journey to work that most high school children are connecting with their phone rather than anything/one else. Many moons ago myself and my friends would be chatting and laughing on our way to or from school.
Then at work ( a college) most of the students spend their out of lessons time on their phones.
Sad.

I think with that I can understand your perspectives, but back then also although mainly adults the newspaper was the equivalent of the mobile phone

shadypines · 01/05/2023 22:47

To a degree yes, but people were not addicted to reading a paper to the detriment of noticing or participating in other things.

Hawkins003 · 01/05/2023 22:56

shadypines · 01/05/2023 22:47

To a degree yes, but people were not addicted to reading a paper to the detriment of noticing or participating in other things.

That's a fair point

MobilityCat · 02/05/2023 13:08

I've seen people in the same office calling or messaging each other on their mobile phones.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/05/2023 13:14

I mean....

The threat to humanity from AI
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/05/2023 13:15

MobilityCat · 02/05/2023 13:08

I've seen people in the same office calling or messaging each other on their mobile phones.

So? Not everyone can get up and leave their desk.

MobilityCat · 02/05/2023 14:00

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/05/2023 13:15

So? Not everyone can get up and leave their desk.

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In that office everyone was reasonably fit and healthy. Before mobile phones, people went over to the other person to talk, they didn't use the telephone on their desk to call tha person. Mobile phones have made us lazy.

Changeau · 02/05/2023 14:40

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/05/2023 13:15

So? Not everyone can get up and leave their desk.

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Of course they can!

megletthesecond · 02/05/2023 14:51

I walk over to colleagues to ask them things. Can't bear sitting down all the time.

Mycathatesmecuddling · 02/05/2023 16:00

Changeau · 02/05/2023 14:40

Of course they can!

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I mean I can but it hurts

Technology has made it easier for me to live my life in less pain. My disability is invisible so if you worked with me you wouldn't necessarily know how much pain I'm in on a daily basis.

But despite the fact people are quick to judge how 'lazy' I am, if technology makes my life less painful then I will use it.

Honeyboomboom · 02/05/2023 16:02

sorrynotathome · 01/04/2023 15:18

Climate change is FAR more of an immediate and obvious threat to humanity. I think we should ask AI to work on that.

We might not like its answers …at all

UnDruidlyWords · 02/05/2023 16:28

Honeyboomboom · 02/05/2023 16:02

We might not like its answers …at all

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Indeed, the answer would probably be to get rid of humans.

missingthewinchesterboys · 02/05/2023 17:09

I'm all for it. Bring on the apocalypse!

Thanos was right

MobilityCat · 02/05/2023 19:27

missingthewinchesterboys · 02/05/2023 17:09

I'm all for it. Bring on the apocalypse!

Thanos was right

Be careful what you wish for, sexbots are also "domestic"

MobilityCat · 02/05/2023 19:30

Mycathatesmecuddling · 02/05/2023 16:00

I mean I can but it hurts

Technology has made it easier for me to live my life in less pain. My disability is invisible so if you worked with me you wouldn't necessarily know how much pain I'm in on a daily basis.

But despite the fact people are quick to judge how 'lazy' I am, if technology makes my life less painful then I will use it.

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I did say everyone in that office was reasonably well and healthy.

Mycathatesmecuddling · 03/05/2023 02:21

MobilityCat · 02/05/2023 19:30

I did say everyone in that office was reasonably well and healthy.

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You did the person I was replying to didn't

That said most of my colleagues except my close friends would think I was reasonably well and healthy too tbf

Sweetener12 · 03/05/2023 04:54

AI is a tool and tools are not threatening per se, people who use them maliciously are. It has been there for a while in a form of an AI photo editor or video editing software. It is more sophisticated now for sure, but that's not a bad thing in itself, it's how the progress goes, I think. And I agree with this take wholeheartedly:

They cynic in me suggests these people are pretending this is the reason while they work out how to monetise it, and see what damage it has to theirmulti billion pound businesses

If anything, I think this is the case.

Morestrangerthings · 03/05/2023 05:29

notsayingmuch · 01/04/2023 15:06

If there is a planet where AI took over and killed off it's progenitor lifeform then it is probably sitting for eternity looking at a screen saying the alien equivalent of 'new batteries needed: call engineer'.

😂

Morestrangerthings · 03/05/2023 05:33

There are so many ways the world could end I can't get too excited about this.

Climate Crisis -- now that's the one to worry about. Because I don't think humanity is up to the challenge of making the changes necessary to avoid this getting much much worse than it's already going to be. We are already seeing climate refugees. Climate Crisis is here and it's immediate.

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