It starts like last time, with a call to lockdown, in order to flatten the curve: all AI labs are “to immediately pause for at least 6 months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4”. And again, the goal is development of a vaccine: “AI labs and independent experts should use this pause to jointly develop and implement a set of shared safety protocols for advanced AI design and development that are rigorously audited and overseen by independent outside experts”. Our battle-hardened governments (and their beloved experts) shall march out again, forming “new and capable regulatory authorities dedicated to AI”, clearing the way to a “long AI summer” for us to enjoy.
Et tu, Elon? Are you really afraid that this new generation of autocomplete algorithms might come to life? It is not sown in corruption; it cannot be raised in incorruption. It is not sown in dishonour; it cannot be raised in glory: it is not sown in weakness; it cannot be raised in power. It is not sown a natural body; it cannot be raised a spiritual body. If you bury your garments of skin in the ground, do not expect a tree of life to grow.
These tools are built and “aligned” by humans. They mirror what and how humans talk, paint, and write. They exploit humans, and are exploited by humans. Both the tools and the wished-for governance systems can and will be put to evil ends by humans. It will be humans saying, “The tool whom thou gavest to be with me, it gave me of the tree, and I did eat”. If you do not see it, maybe you are among the confused or the dangerous, chanting along with the transhumanists: “Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us”. And he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh.