The vision for the future with AGI is nothing short of transformative and exhilarating to the visionary mind. AGI will enable us to understand and optimize the intricate connections within ecosystems, society, and even our own biology. These advanced artificial minds will act as a key to harmonizing all aspects of life, bringing about flourishing agrihoods where AI-driven systems ensure that every element of the environment, from the soil to the water supply, is in perfect balance. This deep integration will allow us to create sustainable communities that not only meet human needs but also restore and enhance the natural world.
Deep Societal Optimization
Imagine being able to investigate the very mechanics of our natural and societal universe at such high resolution that we can map the butterfly effects of laws, track the rate of consumption and renewal of natural resources, and optimize a symbiosis of human life with technology. In this envisioned future, AGI will enable a world with room to explore and exercise free will, while also ensuring that individual rights are respected and balanced against the collective good.
For some, the thought of these outcomes is exciting; for others, it may evoke a deep sense of anxiety. After all, a healthy dose of skepticism and mistrust has kept the human species alive for millennia. Therefore, I don’t invite you to accept any outcome blindly. Rather, I encourage you, my dear reader, and all those whom these ideas reach, to take deliberate and calculated action for the benefit of your own life and the lives of others.
Navigating the Challenges
In the near future, you will be presented with opportunities to learn how these systems work, to cast your vote in favor of or against transparency and the democratization of AI technology. The systems of the future have the potential to cause grave levels of elitism, disparity, and oppression if power is consolidated in the hands of a few. Governments that aim to rule rather than serve their people could leverage these technologies to dangerous ends. As you consider these issues, remember that tighter controls and censorship are likely to only deter those who lack the knowledge and means to develop their own technology. AI, after all, is just math. Those with the resources and selfish intent will undoubtedly attempt to use AI in harmful ways.
So, what is the solution to safely integrating AI into society? The answer lies in a balance of power.
Create the Balance
Much like the invention and use of the atomic bomb was a key event that brought an end to World War II, it also spurred the era of the nuclear arms race. Despite the negatives of the nuclear arms race, the threat of mutually assured destruction has, to this day, deterred major military superpowers from going to war directly. Global advancements in AI and progression towards AGI represent a new arms race, with its own intricacies.
On a localized level, when the public has access to the latest advancements, the rate of general innovation increases. This includes both potential threats and solutions to those threats. As new ways to exploit systems emerge, there will also be forward thinkers who see opportunities to monetize the defense and protection of those systems. This preserves a balance of power—one that would be difficult to maintain if AI advancements and uncensored models were to land first in the hands of the Machiavellian.
An Age of Responsibility
This is an era with the potential to bring the best qualities of humanity to the surface, but it will require intentional dedication. The advancements of AI cannot be stopped; the ambitious (with both good and bad intentions) have already seen its power and would relish nothing more than to have private access to the best AI technology while the rest of society lags generations behind.
It is imperative that we, the collective society with access and involvement, keep pace with these technologies. We must diligently apply ourselves to their use while integrating them responsibly and ethically. A lack of diligence from well-intending individuals will not result in a lack of diligence from those seeking to exploit.
There’s Gold in Them Hills
I foresee a bright future—possibly the golden age of humanity—if you and I will diligently put our hands to the plow and build the world we desire to live in.