Prohibition
If I want a drink, the government ain't gonna stop me
I have strong opinions about prohibition. I think it's like ordering the waves back.
Prohibition of alcohol in the US did not achieve the abolition of drunkenness and associated ills. Instead it enriched criminals, and made petty criminals of many ordinary people. And once people start choosing which laws they obey... well, it's not good.
Prohibition of something can only be achieved if the entire supply can be controlled. "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing".
Nobody controls the internet. It is multi-jurisdictional, even to the point of floating nodes (as in, on board ships in international waters, though there are probably virtual floating nodes too) which offer allegiance to no state. There is also the darknet, which specifically flouts all attempts to control it. Thus prohibition of anything on the internet is impossible, though it's clearly possible to make parts of the internet more controlled than others, as China's great firewall demonstrates. Similar strategies might be used to create safer places for children and teenagers, but they will not eradicate the dark corners.
Worse than prohibition itself is that, to my mind, it is like spinning wheels. Sleeping Beauty has always seemed to me to be a warning about the power of ignorance. Instead of banning spinning wheels, the king should have trained his daughter in how to use one, such that she'd be far less likely to prick her finger. The point was that outside his kingdom spinning wheels still existed, and his daughter didn't know what they looked like, or even that they were dangerous to her.
I believe strongly that light is the most powerful force for good. By which I mean, knowledge encourages people to do the right thing, and social pressure makes us all a little better. As Adam Smith said, "How does trust get created? By the myriad small interactions we have with each other when we honour our word and pass up the chance for opportunism."
If we are building potentially society changing/ending tools, it should be in the light so that we can build real trust around it. Every part of the spinning wheel should be visible, understandable and all known risks clearly articulated. "Princess, don't touch this bit otherwise you'll have a long siesta and wake up to your true love, who won't be born for 80 years..."
Prohibition will drive Artificial General Intelligence related development into darkness. And there people will do things which are more dangerous. Perhaps not expressly intending to harm others, but because they can push the boundaries.
Nietsche said, "And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
I quote that partially to show off, and check you're still reading, but also as with many of his one liners, there is a deep point. If we push AI into the darkness, and then worry about all the bad things it can do, we will poison our own views. We will become afraid, and respond as frightened people do, with little thought for consequences.
What do I propose?
Regulate. Tax. Report and share.
Regulation in two directions. Support development of AGI with free resources, guides, and government help. Allow general freedom in the development, as long as it doesn't break existing laws. Once the ideas become more mature, the second phase is to add controls on the companies to make sure they report and control their development properly. By being involved from day one, the government regulators are embedded, and should have a better chance of seeing what's going on. They will also be able to draft rules, and laws, earlier in the cycle.
Incentives? Well tax the mature AI companies, and use it to subsidise the smaller ones, as long as they agree to the higher level of regulation. Those who don't maybe get taxed earlier in the cycle? Stick and carrot.
Report and share. Ensure an open ecosystem, where people report and share what they are achieving. This doesn't have to be secret sauce, but within the realm of specific AGI improvements, this should be encouraged by the regulator. Get people talking sensibly. Anyone who makes over the top claims to generate buzz and investment, will quickly be found out if the ecosystem is being properly supportive, and the winner-takes-all myth is abolished.
I don't have an answer for how to completely ameliorate the corrupting influence of money, though I think creating non-profit investment bodies as part of the regulatory infrastructure would help. I will return to this in the future. Unless I get paid not to, of course.
And, if anyone is found to be doing something illegal, then hammer them mercilessly. Make it clear: THIS is the safe space, THIS is where you can stretch and discover. Step outside, and there will be no quarter given.
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