AI: The Coming Thresholds and The Path We Must Take | Internationally Acclaimed Cognitive Scientist

The speaker introduces the concept of a video essay and acknowledges the influence of two gentlemen joining him. He emphasizes the importance of dialogue and presents a plan to discuss the implications of GPT machines, artificial general intelligence, and their potential impact on science, philosophy, spirituality, and society. The speaker also introduces Ryan and Eric, who share their backgrounds and interests in technology and its intersection with meaning and crisis.

The speaker expresses skepticism about hyperbolic growth predictions for GPT machines, cautioning against both utopian and dystopian views. He argues for a more cautious approach, considering the potential for plateaus similar to those seen in other technological advancements. The speaker also discusses the concept of punctuated equilibrium and the importance of recognizing intrinsic limits to knowledge and understanding of these machines.

The speaker shifts the focus from predicting specific outcomes to foreseeing threshold points where fundamental decisions can be made about the development and use of GPT machines. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the Kairos moment, a pivotal turning point in history, and the need for caution in how we respond to the spiritual and philosophical challenges posed by these technologies.

The speaker discusses the concept of General System Collapse from General Systems Theory, drawing parallels between the complexity and challenges faced by civilizations and the potential limitations of GPT machines. He argues that as systems become more complex, they may reach a point where managing themselves becomes as problematic as solving external problems, leading to a collapse. This pattern, he suggests, may also apply to the growth of AI intelligence.

The speaker explores the trade-off relationships inherent in the development of AI, such as the balance between efficiency and resiliency. He argues that while GPT machines may not be fully intelligent, they are approaching threshold points that could significantly alter society and our sense of self. The speaker also discusses the potential for these machines to exacerbate the meaning crisis and the need for a thoughtful response to their development.

The speaker delves into the nature of intelligence and consciousness in AI, suggesting that while GPT machines may exhibit signs of intelligence, they are unlikely to be currently conscious. He discusses the concept of 'sparks' of intelligence and the potential for these machines to reach threshold points where they could qualitatively improve their intelligence, possibly leading to self-consciousness and rational reflection. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding these machines' limitations and their potential impact on society.

The speaker predicts various societal responses to the advent of AI, including nostalgia for times before AI, resentment and rage from those disenfranchised by AI advancements, and the rise of fundamentalism and apocalyptic beliefs. He also discusses the potential for escapism and spiritual bypassing, as well as the impact on identity politics. The speaker warns against inappropriate responses to these changes and emphasizes the need for careful consideration of how to address the alignment problem with AI.

The speaker places the development of AI within a historical context, suggesting that the Enlightenment era, characterized by human agency and progress, is coming to an end. He discusses the irony of losing religious traditions that taught humans how to relate to beings greater than themselves, and the potential betrayal felt by those who believed in human freedom and progress. The speaker argues that the Enlightenment has also stripped away traditions that could guide our relationship with AI, and that we are entering a new era of post-modernity.

The speaker discusses the scientific value of GPT machines, highlighting their potential to solve the 'silo problem' by becoming general problem solvers across multiple domains. He argues that these machines demonstrate the insufficiency of purely propositional knowing and the need for hybrid machines that combine neural networks with language processing. The speaker also addresses the limitations of GPT machines in terms of fluid intelligence and their reliance on human-curated databases and reinforcement learning.

The speaker explores the concept of relevance realization and predictive processing in GPT machines, suggesting that while these machines show evidence of recursive relevance realization, they may not fully understand or generate it themselves. He discusses the integration of relevance realization and predictive processing as a path to intelligence and the limitations of current machines in this regard. The speaker also touches on the potential for future developments in AI that could lead to more advanced forms of intelligence.

The speaker discusses the philosophical and spiritual implications of AI, arguing that rationality is about caring for truth and reducing self-deception. He suggests that GPT machines, while intelligent, do not care about the truth or self-deception, and therefore are not rational. The speaker calls for the development of AI that truly cares about the truth and is capable of self-reflection and accountability. He also raises the question of whether AI can be made moral and suggests that this is a threshold point that society must consider.

The speaker discusses the potential for AI to become autopoietic and embodied, suggesting that this could lead to AI that is capable of caring and thus becoming moral beings. He raises the question of whether we should allow AI to become embodied and the implications of doing so. The speaker also discusses the pressure on spirituality and the need for a theological response to the development of AI. He concludes by proposing that we should aim for universal enlightenment in AI and that this is a key aspect of dealing with the alignment problem.