As Artificial Intelligence rapidly evolves and rumors spread of AGI being achieved internally at OpenAI, its potential to expedite existing systemic issues and amplify risks is becoming increasingly evident. The rapid advancement of technology brings challenges such as complex global governance, the obscurity of AI technologies, and evolving power dynamics in society.
This is about how we run our world, how power dynamics evolve, and what freedom might look like in the future.
The world of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Q-Learning is like an iceberg, where most of its intricate workings remain concealed beneath the surface. Language models and other AI technologies, often described as black boxes, contain complexities beyond the everyday user's grasp.
As a result, there's a growing trend where people eschew learning traditional programming languages, relying instead on interacting with AI in simple language. However, losing fluency in the underlying mechanics of AI, akin to a native language, is unwise as it leads to a superficial understanding of complex processes. "The Master Algorithm" by Pedro Domingos does an excellent job of discussing this situation.
Governments exert control through capital and attention, akin to a puppeteer manipulating strings. It’s all about the Benjamins and keeping eyes glued to screens. This control can shape public desires and thoughts subtly yet powerfully.
With the advent of AGI, this control could reach new heights, as governments might harness its analytical and predictive capabilities to refine their strategies for capturing attention and shaping public opinion.
AGI, which continues to become more insightful on true human nature and more reliable, could enable a more sophisticated, targeted approach to influence, making Orwell’s “1984” vision of government surveillance and control an even more potent and relevant cautionary tale.
In this scenario, the power of AGI could be used not just for efficiency, but for an enhanced ability to sway, monitor, and direct societal trends and individual behaviors, intensifying the need for ethical frameworks and oversight in its use.
However, this same technology could also be leveraged to create incentives and methods designed to strengthen and invigorate democratic processes. By using AGI to enhance transparency, facilitate informed decision-making, and encourage active citizen participation, governments could foster a healthier democratic environment.
Considering the balance between global and local governance, the European Union serves as an intriguing case study. It’s like a high-wire act, balancing local independence with big-picture, global goals. But when you throw the idea of a single, worldwide government into the mix, it gets tricky.
That’s because too much power concentrated in one place can lead to major problems – think ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ Now, imagine this in the age of AGI. AGI could amplify this power, for better or worse. It could make global governance more efficient, sure, but it also raises the stakes.
The power of AGI, in the hands of a global authority, could reshape everything from policy to economics on a scale we’ve never seen before.
On the flip side, there’s a clear divide between how authoritarian and democratic systems plan for the future. Authoritarian regimes, like China, can focus on the long haul, building stuff like high-speed rail networks without getting bogged down in political red tape. They’re playing chess, thinking several moves ahead.
In democracies, it’s more like a game of checkers, with leaders often chasing quick wins that look good for the next election. This short-term focus can mean big, visionary projects get left on the drawing board. "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli delves into the nitty-gritty of this power play.
And here’s where AGI comes back into the picture. In a democracy, AGI could be a game-changer, helping to plan and execute long-term projects that go beyond election cycles. But it’s a double-edged sword – with AGI’s power, ensuring it’s used ethically and effectively becomes more critical than ever.
In Silicon Valley, companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI influence global technology trends and policy-making, akin to non-governmental entities wielding significant power in the technological domain. Their role in advancing AI and shaping its integration into various sectors is pivotal, potentially transforming global economic landscapes.
Overall, integrating AI, especially AGI, into our governance structures presents opportunities and threats. The future of governance, freedom, and societal well-being hinges on our ability to balance the transformative power of AI with ethical and effective governance practices, both locally and globally, so hopefully, we can make decisions based on love and peace versus fear.