Can we build AI without losing control over it? | Sam Harris

[abaris]

We're talking about a distant future where AI is far more smart than us, has a mind of its own and has its own interests.

So let's break this down, shall we?

First, we don't know what such a hypothetical AI looks like, but it's fair to assume it ill need some kind of casing. Computer, machine, organism even - we're talking about the future after all.

For it to function, it will take processing power, lots of it. And processing power means nothing if there isn't energy. Energy has to come from somewhere and isn't available everywhere. Not even solar power.

Since we have that established, we can move on to the hypothetical AIs mental capacities. How can a thing, designed by human intellect, assembled by human ingenuity, possibly surpass human intellect and ingenuity? It could process faster, given the right amount of energy and processing power. Computers do that for us already, but it can't actually surpass the intellect available when it's assembled.

But let's give you the Albert Einstein of AIs. It goes rogue, so what does it do when we simply cut the grid? How does it maintain itself to pose a threat. It would need access to components, energy and the ability to manually work on itself while still functioning at full power while damaged.

How likely is all of this coming together anytime?