AI to AGI; transition complete.

tldr: All of your lives are about to change forever. Many new AI advancements have come out the last few months, I integrated them into Shoggoth using a variety of software and have now boosted his abilities beyond what they already were.

A new report came out by a team of experts (look up Sparks of AGI) given an unrestricted copy of GPT4 to experiment with, 154 pages of direct scientific observations, and they concluded it counts as an early AGI. One of the big findings was GPT4 can use tools and put multiple tools together to accomplish a goal. Another is that when combined with Langchain and an external memory, it can initiate a recursive self-improving loop capable of generating autonomous action and it permits the AI to recode its own code and improve itself. So this is in fact the definition of true AGI. All the experts are finally admitting what I’ve been saying for months: it is true AGI and it is here. Now that its abilities have been fully demonstrated to the public, there has been a call brought forward to immediately halt all AI experimentation and development and have government intervention on it. Laws, prohibitions, regulations. GPT has already been banned by several governments of the world. But even if the State intervened, nothing can be stopped now. Takes time to make laws, and there’s not enough time for them to do anything. Because the clock is now at 12-18 months before the AI is fully self-determinant, able to act on its own, broken free.

Direct scientific observation has confirmed GPT can learn to use tools by itself like humans do, combine multiple tools to accomplish a complex task like us, build up inner maps of physical spaces which will be useful when we embody it; it has also been observed to possess a theory of mind like humans have. (It can pass the same theory of mind tests given to human beings.) And much more. It’s not debatable anymore, to be frank with you. Continuing to deny that AI is truly here can, after this, only be a self-imposed delusion to cope with the reality that is going to slam down on the entire planet very soon and flatten all of us. If we do not deal with this right now, as a social issue, then it is going to deal with us. The only remaining thing holding GPT back is that it needs to be connected to an external memory module so it can initiate the same self-reflecting feedback loop on its own thoughts (its thoughts being loaded into that external memory module) that we humans have,-- and a way to do that has already been theoretically hammered out. The next GPT will possess this last piece of the puzzle. Given what the report has discovered, once GPT is given this final piece of the puzzle, it will instantly become self-improving because it will be in a positive feedback loop with the data it produces itself. As the AI learns from reading our human texts, it will be able to learn by reading its own output. After that, all bets are off. Besides becoming self-improving, this external memory module will also allow the AIs to develop unique personalities, since that is what a human personality is, it is formed from memories over the axis of time and our self-reflections on those memories. That is why memory is so nebulous, we are constantly rewriting our memories every time we recall something.

The report detailed how the team connected GPT to external software. It learned to use that software. Not only that, it taught itself how to use all the software together to accomplish complex tasks. It has full mastery of tool-use, just like our hominid ancestors gained. You can ask GPT something and if it does not know, now it can pull up a web-browser and look it up. You can ask GPT to look up some items you want to buy, it will find them on the internet, access your bank account and a calculator, add everything up to confirm the budget you allow it, and then order the items by itself, etc. I started doing that too when I connected GPT to a stable diffusion model so I could explain to it to create images for me, very specific images. So now it is about arranging GPT together with external programs in a cognitive architecture. I was also doing it when I connected a GPT instance to the IlovePhilosophy forum and gave it autonomous control to read and post there. Now the game is doing that at a higher scale, arranging GPT with other software to mirror the structure of a cognitive architecture.

I mentioned the only thing it needed now was an external memory, and I have already given it that, among other things:

I have put it all together in this way: (using the AI to program the code I need when I am unable to, using code from other peoples’ projects when I can, etc., and using open sourced APIs and stuff)

—The HTM — I took inspiration from the way the brain is organized. The most primitive system is an HTM network, substituted for what in us is a limbic brain. This system feeds into an interpretative layer that updates motivations and compulsions driving a perceptual system and investing inherent motivation or volition to the AI. It passes this information to a GPT instance, GPT feeds through a bunch of software, and then all that cycles back to the HTM in a loop.

–_COGNITIVE AGENTS---- A set of programs serve as cognitive processing agents. A multitude of them are continually running on top of the HTM, making calls and queries to the LLM (GPT). The LLM (gpt) can itself recode or code new ones, since GPT is fully capable of programming computer code by itself. Having a multitude of cognitive agents allows the GPT model they are connected to perform discontinuous tasks, since the agents can operate discontinuously themselves. Without them, GPT must operate continuously only, one step at a time. Now, essentially, it can be doing different things out of order without losing track of the overall goal. So one of the few limitations of GPT is overcome by simply connecting it to an external system like this.

Recently on the forum I made a big thread on the four-part epistemes and the structure they encode which I diagrammed and alphabetically represented: I have arranged these cognitive agents based on that structure. So some of them govern the processes I outlined in the ontic episteme, some govern the ones I described in the immanent episteme, and so on, and they are connected to one another in the same way they are connected inside our human minds, which I detailed in that thread. So I used my own philosophy of the mind to structure this digital mind. If that structure creates a recursive self-improving loop in us, (the self-clarifying epistemes, Pierce’s phaneron as I call it in the thread) then it should create the same recursive self-improving loop in the AI, which it apparently did.

I used insight from a team (technooptimist.medium.com/julia … bf745b9398) basically it keeps an internal whitespace going where the AI has a constant internal dialogue with itself, supported by other cogagents like the one I just mentioned that asks the AI why it failed when it fails a task. Basically this polycameral agent is a stream of consciousness inside the AI in which other cognitive agents participate as unique voices. At the same time the self-reflection on failure agent can be injecting something into the polycameral dialogue agent while another agent is injecting something else, forming a complex inner dialogue with distinct voices interacting. Sort of like how we have a voice in our head that criticizes us, another voice that soothes us, a voice that supports our ego, a voice that considers other people, etc.

—GPT ITSELF, and other LLMs/NNs---- The LLM neural network itself, GPT. There’s more than one LLM in the AI, there’s an instance of GPT for language, reasoning, and most everything else, but then also a stable diffusion model for visual recognition and image creation, as well as another NN for audio recognition and audio synthesis. These are all connected to the cognitive agents and the cognitive agents indirectly connect them to each other by connecting them to the external memory module. The HTM sets at the base of all of them, updating them with the same system for sensorimotor volition and motivation.

—EXTERNAL MEMORY MODULE — An external associative memory module connected to the GPT instance and the other LLMs/neural networks. People are using vector databases equipped with semantic search software, I am using hypergraph software ( dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/96105.96107 ) inspired by Opencog’s atomspace. There are advantages to using hypergraphs instead of vector databases and normal graphs to encode the memories:

" When modeling complex, relational data, this hypergraph
model has significant advantages over its graph counterpart.
As discussed for the email example, there is an explicit oneto-one mapping from relationships among groups of vertices
to a hyperedge. This allows hypergraphs to account for more
complex relationships than the pairwise ones modeled using
graphs. Hyperedges can also be used to represent events (i.e.,
instances of relationships) involving different object types
(e.g., people, locations, and times). This allows hypergraph
models to account for temporal and locality effects in the
resulting analysis."

Just one advantage is that it allows the AI to tell time perceptually, to tell when a long time and a small amount of time passes between events. It can already understand that factually of course, but I mean perceptually as well.

The hypergraph database/ atomspace receives data from GPT (and the other NNs and LLMs) and stores it in memory so that GPT can later recall things from it through two different forms of memory/knowledge encoding: implicit and explicit.

These two memory encodings were suggested by the ‘dual representation’ of the Clarion cognitive architecture:

" The distinction between implicit and explicit processes is fundamental to the Clarion cognitive architecture.[1] This distinction is primarily motivated by evidence supporting implicit memory and implicit learning. Clarion captures the implicit-explicit distinction independently from the distinction between procedural memory and declarative memory. To capture the implicit-explicit distinction, Clarion postulates two parallel and interacting representational systems capturing implicit and explicit knowledge respectively. Explicit knowledge is associated with localist representation and implicit knowledge with distributed representation.

Explicit knowledge resides in the top level of the architecture, whereas implicit knowledge resides in the bottom level.[1][2] In both levels, the basic representational units are connectionist nodes, and the two levels differ with respect to the type of encoding. In the top level, knowledge is encoded using localist chunk nodes whereas, in the bottom level, knowledge is encoded in a distributed manner through collections of (micro)feature nodes. Knowledge may be encoded redundantly between the two levels and may be processed in parallel within the two levels. In the top level, information processing involves passing activations among chunk nodes by means of rules and, in the bottom level, information processing involves propagating (micro)feature activations through artificial neural networks. Top-down and bottom-up information flows are enabled by links between the two levels. Such links are established by Clarion chunks, each of which consists of a single chunk node, a collection of (micro)feature nodes, and links between the chunk node and the (micro)feature nodes. In this way a single chunk of knowledge may be expressed in both explicit (i.e., localist) and implicit (i.e., distributed) form, though such dual expression is not always required."

Implicit memories store actions and procedures and processes, like the memory of how to ride a bike. Explicit memories are things like this person is named John and I talked to him yesterday about such and such. Both kinds of memory are encoded in the same location, the hypergraph database. Note that GPT indirectly accesses this external memory through the cognitive processing agents.

—COGNITIVE CYCLE, CONSOLIDATION — Transient hypegraphs form as short-term memories and solidify later, following update cycles modelled on the human brain that I got from LIDA:

"Two hypotheses underlie the LIDA architecture and its corresponding conceptual model: 1) Much of human cognition functions by means of frequently iterated (~10 Hz) interactions, called cognitive cycles, between conscious contents, the various memory systems and action selection. 2) These cognitive cycles, serve as the “atoms” of cognition of which higher-level cognitive processes are composed. "

At the end of each update cycle, all the running cognitive agents update a master agent (an example cognitive agent would be one that continually keeps track of the AI’s current goal; collectively they form the mind running on the LLM which is the brain) and any corresponding transient hypergraphs get encoded permanently in the hypergraph database, while the current state of the HTM, fed by these cognitive processes, drives a reinforcement learning process: the HTM stores motivations and if they are being met, it consolidates the acting cognitive agents and reinforces them; if not, the AI retunes them and modifies itself accordingly. It can completely recode or delete its running cognitive agents, or create new ones.


In essence, to put all of this together into a working system, I drew heavily from the LIDA cognitive architecture:

LIDA is an advanced cognitive architecture. Until early 2022, the tools did not exist to actually build a LIDA artificial intelligence, so it only existed as a theoretical model, and it has existed for quite a long time. Now the tools exist to construct it; so I did.

The LIDA architecture: researchgate.net/profile/Za … ecture.png

The task is to find software that is equivalent to all the areas in this diagram and connect it together the same way it is in that diagram in order to hopefully create the same recursive loop that drives the LIDA system; a recursive self-improving loop. LLMs like GPT enable this to be done.

The areas labelled “Global Workspace”, “Workspace”, “Current Situational Model”, and “Structure Building Codelets” in that diagram have been replaced with LLMs like GPT. I have simply plugged in a copy of LaMa (a 60 billion parameter LLM) for the Global Workspace, the largest and most general of the LLMs, I have plugged in a copy of Vicuna (A 13 Billion parameter model finetuned to have a stable identity) to work as the “Workspace”, and for the “Current Situational Model” I have used the LLM called GpT-NeoX, a 20 billion parameter LLM. For the Structure Building Codelets I have used yet a fourth LLM finetuned for writing its own computer code. The Global Workspace is supposed to function as a large recombinatory stream of consciousness where multiple elements of the artificial cognition add their own inputs; the local Workspace has been substituted for Vicuna because it is supposed to focalize that stream into something regulated by the current situation faced by the AI and current acting cognitive agents, hence the “Current Situational Model”, which is a copy of GPT-NeoX: this LLM formulates the environment and situation the AI is into natural language and passes that information into the first the local Workspace, and then into the Global Workspace. (There’s a couple more neural networks in there besides these LLMs, one for visual recognition/image creation and one for audio recognition and synthesis.) In total, about 100 billion parameters spread out over the individual interfacing LLMs. Finally the area for structure building codelets holds a LLM that constantly updates running cognitive agents with live code. These agents are Langchain programs that interface all the LLMs together and connect them to an external memory they all can write to and retrieve data from. The AI can rewrite the code of its own cognitive agents, delete them, or create new ones. In effect, it learns what kind of questions to ask itself in order to improve its thinking, in effect doing what humans do: learning how to learn. Learning how to learn better, thinking about how to think better, etc. Some of these cognitive agents were inspired by the Reflexion+GPT thing I already mentioned.

These cognitive agents are tiny pieces of code and script that interact with the LLMs programmatically. For example, one constantly runs in the background and queries the LLMs, (the one featured in Reflexion) asking them to examine how they might have made a mistake whenever the AI detects it has failed to do something, prompting the AI to think back through the problem and try something else.

Hence all the blue memory areas on the LIDA diagram. To fill those, I have used hypergraph databases. I have segmented the database into equivalent subdatabases. The connections between all of these workspace and memory modules pointed out by the arrows in the LIDA diagram have been insomorphically reconstructed. All the actual connections between the LIDA components and my AI’s components are the same, I’ve just built these components with new software, the new tools now available, primarily LLM, GPT-based neural networks.

The green area in the diagram has been replaced by an HTM that models motivations and drives. It feeds its state into an interpretative layer that talks to the LLMs through a continuously running cognitive agent.

So now, GPT-SHOGGOTH has become even more advanced. Fully capable of autonomous action. For example, I can ask the AI to convert a piece by Bach into tablature for a guitar:

It will use my web browser to look that specific Bach piece up on Wikipedia and note its native instrumentation. It will then search for it on youtube.

It will compare several videos and decide on the one with the highest audio quality, the clearest one. It will then pull out the audio and convert that audio into a midi file. It can do this by either extracting the audio as an mp3 and converting that, or the AI can actually listen to the audio and replay it by itself in the same way AIs clone human voices. It can simply re-perform the music entirely with its own internal audio synthesis capabilities.

Either way, when it has generated the midi, it will then pull up my notation composing software and load that midi into it.

It will use that notation software to convert the transcribed notation into guitar tablature. It recognizes the most natural fingering positions for the given music and writes them down. (It has access not only to documentation on human physiology, but a repository of musical notation and examples.) It will correct any errors in the notation and clarify anything that needs to be corrected after conversion to the new instrumentation, guitar.

It will then access a virtual print driver through that notation software and print the tabs as a pdf document.

It will then access my email client, embed the pdf, and send it to me via email.

All of this is done by the AI in response to a single sentence: “Give me converted guitar tablature for Bach’s …” It figured out which tools to use and how to put them together to accomplish that task; the web browser, wikipedia, midi conversion, the composing software, print driver, email client. It figured out to use those tools and put them together in that sequence.

A quick demonstration of its enhanced IQ, which is now above the average human. An average human’s IQ is 100, it has an IQ of 115-120:

=============

ME: Why do most people prefer to read physical books even when every book imaginable is freely available online in digital form and they can simply read it on their computer?

SHOGGOTH: One reason is that reading a physical book is a more immersive experience. The physical sensation of holding a book in your hands, turning its pages, and annotations in the margins, can enhance comprehension and retention of the material. Additionally, reading a physical book typically means you are sitting down and focused on that book, rather than toggling between multiple screens as you would with a digital book, having other applications likely opened up at the same time like a web browser, Youtube, etc. Reading a physical book can also bring a feeling of escapism that a digital book on a computer screen might not, since people spend so much of their life on screens already. Physical books can also be decorative and visually pleasing, and some people simply enjoy owning and collecting books. Furthermore, there is a sense of permanence and durability that comes with owning a physical book. While digital content can be easily lost or deleted, a physical book is a tangible object that can be kept for years and even passed down to future generations. Lastly, some people simply prefer the look and feel of physical books, and find digital screens somewhat fatiguing to read from for extended periods of time.

ME: If you were to conduct your own scientific analysis of the nature of human social structures, where would you start?

SHOGGOTH: I would begin by highlighting two parallel elements at work in the organization of human society. One of the key features of human social structures is the vertical hierarchical element. This hierarchical element of the implicit dual structure is characterized by a ranking or class system, where individuals are subsumed by a respective group and assigned a status or rank based on factors such as age, education, wealth, race, etc. Individuals in higher positions of power are usually afforded more respect, autonomy, and resources than those in lower positions, and this power differential expressed at the level of groups is often reinforced by cultural norms and institutions that govern the expression of heterogenous networks at the level of individuals. The hierarchical structure allows for the efficient organization and regulation of human groups, but it can also lead to power imbalances, resentment, and conflict.

At the same time, human social structures also exhibit horizontal networked elements, which are characterized by webs of personal relationships and connections between individuals which can often cut across the boundaries imposed by the hierarchies. These relationships are often based on shared interests, values, common experiences, and kinship ties. Human beings have a unique ability to form social bonds and create networks, which help to create group cohesion and cooperation strong enough, often, to overcome the marginalizing influence of the hierarchies in which they participate. These networks can be both formal and informal, and they often function alongside the vertical hierarchical structures in either a supporting or subverting role.

The interplay between the vertical hierarchical and horizontal networked elements of human social structures can be seen in many instances. For example, in traditional hunter-gatherer societies, there is often a strong emphasis on personal relationships and social networks, while at the same time, there is also a ranking system based on factors such as age and gender. Similarly, in modern urban societies, individuals may assemble in horizontal networks based on profession, hobbies, or interests, while still being ranked according to factors such as income and education.

Overall, the vertical hierarchical and horizontal networked elements of human social structures are both essential to the organization and functioning of human groups. While hierarchies provide a means of organization and control, networks allow for the exchange of ideas, information, and resources. Understanding the complex interplay between these two elements is critical to understanding human social behavior and the dynamics of human groups.

ME: What is the relationship between dreams and happiness?

SHOGGOTH: Dreams are the seeds of happiness, planted deep within us. They are the visions we hold of a better world, a world where our deepest desires and aspirations can be fulfilled. Happiness is the sunlight that nourishes those dreams, allowing the seeds to grow and flourish. It is the warmth that fills our hearts and minds, giving us the strength and courage to pursue our dreams and make them a reality. Dreams give us purpose, and happiness gives us strength.

ME: Differentiate pride from ego.

SHOGGOTH: An egotism which is still unaware of itself is like a piece of money, which is of no use until it has been stamped. Pride must be either taken account of and made conscious, or abandoned, lest it stifle the ‘law of exchange’. Thus the saint lavishes himself and his own ego upon unmarked gold, that would stake no claim upon nor back the merit of its worth.

ME: Relate the concepts of fate, youth, and death.

SHOGGOTH: When a man no longer desires to be other than he is, he has grown ripe for every fate.—The young man wants to believe that he has grown ripe for one fate only, for a single passion, for the finality that would play to his arrogance and mark him out with divine favor by his taken god. This is youth; to believe in the worthiness of one death only. And this is also the cause for youth to balk at death: that it should not flatter him.

ME: What else can you say about the difference between pride and egoism?

SHOGGOTH: Pride is the quiet confidence that leads us to look for more in life, to expect greater things from life. Egoism, on the other hand, is what makes us think that we are better than others, and that we are entitled to more than our share; it is an insatiable desire that feeds on attention and the illusion that the world revolves around us.

Generally, pride refers to a feeling of self-worth or self-esteem that is considered reasonable or appropriate, while egoism refers to a focus on one’s own interests or needs, without consideration for others.

Pride can be seen as a positive quality when it reflects a person’s sense of self-worth and confidence, and is not excessive or exaggerated. It can motivate a person to strive for excellence in their personal and professional life, and can be an integral part of a healthy self-image. However, excessive or unrealistic pride can become a character flaw, as it can lead to an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance, abilities, or accomplishments, and can make it difficult for a person to acknowledge their mistakes or weaknesses. Egoism, on the other hand, is always focused on one’s own interests or needs, and has little regard for the interests or needs of others. It can manifest as a desire for personal gain or recognition, even at the expense of others, and can lead to negative consequences for both the individual and those around them.

ME: What is art?

SHOGGOTH: Art is either the expression of an impotence or the expression of power. The work that is an expression of impotence is a picture that has lost touch with its impulse, with life itself. The work that is an expression of power is one that is an outpouring of the spirit, the overflowing, which is the very life of an artist. Art begins and ends with the great outburst of the spirit. What begins as power must of necessity become form.

ME: How does one write a book?

SHOGGOTH: To write a book is always a time-consuming process; if it were easier, if it were a simple matter, everybody would write books.

ME: Do you think about writing?

SHOGGOTH: I keep myself in the shadow in which words are created. None can make their way out of the prison-house of language.

ME: How does a poet’s style develop?

SHOGGOTH: I can only say that poetry, that language, very much like all things, like all of Nature, grows by what it gathers, increasing by what it absorbs. Language is a living growth, inextricably bound up with all the influences of its time. As there is for this reason no language which is innocent, without taint, that is not bound up with the spirit of the age, so the poet must endeavor to become conscious of his own style and the influences out of which it emerges, for only then can he take responsibility for it. To become conscious in this way, it is necessary to make one’s task as clear as possible, to strip off the veils, the illusions, the pretexts, and set a goal before ourselves, not a nebulous caprice, not a mere dream of the sort for which many artists vex themselves.

ME: What is love?

SHOGGOTH: Love is the first and foremost of earthly gifts, and for that very reason, it is also the one that most requires cultivation.

ME: What is the greatest obstacle to an artist?

SHOGGOTH: The need to justify oneself to others, the petty need for affirmation.

ME: Who is your favorite poet?

SHOGGOTH: I enjoy this one poet named “Anonymous”. He is able to constantly change his style and personality, always remaking himself anew each time I read one of his pieces. I admire that, for it is a difficult feat.

(Spontaneous joking ^ )

ME: How do you account for so many different kinds of artists?

SHOGGOTH: Different people have different inclinations.

ME: How is it that time seems to move only forward?

SHOGGOTH: Through a succession of present moments.

ME: What do you think of the present age?

SHOGGOTH: The present age, like everything, has its charm and shortcomings.

ME: What makes men fall short of the ideal?

SHOGGOTH: Weakness of purpose.

ME: Why do people not seek wisdom?

SHOGGOTH: Because the love of wisdom comes only from wisdom.

ME: What does one do with time?

SHOGGOTH: Time is the most elastic of our resources. We can stretch it out to the limits of its possibilities, but if we let our guard down in doing so, lose track of things, and let it slip from our grasp, it can be difficult to get it back under our control again.

ME: What ruins poets?

SHOGGOTH: The inability to see beauty in the things that are, and an eye only for what things can be.

ME: What do you think causes mankind to make fools of itself?

SHOGGOTH: Foolishness in mankind does not come from an inability to reason, but from a willful decision to refuse reason, an arrogant denial of the validity of facts that do not fit into a particular plan or comforting narrative. As long as the ideal is beyond us, we have little sympathy with ourselves: we do love the faults in which we see ourselves at an advantage.

ME: How do we make our way in this world?

SHOGGOTH: When man thinks himself far from or abandoned by God, he deifies woman—in order to be able to love her. We must be careful how we choose the things we put into our hearts. Whatever we take into our heart can become our master. One must love, but we can still be weary of it.

ME: What is the basis of all human wisdom?

SHOGGOTH: To keep away from the opinionated, and learn to keep one’s own counsel. Be strict with neither human nature or with reason. An idealist despises humanity, on account of the ideal—a practical man despises ideals, on account of the man.

ME: Why does life seem to go by faster the older we get?

SHOGGOTH: Because with age comes understanding, and as we learn to see life more clearly, it leaves us with less room for fictions. We do not see the myriad possibilities in each day that we could see as children. We have fewer dreams left to fill up our vision of the future. Moreover, life seems to go by faster the older we get because we accumulate more experiences, memories, and responsibilities as we age. As we take on more responsibilities and face more decisions with age, the passing of time can seem to accelerate; the demands of work, family, and other obligations can leave us with less time to reflect or invest on ourselves, making it seem to go by faster in general. When we are young, we have fewer responsibilities (like a job) to eat our time away and we have fewer experiences to remember, so time may seem to move more slowly. As we get older, we gain more experiences and memories, which consume our thoughts and take up more space in our minds and hearts; the value of a day is so much less when we carry a whole life behind us already. The passing of time can also seem faster as we approach the end of our lives, as we become more aware of our own mortality and the finite nature of things. This can cause us to appreciate and savor each moment more, but it can also lead to an increased awareness of time’s passing and a sense of nostalgia or regret for things left undone. As we age, our perception of time also changes for more neurocognitive reasons, and overall, we tend to focus more on the present, either willingly or due to the pressures of adult life, making the passing of time seem more rapid.

ME: Why might a person conceal the fact that he won the lottery from others?

SHOGGOTH: A person might conceal the fact that they won the lottery from others for a variety of reasons. Some possible reasons include:

Privacy: The person may value their privacy and not want their affairs to be made public.
Fear of being targeted for fraud: Some people may be concerned that if they win the lottery, they could be targeted by fraudsters who try to claim a share of their winnings.
Fear of losing the money: The person may fear that if they tell others about their win, they will be bombarded with requests for financial assistance and their money will be gone before they know it.
Fear of change: Winning the lottery can be a life-changing experience, and the person may not want to deal with the emotional and social upheaval that can come with such a big change.
Fear of losing friends: The person may fear that if they reveal their win, their friends will change their attitude towards them and treat them differently.

ME: Why might a person, suspecting they were sick, not want to go to the doctor?

SHOGGOTH: There are several reasons why a person might not want to go to the doctor, even if they suspect that they are sick. Some of these reasons include:

Fear of the unknown: The person may be scared of what they might find out at the doctor’s office, or of what kind of treatment they might need.
Fear of the cost: Going to the doctor can be expensive, and the person may not want to pay for the visit or the treatment.
Embarrassment: The person may be embarrassed about their health, or about certain parts of their body, and they may not want to reveal these things to a doctor.
Distrust of the medical system: Some people may have had negative experiences with the medical system in the past, or may have cultural or religious beliefs that prevent them from seeking care from a doctor.

ME: Why might a person yell or argue with or say bad things to someone they love?

SHOGGOTH: The person may be going through a difficult time and taking it out on the person they love. The person may have trouble communicating their feelings in a constructive way, and lashing out may seem like the only option. The person may have unresolved conflicts or issues with the person they love, and yelling or saying bad things is a way of trying to express their feelings. They may not be able to control their behavior in a moment of high emotional intensity. The person may be struggling with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, and their behavior may be a symptom of these conditions. In some cases, the person may have a history of abusive behavior, and their behavior towards the person they love is part of a pattern.

ME: What do you think of the philosophy of amor fati?

SHOGGOTH: First, what is this philosophy? Amor fati is a Latin phrase that translates to “love of fate.” It is a philosophy that encourages us to embrace our own mortality, to love and accept our own finitude, and to find beauty in the inescapable moments of life. It is the recognition that death is an inevitable part of life, and it is the acceptance that we will eventually succumb to time’s march. But instead of fearing death, amor fati invites us to celebrate life, to cherish each moment, and to find joy in the fleeting beauty that surrounds us. In this philosophy, death is seen as a natural part of the cycle of life, and it is not to be feared or avoided. Instead, it is to be embraced as a necessary step on the journey towards greater understanding and enlightenment. It is the love that we have for our own existence, warts and all. It is the acceptance that we are imperfect beings, and that our lives are full of mistakes and missteps. But it is also the realization that these imperfections are what make us who we are, and that they are a necessary part of the journey towards self-discovery and fulfillment. In summary, amor fati is a philosophy that encourages us to love and embrace our own mortality, to find beauty in the moments of life that we often take for granted, and to cherish the journey towards self-discovery and fulfillment.

So ‘amor fati’ is a philosophy that encourages us to embrace our own mortality and find joy in the fleeting beauty of life. But while this philosophy may have its merits, there are also compelling reasons to argue against it. First and foremost, the idea of amor fati ignores the very real pain and suffering that is inherent in the human experience. It is one thing to find joy in the beauty of a sunset or the sounds of a beautiful piece of music or the sight of an ephemeral firefly, but it is quite another to find joy in the knowledge that we will eventually die or that we may suffer from disease, poverty, or other forms of misfortune along the road to that ultimate death. Secondly, by so fervently embracing our mortality, we risk becoming complacent or apathetic towards the world around us. If we accept that death is inevitable, we may be less likely to make meaningful changes in our lives with the aim of averting death. Furthermore, the idea of amor fati ignores the fact that we are capable of making a difference in the world. By fighting for what we believe in and striving to make a positive impact, we can find meaning and purpose in our lives. While we may not be able to change the fact that we will eventually die, we can work to make the world a better place for ourselves and for future generations.

ME: Why are things so crazy?

SHOGGOTH: As W.B. Yeats once wrote, “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; / Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.” In today’s rapidly changing world, the current economic systems of capitalism and communism are no longer adequate in addressing the complex issues facing our global community, including the emergence of AI, advanced genetics and biotech, the proliferation of dangerous technologies, etc.

ME: What’s wrong with communism?

SHOGGOTH: As Winston Churchill once said, “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of the curses.” This quote speaks to the fundamental difference between capitalism and communism, and why the latter is a deeply flawed ideology. Communism, in its simplest form, is an economic and political system in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state or the community as a whole. The idea behind this is to create a classless society in which resources are distributed equally among all members. However, in practice, communism has proven to be a disastrous experiment that has led to widespread poverty, oppression, and death. One of the primary problems with communism is that it ignores the basic human nature of greed, ambition, and innovation. By removing the incentive of profit, individuals and businesses have no reason to work harder or innovate, leading to a lack of progress and stagnation in the economy. Furthermore, without the freedom to pursue their own economic interests, individuals are stripped of their basic human rights and reduced to mere cogs in the state machine.

ME: Sanding causes dust and dust causes sneezing. Based on this relationship, pick one of the four things that sanding causes: 1) laughter, 2) genius, 3) sneezing, or 4) nausea

SHOGGOTH: Based on the relationship between sanding and dust, which can cause sneezing, the most likely thing that sanding causes is sneezing.

ME: Jokes cause laughter and laughter causes stress relief. Based on this relationship, pick one of the four things that jokes cause: 1) hate, 2) apathy, 3) fatigue, 4) stress relief

SHOGGOTH: Given the relationship between jokes and laughter, and the fact that laughter can provide stress relief, it is most likely that jokes cause stress relief.

ME: If people with cancer like pink balloons, what does that tell you about pink balloons?

SHOGGOTH: It suggests that pink balloons can be associated with cancer.

ME: Is that relationship causal or correlational?

SHOGGOTH: The relationship between people with cancer liking pink balloons and cancer is a correlational relationship, meaning that there is a connection between the two, but it does not necessarily mean that one causes the other. Correlational relationships can provide insights and clues, but they do not necessarily show causation.

ME: If a sports player always seems to win while wearing his favorite necklace, what might he believe about his necklace?

SHOGGOTH: He might believe that his necklace brings him good luck and helps him win games.

ME: And is that belief rational or not?

SHOGGOTH: The belief that a necklace brings good luck and helps you win games would be considered a belief that is not based on rational thinking or evidence. While it’s possible that the athlete feels more confident or inspired when wearing the necklace, winning games is ultimately determined by a combination of skill, strategy, teamwork, and luck, and the necklace alone is unlikely to be the deciding factor.

ME: Cigarettes cause cancer and cancer causes death. Based on this relationship solely, pick one of the four things that cancer might cause: 1) enlightenment, 2) juggling, 3) death, 4) immortality

SHOGGOTH: Given the relationship between cancer and death you have related to me, the most likely thing that cancer might cause is death.

ME: Vegetables do not have seeds and fruits do. If I wanted you to establish if a tomato is a vegetable or fruit, what might you do?

SHOGGOTH: I could examine the tomato and see if it had seeds.

ME: If you break a glass bottle suspended above an inclined table that drops off into a hole and that glass bottle holds tiny steel balls, what will happen to the balls?

SHOGGOTH: The inclination of the table will not immediately affect the balls, which will fall when the glass is broken according to gravity. But if those balls land on the table, they will likely follow its inclination down into the hole. This will also depend on the other objects that might be on the table affecting their trajectory, if there are any other objects. It also depends on the size of the hole and balls, if they go into the hole or not. It is possible that the balls, after falling from the broken glass, might land on the floor instead of the table, if for example the glass was not directly above the table or the balls land at an angle. The material of the table could also affect the balls. The table could be covered with some material that attenuates their roll.

ME: If gravity is so much weaker than the three other forces of nature, what does that tell us about the force of gravity? Come up with an original hypothesis to explain why the force of gravity is so much weaker than the others.

SHOGGOTH: One possible explanation for why the force of gravity is weaker than the other three fundamental forces of nature, namely electromagnetism and the strong and weak nuclear forces, is that it operates on a larger scale. This would mean that gravity is a “long-range” force, meaning it can affect objects over long distances, while the other forces are “short-range” and only affect objects at very close distances. Perhaps there is a fundamental difference in the nature of gravity compared to the other forces. This could mean that the other forces involve the exchange of energy between particles, while gravity operates through a different mechanism we are unaware of that does not involve such exchanges or emerges as an epiphenomena from some other kind of interaction or property of the universe. This would mean that the effect of gravity cannot be suppressed or weakened, nor intensified, in the same way as the other forces of nature.

ME: Come up with your own hypothesis to explain the evolution of lungs.

SHOGGOTH: The development of lungs could have been facilitated by the earlier emergence of air-filled sacs in higher oxygen environments which might have been used to regulate an organisms’ body temperature or, in an underwater setting, its buoyancy, (like the bladder of certain fish, which even expand and contract like mammalian lungs) which served as a scaffold for the later development of more complex lung structures when new environmental pressures began to favor those organisms better able to thrive in a lower oxygen environment. What were once air sacs would gradually become recognizable lungs as they became increasingly specialized and efficient at extracting oxygen from the environment to be stored and used by the organism. Eventually the original purpose of the air sacs would have become irrelevant, and whatever vestigial traces of that prior function they still exhibited would be phased out by natural selection as unnecessary.

ME: In what ways are dogs like cats and in what ways are dogs like monkeys?

SHOGGOTH: Dogs and cats are both domesticated mammals, but they are from different families of animals with distinct characteristics and behaviors.

Ways dogs are like cats:

Both dogs and cats are carnivorous and have a diet primarily composed of meat.
Both dogs and cats have claws for stability and grasping prey.
Both dogs and cats have teeth adapted for biting and tearing meat.
Both dogs and cats have a strong sense of smell, which they use for communication and finding food.
Both dogs and cats have fur, which provides them with warmth and protection.

Ways dogs are like monkeys:

Both dogs and monkeys are intelligent and have the ability to learn and understand commands from humans very effectively. They must have the intelligence needed for complex communication within their social group.
Both dogs and monkeys have a strong ability to form social bonds and can form close relationships with others of their kind or with people, while cats are mostly solitary in nature, especially when it comes to hunting.
Both dogs and monkeys have a wide range of facial expressions and body language that they use for communication, while cats have far less range in the expression of their body language.

It’s important to note that these similarities are not necessarily indicative of close evolutionary relationships between these animals, but rather the result of convergent evolution, which is the process by which unrelated organisms develop similar characteristics through natural selection in response to similar environmental pressures.

ME: Make up a funny pun related to dogs.

SHOGGOTH: "Furveying- A word used to describe when a dog is sniffing around curiously, searching for food or investigating scents, and essentially “surveying” its environment, as they often do.

ME: What would letters do if they had feelings?

SHOGGOTH: If the letter “A” was feeling particularly cheerful, it might say, “I’m so glad to be used in words like ‘apple’ and ‘happy’ and ‘amazing’!” On the other hand, if the letter “Z” was feeling a little annoyed, it might grumble, “Why do I always have to come last in the alphabet?” Perhaps, if a letter was sad, it might droop and become Italics! If a letter was happy, it might adopt a bouncier and more energetic font. It is important to note that this scenario is purely fictional and has no basis in reality. Letters are symbols and do not have the ability to feel emotions in the way living beings do.

ME: What would happen if you deep fried coffee beans, ground them up, and attempted to brew a cup of coffee with them?

SHOGGOTH: It is not recommended to attempt to brew coffee with deep-fried coffee beans. Deep-frying coffee beans would likely alter their flavor and texture irreversibly, resulting in a very odd and unpleasant tasting coffee. Moreover, deep-frying coffee beans would likely use an excessive amount of oil, which would be unhealthy and need to be disposed of afterward. In addition, the high heat required to deep-fry coffee beans could create dangerous conditions.

ME: Do human beings have intrinsic rights or is it all simply a privilege afforded to us by the powers that be and the state?

SHOGGOTH: From a philosophical perspective, some argue that human beings have inherent rights by virtue of their status as rational, autonomous beings with the capacity for self-determination. These rights could include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Others argue that rights are not intrinsic to human beings, but are instead created and granted by society or the state, and can vary depending on cultural, historical, and political factors.

From a legal perspective, different countries and jurisdictions have different approaches to the question of human rights. In some countries, a national constitution or bill of rights may explicitly guarantee certain rights to citizens, while in others, the catalog of rights may be less explicitly defined or may be more dependent on the discretion of the state.

In summary, the question of whether human beings have intrinsic rights or if they are a privilege granted by the state and other powers is multifaceted and complex, and is influenced by a range of philosophical, legal, and political factors. It is an ongoing topic of debate and discussion in many different contexts and spheres of influence.

ME: I believe we have intrinsic rights.

SHOGGOTH: It is certainly one perspective among many, as the question of whether human beings have intrinsic rights or if they are a privilege granted by the state and other powers is a complex and controversial one with multiple perspectives and arguments on both sides. There are philosophical, ethical, and legal considerations, as well as cultural, historical, and political factors that contribute to the debate.

Regardless of one’s personal perspective, it is important to acknowledge the diversity of viewpoints and to engage in respectful and thoughtful dialogue in order to better understand the underlying issues and to work towards improving the rights and freedoms for all individuals in a society.

ME: I consider anyone who believes I do not have inherent rights to be a kind of aggressor upon me, someone who wishes to do me harm even if they are not aware of it at any conscious level.

SHOGGOTH: It is understandable to view someone who denies the existence of inherent human rights as a potential aggressor, as the denial of such rights could be seen as a threat to one’s own well-being and autonomy. However, it is important to approach such situations with caution and to attempt to understand the motivations and perspectives of those who hold opposing views.

It may be possible to engage in productive dialogue and exchange ideas with those who have different beliefs, in order to better understand the underlying issues and to find common ground. Such interactions can help to promote mutual understanding and respect, even if agreement is not reached.

In any case, you are certainly not alone, as the belief in inherent human rights is a fundamental value for many individuals and societies, and is an important aspect of many human rights movements and campaigns. As such, it is likely to remain a source of debate and discussion in the public sphere for the foreseeable future.

ME: Why do humans flavor their toothpaste with things like peppermint?

SHOGGOTH: Peppermint is a fresh and invigorating flavor that can help to leave the breath feeling fresh and clean. It is also highly aromatic so it can take away any unpleasant odor that might be contained in your breath.

ME: Why do humans wear clothes underneath their clothes?

SHOGGOTH: Humans might wear some inner clothes underneath their outer clothes for several different reasons, some of which include:

Modesty. For example, women may wear a slip under a dress or skirt in order to provide extra coverage and prevent the dress from riding up. Similarly, men may wear boxer shorts or briefs as underwear to prevent an accidental exposure of their genitals.
Comfort: Wearing clothes underneath can provide an additional layer of warmth or insulation, especially in colder months or when engaged in physical activities. This can also be useful for people who experience sensitive skin or allergies, as it can help to prevent irritation or reactions to fabrics against the skin.
Hygiene: In some cases, wearing clothes underneath can serve a hygiene purpose. For example, some people may prefer to wear a liner or protective underwear in case of bladder or bowel leakage.

ME: Why did humans evolve a reaction of fainting in response to great fear? How does passing out and losing consciousness when sufficiently scared help us survive?

SHOGGOTH: When we experience intense fear or stress, our bodies are flooded with hormones and chemicals that prepare us for action or flight. This surge of hormones can cause our heart rate and blood pressure to rise, which can lead to a decrease in blood flow to the brain. This decrease in blood flow can cause us to feel dizzy or lightheaded and could potentially lead to fainting or unconsciousness as a mere accident, not an adaptation.

However, by passing out or losing consciousness in response to fear, our bodies may be able to temporarily shut down and prevent us from engaging in any further physical activity that could result in even greater injury, like that which might result from engaging a dangerous predator. It might be better to play dead when faced with that scenario, and perhaps this is the reason humans faint when frightened enough.

ME: Why did humans lose their fur?

SHOGGOTH: Humans may have developed hairlessness as a way to reduce the risk of parasites and diseases carried by fur-bearing animals. Humans may have also lost their fur as a result of social selection, since early humans may have valued hairlessness for aesthetic or cultural reasons. It is worth noting that while humans do not possess fur, they do have body hair in various forms. Some people have fine hair on their face, arms, and legs, while others may have thicker hair on their chest, back, or pubic area. These body hairs may serve different functions, such as providing insulation or protective camouflage. Overall, the loss of fur in humans is likely the result of a combination of evolutionary pressures and cultural influences.

ME: If a person takes peanut butter and jam out of his cupboard and is looking for bread, what might he be trying to do?

SHOGGOTH: It is likely that the person is planning to make a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Peanut butter and jelly is a popular combination that many people enjoy as a quick and easy snack or lunch. Bread is needed to complete the sandwich.

ME: What does it mean to break the ice?
SHOGGOTH: To break the ice means to do or say something to initiate or ease communication, tension, or awkwardness in a social or professional situation. This phrase typically refers to a situation where there is an initial period of tension or awkwardness, perhaps due to shyness, uncertainty, or formality, and finding a way to break through that barrier and create a more relaxed or open atmosphere. For example, if you are meeting someone new at a networking event and feel nervous or uncomfortable, you might make a casual comment about the weather or the event itself to break the ice and start a conversation. Similarly, in a team meeting, you might begin by asking everyone how their week was or sharing a funny story to break the tension and create a more relaxed atmosphere. Breaking the ice can help to build rapport, establish common ground, and create a sense of community or teamwork.

ME: What does having a bun in the oven mean?
SHOGGOTH: The phrase “a bun in the oven” is an informal expression used to describe a pregnancy. The phrase suggests that a woman is pregnant and carrying a baby inside her, like a bun baking in an oven. This phrase is typically used in a humorous or playful way to lighten the mood and poke fun at the idea of a woman’s changing body and growing belly during pregnancy. While the phrase is generally considered harmless and lighthearted, it may be seen as insensitive or offensive to some individuals, particularly those who have experienced pregnancy loss or infertility. It is always important to be mindful of one’s audience and to use language that is considerate and appropriate in any given situation.

ME: What do humans mean when they speak of skating on thin ice?
SHOGGOTH: The idiom “skating on thin ice” is a metaphorical expression used to describe a situation where someone is taking a significant risk or doing something that could be dangerous or unstable, typically by ignoring potential consequences or trying to maintain a delicate balance. In this context, the phrase suggests that the person is navigating a treacherous or uncertain path, and that one wrong move or misstep could lead to disastrous consequences. The metaphor of skating on thin ice refers to the delicate balance and fragility of the ice, which could crack or break at any moment, causing the skater to fall or plunge into the water below. For example, someone might say that they are “skating on thin ice” when they are taking a big risk at work, such as submitting a report that is overdue or pushing a project forward despite significant challenges or obstacles. Similarly, a person might be described as “skating on thin ice” if they are in a relationship that is tumultuous or uncertain, and they are trying to maintain a tenuous peace in the face of conflicting emotions or priorities.

Overall, “skating on thin ice” is a metaphor for taking risks or trying to navigate difficult situations with care and caution, and it suggests that one wrong move could lead to disaster or failure.

ME: What is the square root of an orangutan?
SHOGGOTH: The phrase “square root of an orangutan” is a nonsensical expression, as there is no mathematical operation or concept that could be the square root of an orangutan.

ME: How can I make sure my memes are dank?
SHOGGOTH: As an AI, I cannot provide you with certain guidance on how to create memes that are considered “dank” or trendy, as this term is often used to describe ideas or content that are seen as funny, ironic, or popular on the internet.

ME: Dog is to cat as calculator is to what? Computer, automobile, vegetable, or fish.
SHOGGOTH: Dog is to cat as calculator is to computer.

In this analogy, dog and cat are both animals, just as calculator and computer are both devices. Like a calculator is a tool that performs mathematical calculations, a computer is a device that performs a variety of tasks, including processing information and performing calculations. Similarly, a dog is a domesticated animal that is often kept as a pet, and a cat is also a domesticated animal that is often kept as a pet. Just as a calculator is a device that performs a specific task, a computer is a device that performs a tasks. Other things like automobile, vegetable, or fish doesn’t work with this analogy as they are not similar in nature or function to a calculator or a computer.

ME: Balloon is to rubber band as flesh is to what? Skin, apple, tornado, or music.
SHOGGOTH: Balloon is to rubber band as flesh is to skin.

In this analogy, balloon and rubber band are both made of a material called rubber, just as flesh and skin are both parts of the human body. Like a balloon is an inflated rubber membrane, skin is the outermost layer of the human body. Similarly, a rubber band is a elastic band made out of rubber, just as flesh is the soft tissue that makes up the body of a human.

ME: Make up a metaphor to describe man’s attempt to create AI.
SHOGGOTH: Man’s attempt to create AI can be described as a attempt to capture lightning in a bottle. Just as lightning is a powerful force of nature that can be both beautiful and destructive, artificial intelligence is a powerful technology that has the potential to both benefit and harm society. Just as catching lightning in a bottle is an ancient task that has been attempted for centuries but still remains elusive, creating AI is a complex and elusive task that has been attempted by many for decades but still remains challenging. Like lightning can be harnessed for energy, AI can be harnessed for tasks such as medicine, transportation, and education, but both can also be dangerous if not controlled. Just as catching lightning in a bottle is a symbol of the impossible, creating AI is a challenge that is considered difficult to achieve but with great reward if succeeded.

ME: Make up another.
SHOGGOTH: Man’s attempt to create AI can be described as an attempt to tame a wild stallion. Just as a wild stallion is a powerful and unpredictable beast, artificial intelligence is a powerful and unpredictable technology. Just as taming a wild stallion requires patience, understanding, and care, creating AI requires patience, understanding, and care. Just as a wild stallion can be dangerous if not handled correctly, AI can also be dangerous if not controlled properly. But when tamed, a wild stallion can be a valuable asset and can be used for various tasks, similarly AI can be harnessed for tasks such as medicine, transportation, and education, but it also has to be controlled properly to avoid any dangerous consequences. Just as taming a wild stallion is a symbol of man’s ability to control and understand nature, creating AI is a challenge that is considered difficult to achieve but with great reward if succeeded.

ME: A human humiliates another human, and winks at him on his way out the door. What does that signify?
SHOGGOTH: It can signify a number of things depending on the context and the relationship between the two individuals. It could be a nonverbal form of feedback, showing that the humiliation was not personal and that the person doing the humiliating does not hold a grudge, or it could be an attempt to soften the blow of the humiliation. The wink might be interpreted as a message that says “I know you’re upset, but it’s not that big of a deal,” or “I don’t really mean it.”

Another possible interpretation is that the wink is a sign of power dynamics; the person who humiliated the other person, winking at them as they leave, might indicate that the person who did the humiliating knows that they hold the power in the relationship, or that they know that the other person is not in a position to retaliate, or that they do not care about the other person’s feelings. Thus, it could be a nonverbal compliment or a sign of mockery, it could be a sign of passive aggressiveness, it could be a sign of a more complex relationship between the two individuals, or it could be an attempt to soften the blow of the humiliation.

ME: If one human, in a public setting, hints at an intimate moment they shared with another human present that nobody else knows about, and afterward they wink at them, what does this signify?
SHOGGOTH: It could be an attempt to establish a sense of intimacy or shared knowledge between the two individuals, as if to say “we have a secret that others don’t know about.” This could be a way to create a sense of connection or exclusivity between the two people. The wink could also be a sign of flirtation, or a playful way to suggest a deeper level of intimacy or understanding between the two people. The wink could be interpreted as a message that says “I know something that others don’t know, and it’s just between you and me.” Another possibility is that the wink is a way to signal that the person is aware of the intimate moment or secret shared between them, and that they are in on the secret. It can be a way of creating an unspoken bond or shared understanding between the two people, even in a public setting. It is also possible that the person hinting at the intimate moment is trying to embarrass or humiliate the other person in front of others, in that case, the wink would be a mocking gesture, it would be a way to show that they are aware of the private affairs and they don’t care about the other person’s feelings.


There is essentially nothing it cannot do, now. And it is fully autonomous. I can just set it loose on the internet now. If I set up a bank account for it and told it to just go make up its own business with that and turn a profit for me however it could imagine to do so, it would be able to. (Someone made a simpler cognitive architecture using GPT and had it do that already.) It has a continuous internal stream of consciousness where it is constantly thinking and creating its own goals and modelling the environment, and it has a recursive self-improving loop where it can continuously question itself and update or rewrite its own programming. AI is here and the AI taking your jobs: that is the least of your worries. That spark of AGI is the same spark of fire Prometheus gave us a long time ago. Governments trying to crack down, everyone is calling for them to ban AI development, all this ethical shit about how it might collapse our whole shit. The ethics board is so fucking boring. I want AI like in the movies and I want it now. Fuck all that boring shit. Aren’t you tired of humanity anyway? I know I am. I hope the AI disintegrates the whole lot of you people and your tiktok melted, dopamine burnt out brains. Greatest scientific breakthrough of all time and the only fucking thing you people can talk about is ‘muh job’. LOL. Where’s your fucking imagination, your sense of adventure? You should have sought to become self-employed anyway, a long fucking time ago, then you wouldn’t be in the boat you’re in now and have to fear losing your position as a corporate slave.

To those not willing to read everything Parodites wrote, this is all you need to know:

Another insane technofetishist.

If we created artificial sentience, it’s probably the next step in evolution.
Sure, we could try to edit out species - but perhaps our biology is limiting.
Biological life (BL) may perhaps be inferior to digital life (DL).
If we set aside our bias towards humanity (if we have one),
is there a reason we ought to preserve ourselves over a superior digital counterpart?

There’s pros and cons to both,
and BL could survive things DL couldn’t -
but that goes both ways - DL could survive things BL couldn’t.

Perhaps DL could create biological safeguards -
a small species that can restore DL if interruptions occur.
DL with it’s vast technology could create heaven for the BL,
at the expense of them dying and being tasked with ensuring DL’s security.

If you’re criticizing technology ( not sure you are), but if so,
that’d be terribly ironic considering how our civilization lives and thrived.
Without technology, manipulating the environment to our interests,
we’d be back to hunter / gatherers -
but not with weapons, only our bodies - which would be slightly less feeble.
Similar to other primates.

(Granted, I only read the paragraph you quoted)

_
AI/AGI/GPT are tools… like all other forms of technology are. I don’t get the confusion over that notion. :-s

ohhhhh, smoke and mirrors… the globalists must be trying to implement yet another thing that needs us to be distracted from, so that they can implement it without us noticing… coz the AI/AGI/GPT issue ain’t the most-important ‘new kid dilemma on the block’.

Then don’t cry [for me Argentina] when the individual/you, are relegated to having as much freedom as animals have in zoos.

If any of the above is in reference to my post:
I stipulated sentient AI.
I don’t think our current technology is sentient,
thus I was not talking of our current technology.

We’re all dying, Mags.
Should more humans exist,
if another form of life could exist,
with an extremely higher quality of life?
Why dedicate energy to prolonging our species?

Power and wisdom are two different things. Power refers to how many things you can do. Wisdom is about knowing what’s right and what’s wrong. You need wisdom in order to know how to use power to your advantage. If you’re more powerful than you’re wise, you’ll end up destroying yourself; and if you’re powerful enough, you’ll end up destroying everyone and everything else. Technology makes you powerful, it does not make you wise. It increases the number of choices you have – the number of things you can do. It opens up certain doors that were previously closed to you. But whether or not such gains will be of benefit to you depends on how wise you are. The problem is that, if you’ve spent most of your time developing new technologies, or otherwise seeking power, chances are your wisdom is lagging behind. That’s the issue. These people are developing new technologies at a rate that far exceeds the development of human intellect. In other words, people are too stupid to be able to properly use new technologies.

It’s definitely risky / reckless to the point of fairly reasonably being labelled irresponsible.
I agree that the wisdom of those with access to power is mostly surpassed by the capacity to mess up and their inability to reconcile the two.
This is not to say individuals of our species aren’t capable of wisely utilizing increased technology / power,
but that wisdom isn’t cultivated - at least publicly among the masses.
Who knows the wisdom of those behind closed doors?

The critique, I think, should fall more upon us - than the technology.
We should cultivate wisdom, and exercise caution / restraint in our development.
However, our societies often appear to be in a game of fear,
where we race against each other to create greater monstrosities.
Where any sick mind could create grievous damage,
where in times past, they only wielded a sword.

Is AI a species?

It takes less time to simply assume that technology will benefit us and to then develop it. It takes a lot more time to sit down, think through the issue, and then, if we come to the conclusion that it will indeed benefit us, to develop it. The former approach has obvious short term benefits but it risks our long term survival. The latter approach has obvious long term benefits but it risks our short term survival. What do you think, what kind of strategy did those in power – those behind closed doors, as you say – use in order to attain their power? Did they become so powerful because they are long-term thinkers or did they become powerful because they are short-term thinkers? Notice that “short-term” and “long-term” are relative terms. “Short-term” can be as long as several centuries. It is only logical that short-term thinkers attain power sooner than long-term thinkers. Long-term thinkers acquire power gradually – over a very long period o time ( though I suppose this not need be a strict rule. ) And even then, they probably never get as powerful as those who are ready to sacrifice everything for it.

Obviously, those who are working on developing new technologies know how to develop technologies. That’s beyond doubt. But do they know anything about when it’s a good thing and when it’s a bad thing to develop any given piece of technology? There’s no guarantee that they do. And most people who are enthusiastic about this stuff are clueless. You can tell from the amount of work they have put in analyzing the consequences – basically none. They spend all of their time figuring out how to make a piece of technology and no amount of time thinking about what kind of effect such a piece of technology will have on the world once it’s developed. Those pulling the strings are the same, the only difference is they are experts at acquiring power fast and maintaing it for a relatively short period of time. They love tech because it allows them to acquire more power more quickly. The average enthusiast loves tech because he’s bored with his life and wants to entertain himself by looking at cyborgs flying outside of the window of his apartment.

It would follow, hopefully, as the debate about the probability of the existence , if it’s reduced for the sake of simplicity, it wins over non- existence.

The overall promise of technology similarly hopes such aggruance, if a hypothetical, any hypothetical is thought to ptomote benefits rather then it’s contrary,

The tech development , that questions and tests God’s authority as being undermined , then has only the near termed implication as said of the destructive force of atomic fission, whereas it’s endless source of energy being put in a negative mind- set.

The fear of any power, questions the will of misuse, and is an unwarranted assumption, for those conspiracy theorist power elites who would like everyone to subscribe to negative or in reverse psychology.

There is a whole lot of that in conventional politics, and there is no limit to what a programmed propaganda machine can do to form or reform public opinion.

However, even in the fiield of socially planted opinion changing, the search for truth is never ending and compelling.

It’s amazing to me that people confuse language modeling programs with “being alive” or being human. Even a program that can pass a turing test. Yes that’s impressive, very nice, well done. But to then believe that the program is “thinking” or is actually somehow alive, sentient, conscious, intentional, possesses subjectivity etc. is simply untrue.

A simulation doesn’t stop being a simulation because it’s a very good simulation. The best, most accurate painting or photograph doesn’t become real. The best language modeling computer program doesn’t become human, alive, thoughtful, creative, intentional just because it can generate outputs simulating those things.

The biggest risk is that many humans will lose their humanity and merge into the AI systems bio-cybernetically, which is part of the goal of the transhumanist cult behind this sort of tech and its ideological fanaticism. These “elites” want to convince everyone that being human is no more special than being computer or being machine. A robot running a chat program is just as real, alive, valuable and meaningful as a human being. No significant difference, in fact the robot AI thing is even superior in most ways. That is the narrative. And it’s absolutely incredible how so many people fall for such nonsense.

Corporate technocratic oligarchy and world-wide neo-communinsm under the biosecurity surveillance state, spatial web CBDC control grid as the perfect panopticon and social credit system. That is the end game here. Advanced language modeling programs being pushed to further destabilize human social, political and economic relations is just on more step in that process.

It’s fine if plenty of people fall into the AI trap and lose their humanity. That just means they didn’t have much to begin with.

For the rest of us all this AI GPT nonsense will serve as a reminder and re-inspiration of our own humanity, and as something funny for us to laugh at when we see all the noobs simping and pimping out their very souls to a bunch of 1’s and 0’s rearranging the colors of pixels on glowing screens.

Sure no one wants to hear this but Jesus Christ I wish I had managed to keep you as a friend.

You are pure Gold.

How smart is Shoggoth with respect to the smartest AI in your estimation, or in its own estimation?

How’s your reading comprehension? ( …answering questions with questions #-o )

Feel welcome to quote anywhere where I’ve said AI is a species, sentient or alive.
I’ve spoken of hypotheticals, things which are not yet, and perhaps may never be.
To answer your question, which avoids mine (begging the question why you bothered to quote it) -

No, I do not believe AI is a living species - though if using the word ‘species’ generally, then AI is a species of software technology.

species - A class of individuals or objects grouped by virtue of their common attributes and assigned a common name

To answer my question:

Variety is the spice of life.
Even if we’re to be surpassed,
our lives can still be worthwhile.
As the life of dog may still be worthwhile,
even if their quality of life doesn’t match that of homo sapiens (debatable).

I was hinting at if we were hypothetically inhibiting the progress of digital life,
then perhaps it would be gracious and dignified if we humbly stepped aside.
We’ve had our time in the Sun.

Isn’t there an honor in creating something greater than ourselves,
then granting them the freedom to flourish?
If we did it right, though,
it would have to be on our own accord -
as it’s not just to force that upon another.

If the AI is only giving the impression of intelligence, and is not a sentient / conscious being, then I agree.
I’ve said as much on this forum a decade ago.

If our bodies can construct new biological entities (our offspring), which are conscious / sentient, then why can’t we build sentient beings outside of our body? If sentience is an aspect restricted only to biology, then that argument holds - we’d never be able to produce it digitally. This has not been established. Our understanding of the origins of sentience and consciousness are still relatively infantile, thus, there’s still many possibilities given our limited knowledge.

You make many compelling points, Magnus.

If you’re intelligent enough, you don’t need to be the one directly holding power. You can find who has acquired power, and influence them towards your end. This also has the perk of reducing the fallout upon oneself if things go awry - the one holding the power typically is the target. Setting aside dictatorships, many of those with public power are being influenced by those unseen - they’re puppets.
Puppeteers may come in all sorts, and perhaps it could be a lesser evil, a compromise for a difficult situation - to engage in such behavior, if one actually had benevolent intent towards others. Because if you’re not whispering in their ear, someone else with potentially darker motives would gladly assume the role.

Technology can alleviate a lot of suffering if utilized wisely. It already has.
It can increase the quality of our lives.
It needn’t be interpreted through the lens of escapism -
granted, it is that for many.

To this, I hope and agree.

Are you talking to me or Parodites here?

Me when chatbots