“Tim probably read my analysis using the self-optimizing compiler as an example, then forgot that I had analyzed it and thought that he was inventing a crushing objection on his own.”
Why do you think it is crushing objection? I believe Tim just repeats his favorite theme (which, in fact, I tend to agree with) where machine augmented humans build better machines. If you can use automated refactoring to improve the way compiler works (and today, you often can), that is in fact pretty cool augmentation of human capabilities. It is recursive FOOM. The only difference of your vision and his is that as long as k < 1 (and perhaps some time after that point), humans are important FOOM agents. Also, humans are getting much more capable in the process. For example, machine augmented human (think weak AI + direct neural interface and all that cyborging whistles + mind drugs) might be quite likely to follow the FOOM.
Eliezer:
“Tim probably read my analysis using the self-optimizing compiler as an example, then forgot that I had analyzed it and thought that he was inventing a crushing objection on his own.”
Why do you think it is crushing objection? I believe Tim just repeats his favorite theme (which, in fact, I tend to agree with) where machine augmented humans build better machines. If you can use automated refactoring to improve the way compiler works (and today, you often can), that is in fact pretty cool augmentation of human capabilities. It is recursive FOOM. The only difference of your vision and his is that as long as k < 1 (and perhaps some time after that point), humans are important FOOM agents. Also, humans are getting much more capable in the process. For example, machine augmented human (think weak AI + direct neural interface and all that cyborging whistles + mind drugs) might be quite likely to follow the FOOM.