DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

I anticipate that artificial general intelligences (AGIs) will not be fundamentally more intelligent than humans because they will be capable of the same types of cognition, including doing science, creating art, and experiencing emotions like love.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The limitations on human cognition boil down to hardware constraints, specifically speed and memory capacity, which can be augmented to match any other entity in the universe.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

There are concepts that we may inherently be incapable of comprehending, similar to how apes cannot understand quantum mechanics, and this limitation is not just about hardware but also about the specialized cognitive capabilities that different entities possess.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The idea that some humans, particularly those with cognitive impairments, cannot perform basic tasks does not necessarily mean that their limitations are purely hardware-based; it could also be a matter of software or cognitive readiness.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

If a culture requires certain cognitive skills, individuals may choose jobs that align with their cognitive abilities, which can be misinterpreted as a deficiency when it may simply be a matter of personal choice or cultural context.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

Identical twins raised apart tend to have similar IQ scores, suggesting that genetic factors play a significant role in intelligence, despite being raised in different environments.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The correlation between brain size and IQ indicates that there are actual hardware differences that correlate with intelligence, although these do not explain all variance in human intelligence.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

Creativity can be observed in animals, such as a cat that develops a theory to open a door by applying torque to the handle, demonstrating a cycle of conjecture and experimentation. Animals possess a bounded form of creativity, allowing them to thrive in unfamiliar environments by utilizing instinctive knowledge encoded in their genes.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The knowledge animals have is not about specific instructions but rather a sophisticated program that generates relevant behaviors based on external inputs.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

Humans engage in tasks that require less programming sophistication than animals, such as storytelling, which is a uniquely creative activity.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

While animals can enact complex stories, they cannot create original narratives, highlighting a key difference in creativity between humans and animals.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The founding fathers of America aimed to implement the British constitution but faced challenges in creating a system that effectively prevented tyranny while ensuring democratic legitimacy.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The American system of government has inherent flaws, including a diffusion of responsibility due to checks and balances, which can lead to a lack of accountability.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The idea that the universe has a finite amount of matter suggests there may be limits on computation and economic value, but it ultimately depends on how we choose to utilize available resources.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The concept of the beginning of infinity suggests that while there may be limits imposed by cosmological conditions, it is still up to us to determine how we fill the potential for knowledge and creativity.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The decline in research productivity over the last 50 years can be attributed to sociological factors within academia that have stultified the culture, rather than a lack of potential for knowledge growth.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

Bayesianism provides a way to describe changes in epistemic status without altering the relative status of a theory.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The many worlds explanation is currently the best way to explain quantum mechanics, but its epistemic status can change with new experiments.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

If we conduct a thought experiment that validates the many worlds theory, it could provide new arguments against alternative explanations that haven't been considered yet.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The methodology of science should not be solely based on empiricism, as it can lead to misconceptions about quantum theory.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

Open-ended scientific progress is essential for addressing existential dangers, and we should focus on improving laboratory security before conducting risky research.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

We should not halt research simply because it might lead to dangerous knowledge; instead, we need to prioritize which knowledge to discover first.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

It's dangerous to condition short-term goals based on long-term goals, as it may prevent you from correcting errors in the short term.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The relationship between advice-giver and advisee can be problematic, as it often involves authority, which can lead to poor decision-making.

DD

David Deutsch

01/31/22

@ Dwarkesh Patel

I believe that the relationship of authority in giving advice is immoral, as it can limit the ability to think critically and independently.

David Deutsch - AI, America, Fun, & Bayes

Takeaways