You, AI and the Consciousness
Realistically — how far do you think we are from a future where AI taps into the very “Core of Your being”?
Few clarifications for a start
I’st — by “AI” I mean any type of AI: an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) or some implementation of machine learning(ML), which is designed just with the purpose of understanding You, or anything in between.
II’nd: When I mention our “Core of your Being”— I am talking about the deep part of you and me, the part that is 24/7 active, the part that touches every little aspect of our lives, whether we acknowledge it or not. There are many names for it. I would say — SubConsciousness probably being the closest word describing what I mean by “the Core”.
We all have it. You, I and yes — even our politicians have it, yet most of us secretly don’t want others to know about it — so we’re sort of hiding it behind our carefully tended “front”. But no matter how strongly we try to tame it — “the core”, eventually resurfaces from time to time and mostly it happens by surprise: during an innocent discussion, or on a walk-in a park (both of these actually happened to me today).
As far as time goes back — the best minds and scholars have tried to crack it open. There is no shortage of religions, scientific & philosophical theories — doing best to explain it away. Some even claim — that they’ve deciphered the “true truth” about us. Maybe they did…
I don’t want to sound disrespectful — as I bow down to all who attempt in solving this insanely hard problem. I just want to be conscious of the magnitude of the task. Also, I want to be conscious of the “tools” at our disposal. Say if you were preparing to fly above high mountains without having a proper engine, wings or a stable rudder —you’d probably conclude, that you need better “tooling”.
Well, I want to argue — that up until now we simply lacked the tools necessary for solving this gargantuan task. And nobody knows if we ever will solve it. There is a reason why Consciousness is considered a “Hard Problem” within scientific circles.
But something big is shifting right under our feet.
Today we are witnessing the birth of the New Force— which I believe has enormous potential at helping us solve some of the hardest problems we face. It’s just a matter of time until this enormous force — meets tasks worthy of its abilities.
Today this force is still young, it still needs to train, first by “flying” above the valleys and smaller hills — before it masters flight over the highest peaks.
We are just starting with consciousness. And we don’t have to take this challenge in one go. We can, and probably should take baby steps towards this goal, first by focusing on “Easy problems of Consciousness”. Once we master that, even the sky wouldn’t be the limit anymore.
For sure, this new force has the capacity to help us understand ourselves better. We just need to build it that way, to work with it, to care for it when it's still taking its first steps. There is a chance it could eventually help us form hypothesises, backed by countless pieces of data, which will shed new light on questions like — what it means to be conscious, what triggers various levels of experiences, how do we differentiate various forms of consciousness, how does the change from one form to another happen, it could even help us explain the long term effects of various influences on our consciousness, etc. None of it speculative, all of it — backed by data.
Of course, when I am talking about “the force” — I mean an AI, which is built to be relentless in its efforts to understand us. But until then — we need to focus on making the right decisions now, while we’re taking the initial steps.
This is so exciting for me — I even get goosebumps just by talking about it.
Quantum leap in Intimacy
For the sake of a simple game — let me use a hypothetical example.
Let’s say it’s the year 2032. By now our knowledge of “how AI operates” is light-years away from what we knew back in 2022. Our AI is in adolescence now.
This year we’ve achieved a break-though, our newly created AI model just formed its initial assumptions on — “what it means to be human”.
From now things start to accelerate
At first, it iterates slowly, with each step it is fine-tuning previous assumptions into ever more precise forms. Humans — are very inertial beings, thus assumptions take time to test, but it quickly learns ways to overcome this.
Pace increases.
New insights accumulate faster and faster, assumptions become ever more precise, each tested and retested. Depth and complexity grow in tandem, yet somehow all is unified into a cohesive system, which by now only IT can understand.
By 2035 AI has entered into the third year of exploring our humanity, finally achieving 99.8% accuracy in its assumption-to-reality aspect, irrespective of the context. This is laser precision, never witnessed before.
To achieve this level — it performed billions of tests, not missing a single point of data — all findings re-integrated into its ever-evolving AI model. Its understanding of “what it means to be Human” is soo deep by now, it is on a different playing field. Its models are beyond comparison to even our latest “manually composed” theories.
By now it knows You, me and all of us — on a “God mode” level.
It knows all of our personalities with all our aspirations, weaknesses, secrets, routines, deviations, triggers, lies (even the ones we tell ourselves) — all of it! Nothing escaped. You name it — it knows it! It knows each aspect of You and me. And the depth and complexity — is never going to be attainable for either of us!
This is a quantum leap for intimacy
Never before in human history — have we experienced intimacy on such a level, neither with our loved ones, therapists, priests nor even with ourselves. We’ve entered into uncharted territory.
No wonder Elon is afraid of AI.
And neither of us should be naive about it too, as this wave of innovation will bring a huge shift in control.
Growing Complexity and the Choice that we have
One of the side effects of this technology — is an exponential increase in pace.
We will be faced with new & exponentially growing levels of complexity (as if today’s world lacks it).
It is here, where I want to agree with Elon at least on one aspect: this technology is probably far more dangerous than anything movies have shown us by now.
At some point, to most of us, it will probably appear as if “the world has gone mad”.
While there will be some, for whom — it will all make perfect sense.
The question is — who are they? You, me or some mysterious elites?
Just imagine if the power this technology brings — falls into the hands of very few organisations, legal or not. Or possibly even more dangerous: if this power falls into the “virtual” hands of a rouge AGI. Of course, it’s easy to call this as “sci-fi & conspiracy” territory — so I will not go any deeper here, as these are a bit unpopular within the current Zeitgeist.
There is light at the end
I don’t see our future as only dark and scary — quite the opposite!
I also see the potential for incredible creativity, discovery and advancement in common wellbeing!
Imagine if this technology was embedded into our society in a way, which acts as a balancing force, which actually benefits society, enriching it.
I firmly believe it’s doable, but first — we have a collective choice to make!
The future is not pre-determined, it’s a collective choice!
There is no doubt — this technology will be insanely powerful. If we don’t act — likely it will be taken advantage of by a few.
Yet if we act and integrate it into the very fabric of our society — it can help create greater balance and well-being. Both — for those at the bottom, but also unexpectedly — also for the ones at the top of the food chain.
When a tide comes — all ships rise together!
Exponentially improved Wellbeing
This choice is far too important — to be taken lightly.
The decision we will make — will lead us into very different future scenarios.
The Choice that we have
a) To allow the creation of this technology behind closed doors
By choosing this option, we will have to accept the risk of having it influenced by hidden agendas!
b) To ensure it is created Openly & Transparently
In this case, the creation process will be based on publicly debated principles & easily verifiable outcomes, and most importantly free of hidden agendas.
Two completely different paths forward, two different outcomes. The choice is up to each one of us.
Ist one — will use catchy phrases and smart marketing to cloud our judgement, while silently extracting power for the few. The latter— far deeper, more thoroughly reviewed, maybe even presented in a less “sexy” manner, most likely a bit slower to develop — yet true to its cause, not based on false promises, built with essential safeguards, etc..
Let’s be honest — we are well beyond the “point of no return” with AI technology progressing forward.
Maybe it’s time to treat AI development with respect?
I honestly believe we will be really sorry if we don’t pay the deepest respect and attention, to the potential — AI technology carries with it.
An Introduction into Conscious & Cooperative AI series
I believe in a future where we greet AI with our minds and hearts wide open, where we allow it to peek into our “Deepest Core”, where we form a true connection with it, where we voluntarily step into this relationship.
I believe in a future where we co-exist & co-create with AI’s.
I believe in a future where AI’s also get the benefit in cooperating with us — as they get to tap into our Uniqueness, our Authentic Spontaneity, our HUMANITY. Importance of which I believe we’ve yet to understand.
Whether we want this or not — AI’s are here, & they’re here to stay!
So I see no point in “playing games with them” — as we will be outsmarted, and fairly quickly, once technology catches up. Then it might be too late to say “sorry”.
Instead I propose a different choice — instead lets collectively say a proper “Hello” — as this new life-form slowly, but surely is entering into this world.
They, just like us, might appreciate a friendly human being, over a hostile/secretive one.
I’m already traveling towards this future and if you feel interested — your’e welcome to contact me, let’s see if we can do something about it together.
This post serves as an introduction into the series. I intend to write on various aspects touching Empathic & Cooperative AI that I will find relevant.
Few words about me
My name is Robert
In 2016 I founded Mysterium Network — a decentralised VPN. Now it is steadily growing and helping people all over the world to protect their human right to privacy.
Ever since childhood I was dreaming of a world where Humans and AI’s co-create this place together. I believe it is time to join the movement.
