From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Tue May 21 2002 - 07:45:22 MDT
On Tue, 21 May 2002, Samantha Atkins wrote:
> And whether we have the skills to write one, and whether it
> could possibly be delivered in such a manner. Really, it is a
> pretty far jump froma simple worm virus to a transhuman AI
> eating the Net through KaZaa.
After going through the /. articles a bit and reading the
background details it isn't as bad as I had first feared.
Someone has created a folder of software (after all Kazaa is
a file sharing utility) and it requires the end-user to
run the software to corrupt their machine.
So the security code within Kazaa itself that would allow
you to grab the entire network doesn't seem to have been
infiltrated (yet!). It still requires stupid human tricks
to spread the worm.
I have no argument that we probably don't know how to
create a seed AI at this point, or worse an AI in the
service of a megalomaniac. But, as I think I've quoted
before...
"Too many times in the past we have failed to anticipate future developments;
refused to think the unthinkable and expect the unexpected. Too many times we
have been out maneuvered by those who take the time to think and plan and do
not simply rely on reacting to events. We must learn to think like our
potential adversaries if we are to avoid conflict or blunt an attack,
because only superior thinking and planning (not just better technology)
will enable us to survive biological warfare."
- Christopher J. Davis -- July 1999
Johns Hopkins University Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies
The same can be said for computer warfare. With most of the net
still on dial-ups I'm not too worried about a rogue AI. But
as the cable/ADSL, and eventually WiFi or fiber, install base
increases I'll grow increasingly concerned.
On an unrelated note, Google seems to be developing a sense
of humor over the last couple of days... Maybe we will end
up with a comedic AI -- I could sure use one.
Robert
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