I don’t expect AI itself to show up, but I think it’s clear that in the story that magic is serving as a sort of metaphor for AI, with Harry playing the role of an ambitious AI researcher: Harry wants to use magic to solve death and make everything perfect, but we’ve gotten a lot of warning that Harry’s plans could go horribly wrong and possibly destroy the world.
Eliezer once mentioned he was considering a “solve this puzzle or the story ends sad” conclusion for HPMOR like he did for Three Worlds Collide. If Eliezer goes through with that, I expect the “sad” ending to be “Harry destroys the world.” Or if Eliezer doesn’t do that, he may just make it clear how Harry came very close to destroying the world before finding another solution.
EDIT: So how does Harry almost destroy the world? My own personal theory is “conservation law arbitrage.” Or maybe some plan involving Dementors going horribly wrong.
I don’t expect AI itself to show up, but I think it’s clear that in the story that magic is serving as a sort of metaphor for AI, with Harry playing the role of an ambitious AI researcher: Harry wants to use magic to solve death and make everything perfect, but we’ve gotten a lot of warning that Harry’s plans could go horribly wrong and possibly destroy the world.
Eliezer once mentioned he was considering a “solve this puzzle or the story ends sad” conclusion for HPMOR like he did for Three Worlds Collide. If Eliezer goes through with that, I expect the “sad” ending to be “Harry destroys the world.” Or if Eliezer doesn’t do that, he may just make it clear how Harry came very close to destroying the world before finding another solution.
EDIT: So how does Harry almost destroy the world? My own personal theory is “conservation law arbitrage.” Or maybe some plan involving Dementors going horribly wrong.