From: Rafal Smigrodzki (rms2g@virginia.edu)
Date: Fri Nov 08 2002 - 09:34:03 MST
Eliezer wrote:
My goal is not to convince a
> majority of the field, or even to convince a specific percentage
> minority. That kind of convincing would require experimental
> evidence. Of course getting experimental evidence isn't my purpose
> either. It might happen, but it would be a way station if there are
> interesting interim results on the way to the Singularity and we need
> to attract more attention.
### I understand you actually *are* trying to attract more attention,
especially now. While I don't think that getting a PhD would help you, the
kind of detailed, referenced, preferably brilliant grant-proposal-like
writing Anders mentioned, is likely to help you find more funding.
Experimental evidence is possible and desirable, too. I know you do not
envision the FAI as a sudden surge of power from a simple, amorphous bunch
of code - there are many specific interim goals you will need to achieve for
recursive self-enhancement. Demonstration of these milestones within a
previously articulated research program is the experimental evidence that
both confirms the validity of your own ideas to you (you do need a feedback
from reality, just as all scientists do), and to the funding entities.
I would think you will be able to get ahead faster if you publish a research
outline (drawing on CFAI, and LOGI), with a very detailed description of the
initial steps you already made, a list of specific low-level intermediate
goals you want to achieve within the desired funding period, and a rough
outline of a timeplan for this period.
You might also consider allowing extreme transparency in your efforts. Since
you are not trying to achieve commercial or patentable advances, you will
not be bound by confidentiality. With clickstream transparency and all of
your (and your collaborator's) coding and testing available in real time on
the net, you could attract volunteer help, and maintain sustained interest.
Don't underestimate the power of distributed, volunteer-driven development.
It won't get you there alone but could take care of many minor issues. Start
a blog, publish every scrap of code you put out, and weekly summaries for
the technologically challenged.
Every little step that can be seen by outsiders, a little module that does
something nifty to other modules, a little program that an enthusiast can
download and play with, will be the evidence you need to convince a
sufficient number of people to reach the FAI singularity faster.
Rafal
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