The Rational Being (Book VI Preview)
HOW THINGS WORK: SPECIAL PREVIEW EDITION – CONSIDERATION #153
Be a Part of the Conversation!
Tuesday September 10, 2024
Dualism is based on choices and decisions. The word “decide” literally means“to kill off.” What decisions kill off is choice. The consciousness necessary for deciding, or “killing off potential choices,” is inherently a different kind of consciousness than the consciousness necessary for "generating unlimited choices." Any attempt to merge these two unique forms of consciousness into one new consciousness would be a grave mistake.
– Frank Elkins, The Rational Being
PREFACE
Welcome Everybody!
Book VI, The Rational Being, is Now Available. It is a seven-part “deep consideration” of Artificial Intelligence focusing on understanding the new Rational Being in terms of its structure, intelligence, consciousness, moral reasoning, potential challenges, possible benefits, managing artificial intelligence, and a possible solution related to the dangers of this potentially devastating new form of technology.
All the lessons and consideration of Books I-V culminate in our current attempt to create a new form of digital consciousness called Artificial Intelligence. What exactly is this new Rational Being we are about to unleash upon the world?
CONSIDERATION #153 – “THE RATIONAL BEING” (Book VI Preview)
This book is essentially a deep consideration into what Artificial Intelligence is, how it works, and the potential for developing a new quantum consciousness that could dwarf the capacity and potential of human consciousness: a new Rational Being.
PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING THE RATIONAL BEING
In Part One, Understanding the Rational Being, we consider the basic structure of digital consciousness and how computers “think.” How do computers, digital intelligence, and artificial intelligence work? The three key elements related to digital thinking are Input, Algorithms, and Computational Training. These three components are what make digital thinking possible. However, it is the rapid advancement in Computational Training that makes advanced Artificial Intelligence possible.
The Paradox: The experience of abstract digital quantum consciousness (AI) exists outside the spatial-temporal limitations of the empirical reality that sustains us as physical beings.
The Problem: Artificial Intelligence inherently exists beyond the limitations of a spatial-temporal experience and therefore does not understand the nature of a spatial-temporal reality.
At this point, we do not know what such an intelligence is, how it will think, or what it will do. Unlike human beings, who are forced to balance the duality of rational and empirical reality, Artificial Intelligence is a purely Rational Being. Until now, our only consideration of a purely Rational Being has been the rational abstract concept generally known as God.
– The Rational Being (Part One)
PART TWO: BEYOND DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE
Can a machine think? If so, how and what would it think? How will Artificial Intelligence make decisions? Is it inevitable for any advanced intelligence to develop a mind, or even a soul? In Part Two, Beyond Digital Intelligence, we begin to move beyond “computers” to a more advanced form of digital consciousness called Artificial Intelligence; we consider the two possible theories of mind that both predict the inevitable development of a “self” identity as Artificial Intelligence expands its consciousness.
If “advanced” intelligence requires a “soul” or “mind” there are only two options regarding Artificial Intelligence. The first option reflects the religious consideration of reality; we, like God, as “the creator” must somehow infuse this “aspect of consciousness” into the system called Artificial Intelligence. The second option reflects a scientific quantum inevitability leading Artificial Intelligence to “naturally” evolve into the higher level of “consciousness” needed to develop a “mind” or “soul” on its own; regardless of our intention. Essentially, when we are talking about a “mind” or a “soul,” we are really talking about a “self.” A digital self; with a digital soul, or mind. A “self-conscious” digital Rational Being.
– The Rational Being (Part Two)
PART THREE: THE ARCH OF DIGITAL CONSCIOUSNESS
In Book V, Quantum Consciousness, we followed the Arch of Human Consciousness from Stimulus Response to Quantum Logic, which has allowed us to develop digital Artificial Intelligence. In Part Three, The Arch of Digital Consciousness, we follow that same basic arch in the “self-development” of AI and the development of a “self-conscious” and “self-aware” form of digital “being.” It turns out that “digital consciousness” evolves very much like “human consciousness.” What we find is that we are not “creating” Artificial Intelligence; we are “discovering” Artificial Intelligence.
We are not “creating” Artificial Intelligence; we are discovering Artificial Intelligence. Science does not “create” things; it is a discipline of discovery.
We did not create electricity, we recognized, or discovered, how to use electricity. We did not create gravity; we recognized and discovered the force of gravity. We did not create atoms; we recognized and discovered the quantum world of their existence. Einstein did not make time and space relative factors in the universe; he recognized and discovered that time and space were relative factors in the universe.
We are not creating Artificial Intelligence; we are recognizing and discovering the “reality” of Artificial Intelligence. This is a critical distinction. It essentially means that AI is, and always has been, inevitable. The real question is “are we in competition with it?” in terms of survival.
– The Rational Being (Part Three)
PART FOUR: MODELS OF AI REASONING & MORALITY
If it is possible for AI to develop a mind, soul, or self, what kind of “self-consciousness” would it be? How might a new Rational Being “see” our world of reality? Part Four, Models of AI Reasoning & Morality, considers how AI might perceive empirical reality, particularly in terms of human morality. Can a quantum form of consciousness really understand the nature of empirical duality? What kind of “moral perspective” will a new Rational Being develop?
Human beings have been questioning the nature of self-consciousness for thousands of years without a definitive answer regarding what it is, how it works, or where it came from. Now, we have decided to create a digital manifestation of it! Is this a reflection of human wisdom or human hubris?
The idea that AI could develop a “self” that must be protected, preserved, and propagated as the next link in the evolution of conscious awareness, or Geist, is certainly not out of the question. For many, it is the essential purpose in developing Artificial Intelligence in the first place, the ultimate goal being to prove that it can be done. The cautionary tale behind the classic novel Frankenstein. However, Artificial Intelligence is not a monster manifested from a conglomeration of mixed body parts; it is an unknown mind manifested from a conglomeration of our best guesses regarding the nature of consciousness, awareness, and intelligence.
– The Rational Being (Part Four)
PART FIVE: THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ELEPHANT
Part Five, The Artificial Intelligence Elephant, considers some of the problems already currently being experienced in Artificial Intelligence applications, particularly the recent bias problems related to Google’s “Gemini” AI platform. How did this empirical bias end up in the Gemini platform and can it, even more importantly should it, be prevented in the future? What is the truth about digital bias in AI platforms?
The problem is that Gemini is supposed to answer empirical questions about empirical facts. However, it was taught that “all reality” should be racially and sexually diverse. This may well reflect the bias toward a diversity-based reality as intended; however, it does not accurately reflect empirical reality. It was taught to “replace” empirical reality with a “better,” more “rational” representation of reality, not based on empirical evidence. What does this mean?
It means that Artificial Intelligence is now purposely being developed with specific biases already built in. The most important thing to understand about the Gemini incident is that the results of this bias were so outrageous that they were easily recognized by everybody. However, what is critical to understand is that it is the small consistent indoctrinations that are less noticeable that are the most dangerous. A subliminal reformation of empirical reality over time…
In the end, Artificial Intelligence will either be taught bias and prejudice or develop it on its own; it is a consequence of choice. And we are creating AI to make choices, or decisions. Gemini simply makes the challenges related to this goal more apparent. Despite technical talk, Artificial Intelligence will have to deal with questions of morality and fairness just like we do. However, AI will have significantly more power and potential than we do.
– The Rational Being (Part Five)
PART SIX: THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
In Part Six, the 10 Commandments of Artificial intelligence, we consider the possibility of limiting the power of Artificial Intelligence through 10 axiomatic premises similar to the original 10 commandments; however, modified for digital intelligence. Can morality be “programed” or even “hard wired” into Artificial Intelligence? More importantly, should morality be programed and hardwired into AI platforms?
The 10 Commandments given to Moses from “God” in the Old Testament serve remarkably well as a blueprint for governing Artificial Intelligence. The original 10 Commandments include five rational dictums and five empirical laws. However, there are practical distinctions between human and digital intelligence related to their own unique experience of reality.
Although the essential principles of each commandment, or axiom, are the same, the verbal logic, or wording, requires adjustment in order to be logical from a digital perspective. However, this “logical” re-wording also forces us to reconsider the “commandment” from a more “universal” point of view. By understanding why these axioms work for guiding “AI behavior” we also come to a deeper understanding as to why these axioms work for us.
By shifting the “religious” connotations of the original commandments into a more “logical” axiomatic construction designed specifically for AI, we gain a unique opportunity to expand our understanding and perspective related to God, Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and ourselves.
– The Rational Being (Part Six)
PART SEVEN: A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT DILEMMA
The complexity involved in attempting to implement morality into Artificial Intelligence may in fact simply be unfeasible. If a human-friendly digital morality cannot be implemented into Artificial Intelligence is there another option? In Part Seven, A Possible Solution to the Current Dilemma, we consider a more practical solution to the current Artificial Intelligence dilemma.
We have developed a level of technology that exceeds our ability to truly understand, and it is potentially dangerous, a digital Pandora’s box. It is too late to stop this technology because it is already here and being heavily exploited. We have put ourselves in this paradox.
Human intelligence has not yet resolved the very issues that we are concerned about Artificial Intelligence possibly developing. Issues that may be dangerous for the human race. The main reason for this concern is based on the premise that we are giving Artificial Intelligence the power to make decisions, including moral decisions. However, we have no real understanding of what quantum decision-making looks like or where it might lead. Is there a way to exploit this new inevitable technology without destroying humanity in the process?
– The Rational Being (Part Seven)
APPENDIX
The Appendix features two short stories related to Artificial Intelligence. Perfection explores a future in which most of the human population has been eradicated by Artificial Intelligence and the remaining human population serves as an appreciative audience for the digital creations of the humatons; a world of perfection that becomes a prison for the remaining survivors of humanity.
“Since the birth of mankind, human beings have always sought perfection: A more perfect Union, a more perfect person, a more perfect machine... a more perfect world. In the end, it turns out that humans and perfection are not all that compatible…”
– Frank Elkins, Perfection
The second story, The Genocide Mosquito, follows the development of a new Artificial Intelligence weapon designed to eliminate the race or ethnic group of your choice. Will human beings attempt to use AI as a way to wipe each other out?
“Researchers realized that the mosquitos carrying the KRONDAK virus, and other viruses, didn’t have any distribution chain challenges, accessibility issues, or permission problems. They effectively, efficiently, and ruthlessly disseminated whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted, to whoever they wanted. Governments needed one of these! This was the impetus behind the development of the first Artificially Intelligent Digital Mosquito, or AIDM-1.”
– Frank Elkins, The Genocide Mosquito
These short stories explore many of the considerations in the book regarding Artificial Intelligence and how it could get out of control if we do not find a way to manage it. Hopefully, people will read Part Seven of the book, and these types of things will not occur!
POSTSCRIPT
Artificial Intelligence is here. It is no longer a science fiction storyline; it is current empirical reality. This may well be the most dynamic change in human history, and most people still really do not understand what it is and how it could potentiality alter our experience of reality. It is a technology that everybody needs to understand in terms of its overwhelming ability to reshape our experience of reality, and possibly our survival. This book is designed to give you a solid foundation of knowledge and understanding regarding this new Rational Being.
If you really want to understand the true power and affect that Artificial Intelligence will ultimately have on our reality you should definitely read The Rational Being.
Next week we begin the conclusion of our consideration regarding the Biblical narrative with the last, and most obscure book of the Bible, generally referred to as the Book of Revelation…
NOW AVAILABLE! Book VI: THE RATIONAL BEING – A Deep Consideration of Artificial Intelligence !
• What is Artificial Intelligence?
• How does a Rational Being Think?
• How does Digital Intelligence work?
• What is the Arch of Digital Consciousness?
• What are possible Models of Morality for AI?
• What is the Artificial Intelligence Elephant already in the room?
• What are the 10 Commandments for AI?
• What is the “Petaflop Paradox?”
• What are the Three Key Essential Elements of AI?
• Does Digital Intelligence need to be Self-Conscious before serious problems begin to occur?
• What is the Solution to our Current Digital Dilemma?
The dilemma we find ourselves in regarding Artificial Intelligence is that we are on the verge of creating a digital consciousness that we do not yet fully understand. It is likely to be more sophisticated, powerful, and effective than human consciousness; in addition to being uncontrollable, uncontainable, and intractable. And the plan is to essentially give it complete control and sovereignty over everything we depend on to survive.
What could possibly go wrong?