Question. In the world in which multiple AGIs obtain (i.e., not a singleton), is it likely these AGIs will be parents/mentors/guardians of younger AGIs?
Context. I was wondering whether parenthood (or, more minimally, guardianship) is an intrinsic property of the evolution of sufficiently intelligent agents.
The answer seems to depend, at least partly, on the stability of the environment and the returns to learning. My off-the-cuff reasoning follows.
1. It seems that a species (or, perhaps more generically, sufficiently similar information processing systems), can persist over time either by increasing their own lifespan or by creating new instances of the species.
2.a. It seems that if the environment is highly stable, then increasing lifespan and/or creating clones is attractive because the agent has found agent-environment fit. Returns to learning are low because the environment is already known. Returns to guardianship are low because the usefulness of a young agent existing is itself low.
2.b. If, on the other hand, the environment is highly unstable, then shorter lives seems more adaptive because natural selection will ensure agent-environment fit. Returns to learning are again low but this time for the opposite reason: facts now will not be relevant in the future. Returns to guardianship are low because the probability of survival of any one agent is low which makes guardianship investment a low-return activity.
2.c. Finally, if the environment is moderately stable, then there seems to be an optimal lifespan: one that enables a relatively long learning phase and a relatively long exploit phase. Returns to learning seem high as do returns to guardianship.
3. If AGIs will need relatively long learning phases, and, further, if young AGIs benefit from parenting/mentorship/guardianship (perhaps because they can be hurt by their environment, including by other AGIs), then it seems there’s a fitness advantage to AGIs which attract parents/mentors/guardians.
[Question] Would AGIs parent young AGIs?
Question. In the world in which multiple AGIs obtain (i.e., not a singleton), is it likely these AGIs will be parents/mentors/guardians of younger AGIs?
Context. I was wondering whether parenthood (or, more minimally, guardianship) is an intrinsic property of the evolution of sufficiently intelligent agents.
The answer seems to depend, at least partly, on the stability of the environment and the returns to learning. My off-the-cuff reasoning follows.
1. It seems that a species (or, perhaps more generically, sufficiently similar information processing systems), can persist over time either by increasing their own lifespan or by creating new instances of the species.
2.a. It seems that if the environment is highly stable, then increasing lifespan and/or creating clones is attractive because the agent has found agent-environment fit. Returns to learning are low because the environment is already known. Returns to guardianship are low because the usefulness of a young agent existing is itself low.
2.b. If, on the other hand, the environment is highly unstable, then shorter lives seems more adaptive because natural selection will ensure agent-environment fit. Returns to learning are again low but this time for the opposite reason: facts now will not be relevant in the future. Returns to guardianship are low because the probability of survival of any one agent is low which makes guardianship investment a low-return activity.
2.c. Finally, if the environment is moderately stable, then there seems to be an optimal lifespan: one that enables a relatively long learning phase and a relatively long exploit phase. Returns to learning seem high as do returns to guardianship.
3. If AGIs will need relatively long learning phases, and, further, if young AGIs benefit from parenting/mentorship/guardianship (perhaps because they can be hurt by their environment, including by other AGIs), then it seems there’s a fitness advantage to AGIs which attract parents/mentors/guardians.
Open to any feedback. Thanks!