Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Substrate-Independent Minds Pattern Survival Agrees with Universal Darwinism
Randal A. Koene Halcyon Molecular Carboncopies.org
[email protected]
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
1
Universal Darwinism Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
2
Competitive Intelligence Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
3
Substrate-Independent Minds Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
The future of intelligence
Long-term view... Let’s go one step above the evolution of algorithms in machine intelligence Consider Universal Darwinism and the evolution of thinking Apply a perspective from expected outcomes + perspective of our interests = I propose the significance of a specific subset of AGI
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
Survivors of Competition - Universal Darwinism A specific piece of knowledge... that is adapted to a niche survives in the niche... embodied in some substrate the pattern persists replicators replicate Everything competes End-result: some components occupy more space-time than others Successful components occupy more space-time (end-result perspective) A well-adapted entity’s knowledge causes its niche to maintain that knowledge.
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
Move to Safer Substrates
Every time a replicator replicates... It uses non-replicating material to build... ...non-replicating knowledge can be embodied in different physical substrates each time + given Universal Darwinism... some substrates are safer than others under some conditions = replicators survive better by moving to safer substrates It is not the matter that counts. It is the knowledge, its use and survival.
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
Darwinian necessity: Self-Consistent Reward Mechanisms result of natural selection: biological reward mechanisms that lead to greater survival ...long-term utility functions ...short-term reward functions (mech.: excitable/suppressable loop) entities with different utility / reward functions can compete for the same resources in a world of entities trying to ensure their survival... ...if you are the one that does not, you have no self-consistent reward mechanism then you will not exist for long, you will perish
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
Fundamentals of AGI
There are fundamental questions about physical possibilities in AGI that deserve more research. Suzanne Gildert recently took on the challenge of exploring these with Universal Darwinism in mind... ...I believe her insights are significant According to Suzanne: In a universe with the organizing factor of competition... We cannot have super-intelligent truly general AI And our own intelligence may be difficult to improve
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
Recognizing Intrinsic Reward Functions
Humans can see they obey intrinsic reward mechanisms To be generally intelligent, you must be able to learn about yourself Godel machines, optimal self-improvers, are even intended to know this and make useful rewrites
Other intelligences at human or greater level will also learn to see their intrinsic reward mechanisms
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
Modifying Intrinsic Reward Functions totally general intelligence is adaptable to all environments handle novel problems in novel domains not all domains well-served by the same reward mechanism
super-intelligent general AI - to fulfill its useful potential cannot have a fixed reward mechanism + intelligence can learn to affect that which specifies its reward function even if social engineering is required
= fixed reward functions are not really fixed the human enhancements we seek: allow us to modify our own reward functions some entities will gain the ability to modify their reward mechanisms Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
Continually Maximizing Reward over Time given that modification is possible... use new information to redefine reward functions set own reward exceedingly high define goals such that attaining reward is exceedingly easy Permutation City: Peer
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
Instability given Maximization of Reward over Time... + given Darwinian necessity of self-consistent reward mechanism = an entitity may adopt behavior that corresponds with a nihilistic philosophy... unsurvivable removal/dial-down reward feedback = suppression/no excitation = catatonic passivity in absence of direct control by another all actions have possible reward mechanisms and are equally purposeful = even/ultimately self-termination most reward mechanisms chosen are statistically inferior to those leading to optimal survival strategies in the environment = out-selection by competition with entities that have reward mechanisms more strongly grounded in resource competition and survival Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
We cannot build or evolve super-intelligent general AI given the Instability... lacking requirement for adaptation... ...we lack criteria to distinguish desirable from undesirable developments prior to selective pressure, the AGI ends up with utility function that is result of random walk evolution of AGI becomes random generator
stuck with something optimized to given utility function changes are risky (next topic) ...or begin with intrinsically general - catatonic or self-terminating ...or end up in arbitrarily discovered non-general niche
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
We cannot assure Friendly AGI
given the postulates about super-intelligent general AI... ...only aberrants that ended up in a competitive parameter-niche operate meaningfully they behave competitively in a specific environment highly competitive other intelligences may compete for resources against our interests
The operating survivors are not Friendly super-intelligent general AI that will solve our problems and extend our existence
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Look at the Results Competitive AI not Friendly AGI
Questioning Religious AGI
I am all for AGI... but not religiously Build all-powerful friendly superintelligent AGI It will take care of our needs! It will make us happy! It will give us mind uploading!
Religious AGI - all religious transhumanism - diverts valuable thought and resources Beyond the theoretical treatment: We face a horizon beyond which we cannot evaluate AGI without building things.
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Darwin’s Appropriation of Space-Time gene-survival is highly environment dependent single environments are at great risk gene-survival is easily annihilated gene replication will not be a significant universal survivor
Intelligence that is adaptable to many challenges is highly competitive the evolved descendants of the most competitive entities occupy most of space-time competition an evaluated result of an interaction, from a temporal perspective dominate the largest stretch of time into the future
From the end-result: most space-time consumed by intelligences is consumed by those that can adapt to many environments Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Perils around Optimized Reward Mechanisms intrinsic drives seek reward linked to gene-survival evolved reward mechanisms are optimized toward a specific competitive environment evolved reward mechanisms are self-consistent they elicit actions in accordance with local goals
gene-survival is finely tuned to the local competitive environment and kin-selective cooperation changing our intrinsic behavior can lead to conditions that no longer favor survival the landscape of possible reward mechanisms around the evolved optimization is dangerous in that it is not guaranteed to lead smoothly to another good survivor condition Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Catchment Areas: A Protective Trap
Assuming the high-risk landscape in the case of modification + Instability results + Darwinian necessity of self-consistent reward mechanism ...and evolved reward mechanism provides protection within a specific environment ...an entitiy exists within the ”catchment” area of an evolved reward mechanism it provides a self-referential purpose
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Human evidence: Anterior Cingulate Cortex 1/2
(With thanks to Tom Michael) Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Human evidence: Anterior Cingulate Cortex 2/2
(With thanks to Tom Michael) Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Human evidence: Orbitofrontal Cortex 1/2
(With thanks to Tom Michael) Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Human evidence: Orbitofrontal Cortex 2/2
(With thanks to Tom Michael) Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Escape Catchment... Carefully (Adiabatically) Other intelligences will compete with ours machine intelligence without the same intrinsic drives intelligence originating elsewhere in the universe
prime competitors adapt capabilities and strategies quickly changing one’s utility function is a powerful way to adapt
you need to be able to modify capabilities but capabilities are limited by the need to satisfy the reward/utility functions gene-survival implies specific reward mechanisms you need to transition away from an exclusive focus on gene-survival
= you need to be able to escape the catchment area rapid changes are dangerous in a catchment area we cannot yet pre-compute the effects
Outcome perspective: successful intelligences may emerge from those that modified gradually and tentatively Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Human Thought and The Church-Turing Thesis computability theory: everything computable is computable by a Turing machine neuroscientific concensus: mind emerges from classical biophysical processes of the brain
those processes are computable, ergo the mind is computable our brains are machines, complex, but nevertheless machines Church-Turing implies that one Turing machine can implement another Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Whole Brain Emulation The most conservative approach: Emulate all operations from one substrate in the other
mechanistic re-implementation that enables predictions of active state and behavior at t + ∆t with acceptable error
Re-implementing all of a brain’s operations is even more conservative than implementing only select modules / features in AGI Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
An Interest in Individual-Specific Thought processing in our mind is - from our self-perspective - all that we are. it is all a combination of perception, memories, executive processing
We are interested in our experiences and future experiences We are interested in individual notions of future development Our characteristifc way to understand, represent and use knowledge champions memes Memes affect future development
The universe is affected by successful pattern competitors We have an interest to support the survival and competitiveness of patterns focused on individual-specific thought e.g. Your future is distinct! Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Gene-survival to Pattern-survival regards mind as part of the environment genes create to support their replication and survival We care about the experience of mind Minds evolved as part of an environment supporting gene-survival But... we have no reason to care specifically about patterns of DNA Given our interest in individual-specific thought: transition from a focus on genes to a focus on our interests find new modes of pattern competition with replication, adaptation, propagation
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Substrate-Independence Genetic material carries within it the ability to enact the creation of environmental conditions that favor the replication and spread of its self-same code. The body is such an environment aiding genetic replicators.
Self-replicating properties of genetic material can be part of the substrate that compiles and emulates functions based on a pattern, even if that is not (human) DNA. E.g. computer virus... though more parasitic
Substrate-independent existence implies that one can devise compilers and emulators in various available resources to operate the relevant patterns in a manner that includes replicating, propagating and adapting properties.
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Adaptable to Many Challenges Demands transition from gene-survival
Aim Transhumanist Technologies at SIM
The objective of substrate-independent minds is defined as the search for strategies for the competitive survival of the patterns of our mind functions. SIM embraces Universal Darwinism - in fact seeks to build according to its outcome SIM provides a method to escape catchment to suitable substrates with different optimal capabilities
SIM deserves close attention and development candidate technologies it has the greatest potential
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Cautiously Escaping Catchment
We need a way to experiment with augmentation and enhancement try various modifications
We require Access and Interpretability of the mind Whole brain emulation is a technique that at least solves the problem of Access You can explore and you can experiment tentative, with a degree of ”undo”
A route can be found this way unless a discontinuity needs to be bridged by ”tunneling”
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Tentative Experimentation
see what happens if you run everything twice as fast see what happens if you plug in flawless memory experimental approach to move from one set of limitations to another Skill at doing this, at hacking minds, will increase as we learn. We may even learn how to pre-compute Some of this is possible with BCI
or attempt 1000 tweaks at once, winner-take-all evaluation based on capability and competitive survival
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Principles of Commencement
Begin with the mechanisms that support the experience of mind, as we have them scope and resolution remain to be solved for mind uploading, whole brain emulation and substrate-independent minds there is a finite combination of resolution and scope that is relevant to the human experience consider all I/O to the brain not drowned in noise that means it can be emulated
note the dependency between modules this should also be of interest to AGI developers
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Principle of Satisfactory Emulation
By example: How can we use different effectors - different compilers and emulators, so to speak And use the same pattern to obtain sufficient sameness of effect through interaction with the environment? Pattern of pixels on screen, effector causes light to impact on my retina Same effect as when the pattern is expressed as a pixelated drawing on paper with good lighting
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Whole Brain Emulation: Structural Scanning and Reconstruction
Post-mortem extraction of large-scale high-resolution neuroanatomical structure Examples from CPU reverse engineering Denk; Lichtman/Hayworth; Choe Full reliance on structure means all function is inferred quality and applicability of inference determines performance of emulation validation issues
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
WBE: Knife-Edge Scanning Microscope
Choe lab KESM: state of the art, rat brain, commercialization (3scan)
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
WBE: Automatic Tape-Collecting Lathe Ultramicrotome Lichtman/Hayworth ATLUM: state of the art, volume sizes
Denk: Array Tomography
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Whole Brain Emulation: Functional Analysis and Emulation Electrode Arrays (Neural Interfacing) in-vivo recording with multi-electrode arrays (MEA) in-vivo functional data capture from Lymnaea, Peter Passaro
integrated structural and functional analysis attempts to reconstruct and simulate C.Elegans, retina, visual system
Neuroprosthetic Devices (sensor, motor, cognitive - Ted Berger) Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Demux Trees
With Llinas nanowires (600 nm)
Autogenerated Nodes-only
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Internal Agent Collaborative Scanning with Extermal Imaging (IACSEI)
Next-generation in-vivo recording Aims for recording interfaces and Imaging techniques
Agent requirements Multiple specialized agents achieve desired result cooperatively detecting biological information of different types conversion into scannable response signals simple distribution scheme or targetting recording at very many sites fine structure deduction from electrical properties (or separately, e.g. ATLUM)
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
IACSEI: fMRI and Passive nanoparticles fMRI improvement By inference: Specific stimulation in order to use fMRI for high-resoltuion readout (Boyden) e.g. last 10 years, improved contrast agents for MRI, etc. (Kircher et al, 2003)
passive nanoparticles e.g. superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle and calmoduling based agents: visualize levels of intracellular calcium, imaging of live biological signaling networks (Atanasijevic et al, 2006) e.g. quantum dots (q-dots) to replace organic dyes, individual crystal semiconductors that can be functionalized
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
IACSEI: Active nanoparticles Enhancement by introduced nanoscopic local specific changes or agents Early versions in use with injected dyes for brain imaging (contrast dyes, voltage- and calcium-sensitive dyes, etc), and quantum dot (Q-dot) imaging tailored to method used to enhance interesting signals Record activity changes a) concept one: active agent
b) concept two: passive agent power irradiation
detected biological signal
detected biological signal nano agent
nano agent
changing property
active response detector imaging
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
imaging
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
IACSEI: Synthetic biology / nanotechnology optogenetics (Deisseroth, Boyden), Channelrhodopsins, Halorhodopsin conditionally active viruses for cell-specific promotion of light-sensitive probe delivery
Engineered cells / bacteria (Church lab) DNA programming
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Brain-Computer Interfaces gradual transitions, cyborgs augmented reality
augmented cognition e.g. what it would be like to have a quantum computing brain and novel senses
non-invasive, semi-invasive or invasive Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Loosely coupled off-loading
Live with array of machine intelligence Attempts to predict as much about you as possible Attempts to perform complete I/O Total immersion, high temporal resolution human = black-box undergoing sensitivity analysis for I/O transfer functions
Will machine and biological parts ever become indistinguishable? Loss of biological part could be ”small” sacrifice
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Personalization of standardized cognitive architecture
Use generic models of perception, motor action, cognitive tasks, attention, self-wareness Off-load a personal identity at the cognitive level begin with systems based on SOAR, ACT-R, etc.
Person-unique aspects, e.g. how the person handles knowledge identify implement as parameters of the generic system
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Each is evaluated with regards to the prime technical criteria
Access to the mind Interpretablity of the mind Adding capabilities Adding time
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
A Strategy Seeking Pioneers Advancing SIM (ASIM) is a much younger field than AI or AGI but elevates our ability to excel in a competitive environment increases our share of the future
Pursuing AGI without ASIM is self-defeating and disappointing for the human and personal interests of those working in all the related fields of hardware, software, neuroscience. Given the simple fact that ASIM embraces Universal Darwinism it deserves much more attention and study than it has so far received Other transhumanist technologies have their greatest value where they aid the development of SIM.
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Carboncopies
Fundamental literature Roadmapping Networking 155 members
Outreach first 6 months 12 events including singularity summit satellite
Providing public data
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Strategy at Halcyon
Halcyon takes SIM very seriously. We all should. All indications are that ASIM is technically feasible, real effort and resources are now being put into it. The field of SIM is still very young, little is understood in great detail and one of the most important efforts needed is honest and critical thinking about each aspect that intersects the field. See to it that key questions about specific approaches are answered See to it that specific technological requirements of specific approaches are met
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Roadmapping A Puzzle
A horizon Separate publications will deal with the long-term Objectives. And with details that are within the horizon. Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
Universal Darwinism Competitive Intelligence Substrate-Independent Minds
Engineering a Shift from Gene-Survival Six known technology paths Systematic Effort
Summarizing The universe is Darwinian. A promise of friendly yet superior AI in the long-term is therefore snake-oil. The best shot we have at benefitting from AI rather than bearing its brunt is to escape catchment by seriously pursuing ASIM. From the end-result we see that those that adapt well and increase their capabilities beyond one domain win more. Of all transhumanist pursuits, only substrate-independent minds embraces this and offers a possibility to escape catchment and rapid Darwinian out-selection.
Randal A. Koene
Substrate-Independent Minds
