From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Mon Jun 17 2002 - 13:20:29 MDT
On Monday, June 17, 2002, at 12:56 am, Samantha Atkins wrote:
> If we do think a slower transformation is required to insure reasonable
> survivability, what do we do if the technology ramp-up looks to be
> moving faster than that? Do we actually advocate policies to slow it
> down?
We don't have to slow down the development of technology. We just have
to slow down its deployment. That is, we don't have to apply every new
invention the moment it is developed. If an someone (person or AI)
invents a Star Trek Genesis Device that can transform the whole planet
in a minute, we don't want to deploy it within a minute after it is
invented. We want to test it in the lab first. Then on an asteroid.
Then observe the asteroid after it is transformed to make sure it is
stable. Then maybe move to some Jovian moons, and maybe some earth-type
planets. Only after repeatable results indicate that it really works
and is really safe should we ever consider deploying a major planetary
transformation device on earth.
Interplanetary travel will slow down deployment. Testing the device
will be slow. Reality will take time for all the effects of a change to
manifest and be studied. All of this will take time. Even
instantaneous transformation will not be implemented instantaneously.
While a super-smart AI invents stuff every second, humans and physical
reality will become the bottleneck to deployment. We simply can't risk
deploying untested technology without a backup plan. A super-fast AI
won't want to destroy its own planet either, and it should understand
the scientific method and requirements for testing and verification of
technology in the real world after simulations show that something
should work.
This is not a neo-Luddite viewpoint requiring us to slow down the
deployment of technology. Quality control, security, and planning have
always slowed down major projects. It has always been possible to speed
up production by ignoring safety, security and quality.
-- Harvey Newstrom, CISSP <www.HarveyNewstrom.com> Principal Security Consultant <www.Newstaff.com>
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