From: edward worthington (edwardworth@supernews.com)
Date: Mon Aug 10 1998 - 22:11:52 MDT
On Sun, 09 Aug 1998 12:09:06 -0700, extropians@extropy.com wrote:
> At 01:37 PM 8/9/98 +0200, Den Otter wrote:<br>> ><br>> >Yes, but this is fundamentally different; godhood isn't something<br>> >that one would sell (or give away) like one would do with minor<br>> >technological advances such as phones, TVs cars etc. Just like nukes<br>> >were (and are) only for a select few, so will hyperintelligence, <br>> >nanotech, uploading etc. initially be only available to a select<br>> >group, which will most likely use them to become gods. There is<br>> >no rational reason to distribute this kind of power once you have<br>> >it. <br>> ><br>> >Powerful businessmen still need others to make and buy their products,<br>> >and dictators and presidents still need their people to stay in power<br>> >& to keep the country running, but a SI needs NO-ONE, it's<br>> >supremely autonomous. I can't imagine why it would share its <br>> >awesome power with creatures that are horribly primitive from its point <br>> >of view. Would *we* uplift ants/mice/dogs/monkeys to rule the world<br>> >as our
equals? I think not.<br>> <br>> "No rational reason" is a strong claim. I doubt your claim. First, your<br>> view surely depends on a Singularitarian view that superintelligence will<br>> come all at once, with those achieving it pulling vastly far away from<br>> everyone else. I don't expect things to work out that way. I've explained<br>> some of my thinking in the upcoming Singularity feature that Robin Hanson<br>> is putting together for Extropy Online.<br>> <br>> Second, I also doubt that the superintelligence scenario is so radically<br>> different from today's powerful business people. [I don't say "businessmen"<br>> since this promotes an unfortunate assumption about gender and business.]<br>> You could just as well say that today's extremely wealthy and powerful<br>> business should have no need to benefit poor people. Yet, here we have oil<br>> companies building hospitals and providing income in central Africa. I just<br>> don't buy the idea that each single SI will do everyone alone.<br>> Specia
lization and division of labor will still apply. at some SI's will<br>> want to help the poor humans upgrade because that will mean adding to the<br>> pool of superintelligences with different points of view and different<br>> interests.<br>> <br>> Let me put it this way: I'm pretty sure your view is incorrect, because I<br>> expect to be one of the first superintelligences, and I intend to uplift<br>> others. Or, are you planning on trying to stop me from bringing new members<br>> into the elite club of SIs?<br>> <br>> > In any case, we<br>> >should all work hard to be among the first SIs, that's the only<br>> >reasonably sure way to live long and prosper.<br>> <br>> No disagreement there. Make money, invest it, and keep on integrating<br>> advances as they happen.<br>> <br>> Max<br>> <br>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>> Max More, Ph.D.<br>> more@extropy.org (soon also: <max@maxmore.com>)<br>> <br><a href="http://www.primenet.com/~maxmore" target=_blank>htt
p://www.primenet.com/~maxmore</a><br>> Consulting services on the impact of advanced technologies<br>> President, Extropy Institute: <br>http://www.extropy.org<br>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
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