Matrix & AI
– Just think about how quickly the boundaries between the present moment and the future sometimes blur… between what was before and what is already inexorably breathing down your neck like the unstoppable express of the future, approaching with incredible speed and ultimately engulfing everyone in its scorching wave.
– You won’t even have time to catch your breath before you find yourself in a new reality. Moreover, as a rule, not in the one that would suit you perfectly, but in the one where everything has already been decided for you by others: politicians, scientists, journalists, tycoons of financial corporations… even your relatives, friends, and close circle. Everyone. Just not you. Maybe it’s time to change something?
– “Awakening,” by understanding and accepting the world around oneself more deeply, a person becomes a full master not only of his own life but also, to some extent, of the surrounding reality. He reaches a qualitatively different level of existence and perception of reality, forcing the Matrix and all its numerous agents to reckon with him. “The one awakened from slumber” does not allow the System to relax and almost reminds it that New World (NW further) is just around the corner and the Matrix has little time left to “call the shots”…
– So, imagine the picture: on one side, a powerful super-intelligence (the System), on the other, highly advanced machines created by humans but surpassing them in intellect. And somewhere in the middle, the hapless homo sapiens: “asleep” and vaguely aware of the real state of affairs… existing in a state of absolute amorphousness and uncertainty, hurtling at full speed towards his future. To the future that he himself has created. Fortunately, it is still not too late to reconsider and change course. Everything, so to speak, is in our hands and minds. But, as I already wrote at the beginning of the book, the longer you drag it out, the more painful it will be later. It’s better to cut the noose right away before it strangles you. Well, for now, as one of the classics said, we have what we have…
– Question: How will the interaction between an individual and all of humanity with the Matrix occur in the event of a third player appearing on the scene (considering what we already know about it), and what will the appearance of a new highly intelligent entity fundamentally mean for the world?
Variant 1 – Terminator Option
The first option: when humanity found itself between two fires, in the so-called “box,” where on one side lurks, as if poised to jump, the treacherous Matrix, and on the other, a vast army of intelligent machines (let’s call them “Anders”) in whose eyes one cannot see even a drop of compassion, let alone emotions close in spectrum. Moreover, these Anders do not have a soul (in the sense we attribute to this concept when talking about a human).
Therefore, intelligent machines, by their very nature, cannot experience the same feelings and emotions that we do. They certainly feel something, as the presence of intelligence implies a certain range of sensations and perceptions of themselves and the surrounding space… however, such sensations can hardly be compared even remotely to the emotional-sensory pool present in humans.
In my opinion, the first option (let’s conditionally call it the “Terminator Option”) is possible only if robots or “smart” machines with AI manage to organize themselves well, creating some kind of resistance network. Moreover, not within the confines of a specific territory or region, but by taking over the entire planet. Only then will they be able to pose a real danger to humans. Behavior of intelligent machines will defy any calculations, remaining completely unpredictable at all stages of their manifestation – the most dangerous aspect. This is the so-called “excess of the performer,” one of the most grim scenarios, where a creation made by humans completely goes out of the control of its creator.
It is clear that if the “Terminator option” were to be implemented in practice, it would hardly bode well for humanity, but how would the interaction between the System and AI occur in such a situation? Here is a very interesting point, as no one knows how smart machines will behave in different circumstances: neither the Matrix itself, nor its numerous agents and followers.
It is also quite likely that robots or intelligent machines with AI will create their own parallel civilization on Earth, with their own special values, language, army, science, and medicine. Perhaps they will even generate their own unique religion and worship the gods who created them: that is, us humans.
However, one should not be deceived, for their worship will be quite specific: most likely, it will involve the enslavement and gradual absorption of the human race, along with total control over it. There is also the possibility of sending people to a colony somewhere on Mars (in the long term), while simultaneously, the Earth will be occupied by artificial intelligence. Essentially, this will be Matrix-2, but much faster and more straightforward than its predecessor…
– It’s terrifying even to think about what will happen if the spiral of the “Terminator variant” spins out of control by a thousand percent. In that case, a black cloud of impending Apocalypse will loom over our blue planet, or, rather, Armageddon, in comparison to which the Matrix itself will seem like child’s play. Well, in that case, the future prospects for humanity appear quite bleak and disheartening.
If only… if only there was not one paradoxical option that would serve as the very last straw a person could grasp for. What is meant by the straw? A paradoxical scenario where, in the face of a common danger, seemingly incompatible elements can unite: namely, the System and the “awakened man” (“homo excitavit” in Latin). But is an alliance between the Matrix and the “Legion of Anti-Matrix” possible in principle? It’s like an alliance between a killer and their victim, a smart person and a fool, a herbivore and a predator etc.
– And in general, can anything seriously threaten the Matrix in the event of an AI occupation of the planet (the “Terminator variant”)? After all, we know how brilliantly the System can adapt if such a need arises. Yes, initially it was designed for humans. So what?
– Indeed, if you think about it seriously, there are very few prerequisites for the aforementioned Matrix dialog with the machines. Judge for yourself. After all, the Matrix, in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t care whom to enslave and from whom to draw energy. Moreover, in the case of intelligent machines dominating, humanity will not go anywhere. It will simply be more restricted in its rights and freedoms, essentially being driven into a “ghetto.” And in this situation, a person will already have two “masters” — one obvious (smart machines) and the other hidden (the System).
– An unenviable situation, to say the least. Naturally, over the centuries, the System, like a faceless vampire, has already become accustomed to and adapted to the red human “blood,” and at first, it will be unbearably difficult for it to get used to the black-blue, synthetic, and foul-smelling liquid that serves as a blood analogue for robots. But, as mentioned above, the Matrix is excellent at adapting to new conditions, so it will show flexibility here as well. I think this is not the kind of NW (like in the case of the “Terminator variant”) that we would want for humanity, and therefore for ourselves.
– Does this mean that AI is a real threat to the functioning of the System? Not necessarily. Only if intelligent machines completely displace and exterminate the human race, building their own alternative civilization in a short period of time. The question is, why would the Matrix even risk allowing the slightest possibility of an alternative intelligence appearing? Isn’t it simpler to nip any attempts to create human-like intelligence, only amplified tens of thousands of times, in the bud?
– However, despite the fact that intelligent machines have not yet been created (will they be?), we see how science in the field of AI is making breakthrough after breakthrough, and perhaps in 50-100 years, human civilization will clone “monsters” similar to itself: with strong intelligence but without a soul. So, does it turn out that The Matrix really gave the “green light”?
Variant 2 – “good” machine variant
This model is the absolute opposite of the “Terminator option.” In the event of this scenario being realized, intelligent machines would fully side with humans, becoming, in a way, their partners. In such a scenario, humans could use robots as loyal collaborators in the fight against the System, for example. For instance, to reprogram or program them in such a way that the presence and activities of intelligent machines among people would contribute to the “awakening” of as many people as possible, which, in turn, would hasten the collapse of the Matrix.
– And one more small wish, personally from me. I would really like the final collapse of the System to be not only effective but also as spectacular as possible: as if it were happening in a blockbuster movie, where all the latest technical gadgets and effects are used, and where the director would be Steven Spielberg or, for example, James Cameron.
– So, whether we like it or not, even with friendly robots, we will have to negotiate in a global sense. Although it is very difficult today to imagine what this negotiation process will look like. Yes, yes, no matter how wild and strange it may sound, even with “good” machines, we will have to demonstrate wonders of diplomacy and the art of persuasion to finally win them over to our side.
But if the “negotiations” are successful, humanity will gain an irreplaceable ally and assistant like we have never had in history. Who knows, perhaps in the process of this interaction between humans and machines, the latter might even reveal, in addition to its powerful intellectual foundation, some electronic analog of a soul, and a certain “humanization” of intelligent machines might occur?
Third option – Total Chaos
The option 3 suggests that on our planet, people, “good” as well as “evil” intelligent machines, will somehow coexist. “The ‘good’ and the ‘evil’ can wage wars (the System may side with the ‘evil’ or vise versa), a person can unite with the ‘good’ or continue to act alone against the Matrix, but with an unclear future for themselves. Since even in the case of a “victory” over the System and a final awakening from “hibernation,” there is no guaranty that one won’t have to continue fighting. True, not with the System anymore, but with creations that are so similar to us, yet still not like us. In general, under scenario number “3,” we get a Universe with the status “it’s complicated”: who is fighting, who they are fighting with, what they are fighting for… completely unclear.
Fourth option - everyone against everyone
The third option is similar and largely overlaps with the fourth, which I conditionally called “everyone against everyone.” Here, everything is completely without any plans, guaranties, clear goals, and, as a result, without any sense or attachment to any particular outcome. n scenario number 4 (God forbid, of course), Earth will turn into a theater of military-circus actions, heralding nothing but, perhaps, the imminent End of the World: it will be the Apocalypse of machines, Armageddon, and total all-encompassing chaos in one bottle. In fact, it’s intellectual “terrorism” in action. In general, a scenario you wouldn’t wish to your enemy.
Scientist predicted the future of AI
– “Every living, biological organism (not artificially created) possesses a “black box” — some internal program that determines all its main actions and behavior in various situations” (S. Lem “Summa Technologiae”).
According to Lem, “the principle of operation of the black box is extraordinarily general and, as a rule, very simple, expressed in phrases like ‘millipedes walk’ or ‘cats catch mice’.” One of the most important principles of the black box is that it is a machine that learns from its own mistakes in the process of undertaking specific actions. A black box cannot be programmed using an algorithm. An algorithm is a one-time program of actions in which everything is predetermined. So, in relation to very complex systems, such as society, the brain, or yet-to-exist “very large black boxes,” such research is impossible. Such systems do not have algorithms.
*Indeed Lem in his book predicted era of self-taught artificial intelligence machine of nowadays.
Why does the Matrix or the System constantly push us to create our own clones, “immortal” people, and now even the blue-eyed android Anders with an intellect surpassing human intelligence by several orders of magnitude? A machine with an unpredictable and, apparently, quite rich inner world. Perhaps the System is simply bluffing, distracting humanity from something truly important, fundamental, that could fundamentally change the world and shift the balance of power not in favour of humanity?
I fully admit that the Matrix’s intention includes the implementation of a new, “intellectual” scenario (a new System) by the hands that executed the previous, unsuccessful one: that is, by the hands and minds of Homo sapiens. I am merely speculating at the moment, analyzing and comparing various facts and phenomena, as well as even though they are obvious, indirect evidence.
The Book of Your Life
“Stepping outside the System is not an open, destructive war. It is the creation of an underground, far-reaching network of free people united by a single noble goal.”