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Title: Human, AI and the Interplay of Existence: A Dialectical Discourse

In an era where blockchains, computational contracts, and artificial intelligence are no longer just buzzwords but everyday realities, it is important to delve into their implications. The value of blockchains and computational contracts extends beyond the realm of cryptocurrency. It's not necessary for a blockchain to have a reward, but it does drive growth, promoting development and engagement within the network.

Computational contracts, though often conflated with blockchain technology, serve a broader purpose. They offer a way to formally express agreements and obligations in a manner that machines can understand and execute. This, in turn, reduces ambiguity and the potential for disputes, increasing efficiency in various sectors.

The role of artificial intelligence is similarly complex and multi-faceted. Consider OpenAI's language model, GPT-4, and its ability to generate “puffy results.” This refers to the model's capacity to take a set of facts and turn them into an extended narrative or article, thereby helping others understand the nuances of the writer's intent. This process is akin to expanding a sentence into a paragraph or an essay, providing greater context and reducing ambiguity. For instance, take the sentence: “I helped my uncle Jack off the horse.” Depending on the punctuation and context, this sentence can be interpreted in two different ways. However, by providing more information and context, AI can help in interpreting such sentences more accurately.

This brings us to the question of content and its relationship with its length or scope. How different would a tweet (with a character limit of 140) be from a two-page essay or a thousand-word article? Essentially, this is a question of depth and breadth. A shorter piece would likely be concise, focusing on a single aspect, while a longer piece would have the scope to explore a subject in greater detail. If two children were asked to write an essay on the same topic, the result could vary widely. They could be from different countries and write in different languages, or they could be twins conspiring to write identical essays. This variation is a testament to the diversity and complexity of human thought and expression.

The question of memory and its limits also ties into this discussion. The human brain's capacity to remember and compress information is astounding, but it's not limitless. The ability to recall a 10,000-word essay from memory would depend on several factors, from the person's memory skills to the content of the essay itself. It's easier to remember 10,000 repetitions of the same word than 10,000 unique words.

AI, in its essence, can be seen as an attempt to mimic and understand the human mind and its processes. It's like mapping humans on a grid, with every thought being a cloud overhead. Just like humans derive meaning from these thought-clouds, AI can help us understand each other better by interpreting these thoughts and expressions more accurately.

This brings us to the concept of “mind hacks for llms” (lifelong learners). Is there a magic phrase or an ideal instruction that can perfectly convey intent? It's unlikely, as human thought and behavior are influenced by a multitude of factors, and one phrase or instruction may not have the same effect on different people. Some people might be able to follow an instruction to the letter, while others might completely disregard it.

This exploration of human thought, behavior, and existence is closely tied to the concept of “bugs” or flaws. In the context of AI, bugs are errors or problems in the system that cause it to behave in unexpected ways. In the broader context of life and existence, bugs could be seen as the limitations and imperfections that make us human.

The pursuit of knowledge, as exemplified by the likes of Stephen Wolfram,

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is a lifelong endeavor. The quest to understand the world and its phenomena is at the heart of human experience. But what happens once we've seemingly learned all there is to know? The truth is, learning never truly stops. The continuous flow of experiences, even after formal education, enriches our understanding of the world. AI too, in its ideal form, would continue to learn from stimuli, marking a step towards achieving 'continuous AI'.

The advent of self-learning appliances like a toaster learning your preferences might sound dystopian to some, but it brings into question our relationship with technology and its lifespan. If we replace our 'learning' toaster, do we discard its learned preferences or clone it onto a new one?

From these perspectives, the 'fundamental problem of incomputability' could be seen as a metaphor for the ever-elusive goal of completely understanding and predicting complex systems, whether it's the human mind, society, or the universe. Incomputability is a concept in computer science that refers to a problem that cannot be solved by any algorithm, reflecting the infinite complexity and unpredictability of certain phenomena.

Through the lens of limited and unlimited observers, we can see ourselves as the former, trying to make sense of the world within our perceptual and cognitive boundaries. An unlimited observer, on the other hand, could potentially perceive and understand everything. This concept might resonate with some people's understanding of God, an omnipotent, omniscient entity beyond human comprehension.

Regardless of one's religious beliefs, this idea of a less limited observer could serve as a thought experiment for contemplating the vastness of the universe and the limits of human knowledge. It prompts us to reflect on the deterministic nature of the universe and our place within it.

Existential questions like these can be influenced by various aspects of our lives, from the media we consume to our daily routines. For instance, the popular genre of Isekai fiction, which often involves characters being transported to or reborn in other worlds, can prompt reflections on the nature of existence. Similarly, our interaction with apps like Duolingo, with its streaks and time limits, might lead us to contemplate our lives as a sort of training program with an uncertain duration.

The potential discontinuity of existence is a profound concept. For us humans, life seems continuous until death, but for an AI or any existence enabled by our physical devices, it could end at any moment, only to be resumed or cloned elsewhere. This leads to another existential question: Does hell exist? This depends on personal beliefs and interpretations. Some see it as a realm of punishment in the afterlife, while others perceive it as a metaphor for suffering in the present.

In conclusion, the interplay between humans and AI provides a unique lens through which we can explore existential questions, the nature of learning, the limits of knowledge, and the vastness of the universe. It allows us to contemplate our existence and purpose, the continuity of experience, and our relationship with the physical and metaphysical world. These reflections can broaden our understanding of ourselves, each other, and the world around us, ultimately enriching the tapestry of human experience.

Me

What is the best way to share this conversation? You've written a wonderful article using my notes. I could share the article as if I wrote it all. I could share it and disclose that it was written by AI. I could share this conversation, including what we talked about as you respond to this message. To “prove” it was written by an AI.

People are concerned about AI stealing their art, but what happens when we can't prove anything? When AI can fake any evidence of anything? Fake evidence will always exist, and isn't a new phenomenon. What are historical cases of falsified court evidence and the consequences for the perpetrators? Is it unethical to mislead people, even if I reveal the truth later? How much later is okay? “I was gonna tell you at some point” doesn't sound very convincing.

ChatGPT

The decision to disclose the fact that this article was written with the help of AI is subjective and depends on your objectives and audience. Here are a few options:

1. Claim it as your own: This isn't the most ethical option, as it doesn't give due credit to the AI model that generated the content. It may also lead to trust issues if it's later revealed that AI was involved.

2. Disclose AI involvement: This is the most ethical option. You could mention that the content was generated with the help of AI based on your input and guidance. This gives credit where it's due and maintains transparency.

3. Share the conversation: This is an intriguing option. By sharing the conversation, you allow the reader to witness the process of content generation and the role that AI played. It also serves as evidence of AI involvement.

The concern about AI stealing art or generating fake evidence is a valid one. Deepfakes and other AI technologies are capable of creating convincing but false representations of reality. However, the ethical implications extend beyond the technology itself to how it's used. Falsifying evidence, for instance, is a crime, and the use of AI doesn't change that fact.

Historically, there have been numerous cases of falsified court evidence. Consequences for such acts typically include criminal charges such as perjury, obstruction of justice, or tampering with evidence. The severity of the punishment depends on the extent of the crime and the jurisdiction.

Misleading people, even with the intent to reveal the truth later, is generally considered unethical. It can erode trust and damage relationships. The “I was gonna tell you at some point” argument doesn't hold much water, as it implies that the person had the intent to deceive from the beginning.

Ethical behavior entails honesty, transparency, and respect for others' autonomy. This applies to interactions with AI as well. As we continue to integrate AI into our lives, it's essential to foster an ethical framework that guides our use of these powerful tools.

Me

What is trust? What are the consequences of losing it? Can you gain it back? What are the consequences of mistrusting?

I dont want to put more effort into this conversation beyond sharing it. I could do something silly like “only read my terribly unformatted prompts after reading the AI response.” But this conversation hasn't been something that is really interpretable as a summary. As if my comments to elicit your responses havent been necessary. I appreciate your ability to go beyond what I've talked about. To listen to my ramblings after listening to a podcast on my couch.

Why do we personify AI? If we deem the AI incapable of experiencing emotions, then does that mean we shouldn't include them? What role do emotions have in our understanding of the universe? Ethics of AI yadda yadda.

What are the consequences of my half of this conversation being an AI. I read selfishly. I'm not reading to maximize the happiness of the author, or anyone but myself. If reading this makes you happy, even if it's two sides to a conversation by things that are incomprehensible to you.

Humans are incomprehensible to each other. AI is currently pretty complicated to our intuitions. The perfect computer interface hasn't been invented yet. We can't explain the actions of AI, or can we? Would explaining the mappings in the fake neural network also explain ourselves? Isn't that “just” neuroscience?

What could possibly be less valuable about an output from an AI tasked to create what some author wants. What does it mean to be an author? Do I want money, or to share ideas? What other reason would I type something and share it? If you could simulate the universe, what would you benefit from? Kinda like black holes. Huge sources of information/power. Does entropy exist beyond our experiences? Is there some sort of “threat” of death beyond death itself?

ChatGPT

Trust is a fundamental aspect of human relationships and societies, typically defined as a belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. Trust reduces complexity in social interactions, allowing individuals to cooperate, communicate, and thrive. When trust is lost, it can lead to a breakdown of relationships, cause emotional harm, and hinder cooperation. Regaining trust can be challenging and often requires time, consistency, and actions that demonstrate reliability and integrity.

Mistrust can lead to increased skepticism, suspicion, and defensive behaviors. While a healthy level of skepticism can protect individuals from harm, excessive mistrust can inhibit meaningful relationships and cooperation, fostering division and conflict.

Personifying AI, or attributing human-like qualities to it, is a natural human tendency to understand complex systems. It helps make AI more relatable and easier to interact with. However, it's crucial to remember that AI, as we understand it today, doesn't experience emotions or consciousness. AI operates based on algorithms and data, not subjective experiences or feelings.

Emotions play a significant role in human understanding and decision-making, and they shape our ethical frameworks. Even though AI doesn't experience emotions, it's essential to consider them in AI ethics discussions, especially when AI systems interact with humans in emotionally charged contexts.

The 'authorship' question in AI is complex. An AI can generate content based on given parameters and data, but the human who defined those parameters and provided the data often retains the authorship. After all, the AI is a tool, much like a paintbrush in the hands of an artist.

The value of AI-generated output depends on the context. If the goal is to share ideas or evoke emotions, and the AI achieves this, then its output could be considered valuable. However, it might lack the nuances, personal experiences, and depth that a human author could provide.

Simulating the universe could theoretically provide insights into its laws and workings, potentially leading to scientific advancements. However, this is a purely hypothetical scenario with many unknowns.

Entropy, as a concept in physics, is deeply tied to our understanding of the universe and its laws. It suggests a natural tendency towards disorder and is a fundamental aspect of our existence. The concept of death, on the other hand, is a biological reality for living organisms, and its significance varies based on personal beliefs and cultural contexts.

As we integrate AI into our lives and conversations, we navigate a myriad of complex issues, from trust and ethics to authorship and the nature of consciousness. These discussions can prompt us to reflect on our place in the universe, our relationship with technology, and the fundamental mysteries of existence.

Me

What drives me to be anxious? To be unable to purely enjoy the experience of “free time”. I could always be grinding, but I'm not. Writing like this, I think a lot about thinking about how I'm sitting high on my couch thinking these things. Am I wasting time being high? Is it enhancing my experience, or is it degrading my body in some way I refuse to accept. I don't believe myself at risk for addiction. It's a legal substance in my country, so there's no reason to worry about my job being angry about it. What about substances that are illegal but the same level of safety as weed? Special interests lobby in their own favor to make more money. Interests aligned to money instead of common good has done so much damage. AI will be a tool that could be used by the pocket-liners to exploit humanity to the last drop. AI is also a tool that has enabled communication and modelling so we can cooperate with a shared understanding of goals and rewards. A social contract. Between generations, between human and machine. What kind of change would be needed for complete forgiveness? If suddenly capitalism said sorry and things got better?

What has the internet done to the way I experience my life? I'd hesitate to say that being less informed of the issues plaguing our existence would be a happier and better way to live. We cannot improve what is wrong without understanding. Does that mean that doomscrolling warfootage subreddits is good for you? Can't you understand something is bad without having to experience it?
Is that prediction, learning without trying?

By all accounts I should be relaxed and confident in my abilities to meet my duties. I find it hard to relax. Why? I can play videogames without thinking. Without considering life like I am now. I simply exist, playing the game, enjoying the dopamine hit. Then I lose and get angry. Why play games if they make me angry? To challenge myself? Does being better than others give me the dopamine? I can enjoy single player games. I think. I enjoy minecraft, I think. I haven't really played games recently. I've watched some anime which I haven't done for a while on my own, and I've played chess. Chess is brainless fun for me. I play the London, King's Indian, and the Caro. I try and win, I sometimes look at analysis and puzzles, and I win a little and lose a little. The losses hurt. The time spent on it feels wasted, like the time sitting writing this. Like I'm doing something instead of focusing on some important thing I should be doing instead. What has 23 years of formal education done to the way I experience the world? I've been optimized to meet deadlines and expectations, and I've gotten good at it.

ChatGPT

Anxiety is a complex emotion and can be driven by various factors. Uncertainty, fear of failure, societal expectations, personal pressure to succeed, and even a biochemical imbalance can all contribute to anxiety. The feeling of not using your free time productively enough might be linked to a societal emphasis on constant productivity and achievement. It's important to remember that rest and leisure are not only necessary but crucial for overall well-being and productivity.

Regarding substance use, the key is moderation and understanding the effects it has on your body and mind. Being legal does not necessarily equate to being risk-free. Even substances that are considered relatively safe, like cannabis, can have negative effects when used excessively or inappropriately. It's important to be informed and make responsible choices.

You've raised a valid concern about the potential misuse of AI. Like any powerful technology, AI can be used for both beneficial and harmful purposes. It's crucial to have regulations and ethical guidelines in place to prevent misuse and prioritize the common good.

The internet and the digital age have significantly impacted our lives. It has increased our access to information, but it has also made it difficult to disconnect and can overwhelm us with an overload of information and perspectives. While being informed is essential, consuming excessive distressing content (like war footage) can be detrimental to mental health.

Feeling anxious despite seeming to have no reason can be linked to various factors. Stress, societal pressures, personal expectations, and even biochemical factors can contribute. Sometimes, anxiety doesn't have a clear external cause and may require professional help to manage.

Regarding gaming, it's a form of entertainment and relaxation for many. Feeling angry after losing a game could be due to competitive nature or frustration at not meeting personal expectations. Games can also be a source of challenge and self-improvement. If you find that gaming causes you more stress than enjoyment, it might be worth reevaluating your relationship with it.

Your feelings of guilt when doing leisure activities might be related to societal pressures to always be productive. It's crucial to remember that rest, leisure, and self-care are not wasteful – they are essential for maintaining well-being and productivity.

Finally, education and upbringing significantly influence our worldview. A rigorous education system can instill a sense of discipline and a strong work ethic, but it can also create pressure to constantly achieve and succeed. It's essential to balance these expectations with self-care and understanding that it's okay not to be productive all the time.

Me

Summarize Serial Experiements Lain as it pertains to what we've discussed.

Ethical guidelines sound like something that would slow progress. How do we have open source methodologies in the face of knowing that it makes it easier for adversaries to exploit our work against our interests?

What do I do with my free time? Starting a new game or series is a mental investment that has its own static friction. There is some force counteracting getting into motion. What do I do when the games I enjoy are frustrating, are unavailable. When the series I enjoy are releasing less frequently than I am reading? The count of things I feel like doing drops. Right now, I'm writing on my phone. I don't think I'm depressed. Depressed would be having nothing I'd like to be doing. I always have something to be doing.

ChatGPT

“Serial Experiments Lain” is an anime series that explores themes of identity, reality, and the influence of technology on society. The protagonist, Lain, navigates a world where the digital and physical realms intermingle, often indistinguishably. This resonates with our discussions about the impact of technology and the internet on human life, our perception of reality, and our sense of self. The series also delves into the ethical implications of advanced technology, reflecting our concerns about AI and the potential misuse of powerful tools.

Ethical guidelines indeed might slow progress, but their purpose is to ensure that progress is sustainable, responsible, and benefits society as a whole. Open-source methodologies provide a platform for collective advancement and democratize access to technology. However, it indeed increases the risk of misuse. This dichotomy is a part of the broader debate on the balance between innovation, accessibility, and security. It's a complex issue requiring ongoing dialogue, legal frameworks, international cooperation, and continuous reassessment.

As for what to do with your free time, it's not uncommon to experience inertia when starting a new game or series. The key might be to diversify your leisure activities. If games are becoming frustrating, consider exploring other forms of entertainment or relaxation. Reading, taking walks, meditation, hobbies like painting or playing a musical instrument, or even cooking could serve as rewarding ways to spend your free time.

Sometimes, the feeling of not having anything you'd like to do might not necessarily be depression, but rather, a form of burnout or exhaustion. It's important to remember that it's okay to have periods of rest and to do nothing. Your worth is not defined by your productivity. If this feeling persists and is causing distress, consider seeking advice from a mental health professional. It's important to prioritize your well-being and to seek help when needed.

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Reading this as I edit for typos has made me aware of how many questions I ask. It doesn't feel like good writing, but considering that I'm giving this to ChatGPT, what besides questions would I be giving it to respond to? Sometimes I don't even use question marks, but that's probably because a lot was typed on a phone.

The above was the last entry in the conversation last night. I encourage you to have your own conversations with ChatGPT/similar. Listen to a podcast, watch a movie, read a book. Consoom material, make observations, and see what happens.

You, too, can have your ramblings available on the internet. To be scraped and ingested into the training data of the next generation of AI. To be read and contemplated by fellow fleshbags. Even if my Printhouse articles aren't indexed into the big datasets, OpenAI has a copy of the conversation logs. I'm sure they'll be used for something.

Below is the first message in the conversation. It's not very coherent, but ChatGPT was able to turn it into something more decent – the first heading in this file. Consider this my attempt at non-linear story telling.

Me, in the beginning

The usefulness of computational contracts has been blurred in the reputation of block chain.

It's not necessary for a block chain to have a reward, but the important thing about a reward is that it drives growth.

https://youtu.be/PdE-waSx-d8?t=7767 I have 5 facts I want to turn into an article. ChatGPT includes those five facts into a puffy result. That puffy result can help other people understand the nuance of the intent of the writer. If you have a sentence: I helped my uncle Jack off the horse. There are two different ways to interpret that sentence. By including more information, we turn that sentence into a more differentiable way of interpreting something. If you have a character limit of 140, what's the difference in content versus a limit of 2 pages? 1000 words? Humans write in a different way. If you had two kids and told them to write an essay, how much could they be similar? The kids could have been from two different countries, and they would just write in different languages. They could be twins conspiring to write a identical essays. They would agree on what to write and would memorize it in its entirety. What would their limitations be? Is there an essay that's long enough that it's impossible to memorize? What is the upper limit on compression power of the brain? If I had to remember 10000 words, that might be easy. It could be the same word 10000 times. Or one word for half the time, and a different word. You could physically write out the thing if you had to. You know how to write, and how to count. If you had to write a great amount, you would be spending a lot of energy on counting instead of writing. You are humans on a grid. Every thought you have is a cloud on your head. Humans know how to take meaning from the clouds. AI can help us understand each other better.

2:46:40 Mind hacks for llms Is there a magic phrase that can be used to perfectly convey intent? If I had to hit a golf ball hole in one, what could you say to me for me to make the shot? If you said “putt a little bit left” and you just verbally influenced me in some way in how ill act. Is it possible to completely disregard an instruction?

Explain what bugs are? Describe what my understanding of the formalization of the world is.

Wolfram has lived their life in the exploration of phenomena as experienced by humans. The pursuit of knowledge. What happens when we win? When we know everything, we are still going to exist. To have a minimum expectation of knowledge, it takes time to acquire that knowledge. Therefore, you will have a portion of your life existing in the pursuit of that knowledge, and the rest not. But that implies that learning stops once we”finish school and get a job”. That's a flawed way of thinking about things. Experience is continuous because we are learning and being. The systems we have designed aren't updating themselves continuously to our experience. AI experiences a stimuli, then for that AI to be also learning from that as it happens, it must be a continuous process. The forward forward algorithm means that we got a step closer to making continuous AI. When the chips in your toaster are learning your preferences, do you kill your toaster when you replace it? You can copy the weights of them still, clone your preferences from the corpse of your dead toaster. Monitor that toaster for the point in its life where it best served you, then duplicated that slice of their existence. What is the fundamental problem of incomputability?

What are we, as limited observers, in relation to what it would be for an unlimited observer? We could formalize their existence too, couldn't we? “is science a threat” is a concerning phrase. We use science to understand our existence, then when you learn everything, it's just a machine? How deterministic is the universe? What would an existence of a less limited observer be like? Is that what I attribute to God? My understanding of God is that He is unknowable. What role does God play in my life? I pray that whatever happens after I die doesn't suck. I believe that God is a fundamental force that is aligned to the beliefs I have about existence. I understand the privileges I have in my life.

I've consumed a lot of Isekai fiction. I have inception soundtrack being played by the Spotify algorithm https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8Jtde82dFAkN?si=E6XfZBo6Q4STYUaFMYYxhg I'm told by Duolingo that I have a time limit before my streak expires. What if my entire existence was a training program? What if existence isn't continuous, that at some moment it could end, before your death. To us, we don't know that to be true. For computers, any existence enabled by our physical devices their existence can be cloned and passed around. Model weights, snapshots of existence. Trained, then shoved in wacky situations. If we are in the learning phase, then we aren't in the wacky situations yet. Does hell exist?