Are we at risk of global annihilation or global hallucination?

Have you ever seen the movie "Ex Machina" and wondered if we are getting closer to achieving true artificial general intelligence like Ava? Or are we merely creating "stochastic parrots" that perpetuate biases and misinformation at scale?
​
In the movie "Ex Machina," Ava is portrayed as a humanoid robot with advanced artificial intelligence. She has the ability to process information, understand natural language, and exhibit emotions. As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that Ava has her own motives and desires, and is not simply a machine following programmed instructions. Ava ultimately demonstrates her intelligence and autonomy, leading to a dramatic conclusion. She seems capable of performing a wide range of cognitive tasks at a human-like level.

But current AI systems are not as advanced as Ava. Not even close. Most are merely "stochastic parrots."

Stochastic parrots are AI models that are able to generate human-like text responses, but often produce inaccurate or misleading results. ChatGPT is an example of a stochastic parrot. While it is an impressive AI system, it is far from achieving human-like intelligence. The term stochastic parrot was popularized by professor of linguistics Emily Bender and computer scientist Timnit Gebru. They used it to describe the potential dangers of relying too heavily on large language models that have been trained on biased data.

​ChatGPT is a narrow or specialized AI system that is designed to perform specific tasks, such as generating human-like text responses to user input. However, it does not have a broad understanding of the world or the ability to reason and think abstractly like a human being. It is also highly dependent on the data it has been trained on and lacks the ability to learn new things on its own. This limits its adaptability and flexibility.

This dependence on training data can lead to large-scale misinformation. Stochastic parrots like ChatGPT can perpetuate and amplify biases and stereotypes present in the training data, leading to harmful and discriminatory outcomes. This can be particularly problematic in the context of social media, where false information can spread rapidly and have real-world consequences.

So, it's important to validate the output of AI systems like ChatGPT. This means critically evaluating the sources of information we encounter online, fact-checking claims, and being aware of the potential for synthetic media and other forms of misinformation. To date, Open AI, the company behind ChatGPT has refused to disclose its data sources. There is no safety without transparency and they might as well change their name to Closed AI.

While  Ava represents a potential future of human-like Artificial General Intelligence. There is a much more pressing risk right now. We must be mindful of the limitations of current AI systems like ChatGPT and continue to question their output and think critically of the most appropriate use of such tools. By understanding the risks and limitations of these systems, we can work towards creating more advanced and responsible AI technologies. 

Check out the work of Emily Bender and Timnit Gebru. Keep thinking critically, and stay human!

​
Have you ever questioned the nature of  reality itself? According to cognitive psychologist Donald Hoffman, our perception of reality is just a construct of our consciousness rather than a direct representation of objective reality. This mind-bending concept is at the heart of William Gibson's groundbreaking science fiction novel Neuromancer.

Hoffman's theory of a conscious realism suggests that our senses and perceptions are not designed to give us an accurate representation of the world, but rather to provide us with information that is useful for survival.  In other words, our perception of reality is like a desktop interface on a  computer screen, it's not the underlying code, but it allows us to interact with  the system in a meaningful way.

​Neuromancer takes this idea even further by exploring a future where technology and consciousness have merged blurring the lines between what is real and what is not. The protagonist, Case, is a hacker who is recruited for a dangerous mission in a world where people can enter virtual reality environments and interact with simulated objects and peoples.

In the book Gibson suggests that even our memories and experiences may not be reliable representations of objective reality. Characters enter into virtual reality environments where they interact with simulated objects and people, raising questions about the nature of consciousness and what we perceive as 
real.

It's no surprise that Neuromancer has had such a huge impact on science  fiction, inspiring movies like The Matrix and even Ready Player One. Neuromancer is a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of reality and consciousness and a reminder that what we see and experience may not be the whole story.

William Gibson's novel, the Peripheral, represents a more mature and nuanced approach to exploring the themes that Gibson first introduced in Neuromancer. While Neuromancer is considered a classic of the cyberpunk genre, the Peripheral demonstrates Gibson's continued evolution as a writer in his ability to create complex multi-layered narratives. Pick up both books as well as The Case Against Reality by Donald D Hoffman. These books will leave you questioning the nature of reality. 

Thank you for joining us today and we'll see you in the next video.

Stay human!

Welcome to our exploration of how the series DEVS. Written and directed by Alex Garland, the series is explicitly inspired by the ideas of David Deutsch.

David Deutsch is a physicist and computer scientist who has been exploring the intersection of quantum mechanics and computer science for decades. His work has inspired a new generation of scientists and creative minds, including Alex Garland, the writer and director of DEVS.

DEVS is a series that follows Lily Chan, a computer engineer at Amaya, as she uncovers the dark secrets behind the company's quantum computer project. The series explores themes of determinism, free will, and the nature of reality, all of which are inspired by Deutsch's groundbreaking ideas.
​
In particular, DEVS is heavily influenced by Deutsch's ideas about the Many-Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. This theory suggests that every time a quantum measurement is made, the universe splits into multiple parallel worlds, each with its own version of reality.

The Amaya team is trying to create a quantum computer that can accurately simulate past and future events, effectively predicting the future. This idea is also inspired by Deutsch's work, which suggests that the universe can be understood as a giant quantum computer, with all physical processes ultimately reducible to computations.

DEVS explores the implications of such a powerful technology, with Lily and her team discovering that the system has the power to manipulate reality itself. The series raises profound questions about the nature of determinism and free will, and whether the future is predetermined or open to change.

In the final episode of the series, Lily confronts the head of Amaya, Forest, and they engage in a philosophical debate about the nature of reality and the role of technology in shaping it. This scene is a direct homage to David Deutsch's book "The Fabric of Reality," which explores similar ideas.

DEVS is a thought-provoking series that explores some of the most profound ideas in science and philosophy. Alex Garland's use of David Deutsch's ideas demonstrates the power of scientific concepts to inspire and inform creative works, and shows how science fiction can be a vehicle for exploring complex ideas in a way that is accessible and engaging to audiences.
​
Thanks for joining us on this journey through the world of DEVS and David Deutsch.

Stay human, and we'll see you next time.

Today we'll be exploring the incredible science fiction novel "Blindsight" by Peter Watts, and how it delves into the intriguing concept of the Free Energy Principle.

The Free Energy Principle is a neuroscientific theory proposed by Karl Friston, which suggests that living organisms seek to minimize the difference between their expectations and the sensory input they receive from the environment.

In other words, our brains work to minimize free energy in order to efficiently process information and interact with the world around us.

"Blindsight" explores the concept of consciousness and the Free Energy Principle through the eyes of Siri Keeton, a man with a condition called blindsight, which allows him to perceive his surroundings without any conscious awareness.
​
Throughout the novel, Siri and his team encounter an alien intelligence that operates on the principles of the Free Energy Principle. The aliens have developed a unique form of consciousness that is vastly different from human consciousness and is based on the idea of minimizing free energy.

"Blindsight" raises fascinating questions about the nature of consciousness, the limits of human perception and understanding, and the possibility of non-human intelligence. It also highlights the ethical implications of interacting with a sentient species that operates on a fundamentally different set of principles.

As you read "Blindsight", you'll be taken on an incredible journey through the depths of science fiction and the complexities of neuroscience. The book provides a thought-provoking and deeply engaging read for fans of science fiction and those interested in exploring the mysteries of consciousness and the human brain.

So, if you're looking for a book that will challenge your thinking and take you on an exciting adventure, then "Blindsight" by Peter Watts is definitely worth a read.

Thank you for joining us today, and we'll see you in the next video.

Stay Human!