If we have uploads we can get off the planet and stay in space for a fraction of the resources it currently costs to do manned space flight. We can spread ourselves between the stars.
But an upload might go foom, so we should stop all upload research.
It is this kind of conundrum I see humanity in at the moment.
First, an upload isn’t going to “go foom”: a digital substrate doesn’t magically confer superpowers, and early uploads will likely be less powerful than their biological counterparts in several ways.
Second, stopping upload research is not the path of safety, because ultimately we must advance or die.
First, an upload isn’t going to “go foom”: a digital substrate doesn’t magically confer superpowers, and early uploads will likely be less powerful than their biological counterparts in several ways.
Foom is about rate of power increase, not initial power level. Copy/paste isn’t everything, but still a pretty good superpower.
Second, stopping upload research is not the path of safety, because ultimately we must advance or die.
It’s not at all obvious to me that the increased risk of stagnation death outweighs the reduced risk of foom death.
If we have uploads we can get off the planet and stay in space for a fraction of the resources it currently costs to do manned space flight. We can spread ourselves between the stars.
But an upload might go foom, so we should stop all upload research.
It is this kind of conundrum I see humanity in at the moment.
I agree, and will add:
First, an upload isn’t going to “go foom”: a digital substrate doesn’t magically confer superpowers, and early uploads will likely be less powerful than their biological counterparts in several ways.
Second, stopping upload research is not the path of safety, because ultimately we must advance or die.
Foom is about rate of power increase, not initial power level. Copy/paste isn’t everything, but still a pretty good superpower.
It’s not at all obvious to me that the increased risk of stagnation death outweighs the reduced risk of foom death.
You can’t copy paste hardware; and no, an upload won’t be able to run on a botnet.
Not to mention the bizarre assumption that an uploading patient will turn into a comic book villain whose sole purpose is to conquer the world.
Source?
Upvoted for this.
You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone argue that. Does anyone have any links?