[zwkrt]

Any technology (physical, social, philosophical) we create has the ability to wreak havoc on equilibrium (natural, societal, or otherwise). We are fundamentally unequipped to restore equilibrium because that process takes the unwilling participation of all agents. So I think all technologies have a way of creating an existential threat, obviously some more than others.

My own internal sci-fi version of the future involves us creating replicating but non-intelligent technology that outlasts us.

Another free sci-fi premise while I’m on a roll is consciousness becoming such a good interpreter of reality (that sees everything so clearly) such that it evaporates. The map has become the territory.

/confused rambling

[itsthecourier]

You mean, because by observing everything we affect it? Like Heisenberg's uncertainty

[notgoodrobot]

Interesting ideas. Would you expand on your last point? We're you meaning an artificial consciousness becomes so good at interpreting the things around it that the consciousness itself evaporates?

[zwkrt]

Sure. So consciousness is maybe very loosely the ability for an entity to model and interact with its surroundings. On the low end we have a rock. It is the product of its surroundings and therefore you could say it has some kind of model, but no interaction. Then you have a worm, it can do some basic tasks and has a kind of plan. Humans are further along. But at some point if an entity has such a rich model of its surroundings and can control it so effectively, the line between it and its surroundings starts to blur. It’s able to effect more nuanced change at a greater and greater distance. It is less and less surprised by new events. And I guess in this way I imagine that it starts to merge with its surroundings.

Thinking about entropy, a single drop of dye in a glass is very high entropy, but the drop is very confined to a particular place. This is like the rock. Then as it swirls around the complexity increases, even though entropy is decreasing. This high complexity is like us. But as the drop of dye becomes totally intermixed the entropy is at its lowest, but the dye is evenly mixed through the entire solution. It stops making sense to ask “where is the dye?” because it is everywhere.

[lob_it]

Diversification is an interesting innovation in the 21st century.

Getting stuck as a head-in-a-fishbowl doesn't sound that appealing :/