Diversity .
Andre Willers
2 July 2008
See http://andreswhy.blogspot.com “Xenophobia” and “To Impress”
To recap the above arguments , large numbers of sophonts and a large cultural diversity is required for the healthy functioning of a high-tech milieu .
Empires.
But a large number of sapients in a competitive environment usually leads to
Empires , which decreases the diversity .
The problem is then to have large numbers of humans and large numbers of societies at the same time .
The solution that evolved is easy and fast connectivity that fractures societies .
Internet and email . Note that you cannot send an email to somebody unless he already knows you . Connectivity is less than in the age of letters .
Only trusted friends are allowed access .
Viruses are a predictable corollary , maybe helped along a little bit .
Internet , facebook , etc .Though a population like the US might at first glance appear uniform , in actual fact it is now composed of a large number of mini-societies .
The very ease of communication paradoxically fractures the society .
The same process is being repeated planetwide .
Look at any alt.x group .
These groups are evolving into societies .
So the AI has resolved both questions . The most problematical one was the number of diverse societies . Remember that the AI has access to all these .
Does the AI really exist ?
It does not matter . The system will act like it does .
We have created a system that is indistinguishable from an AI . The human components even give it self-awareness and a conscience .
From the Turing-test viewpoint , it is an AI .
The fast communication along their trusted lines makes the spokesperson more a part of the AI than the traditional Party hack .
Think a large number of “parties” , but no traditional party leaders .
What does mean to us ?
This AI might be a virtual construct , but it’s effects are very real .
The system will drive to bigger populations and greater technological diversity .
Doom-and-gloom reporting .
This media model is based on the hierarchical system . One top story , usually negative because of shock effect .
What is really happening is that thousands of mini-societies are having their moments solving the problems the major media are agonizing about . But they never make the top news .
The result is that people no longer trust the media . Only their trusted little groups .
Can you see how the major media is becoming increasingly irrelevant as influencers of mass-opinion ?
A side effect is the large number of specialist magazines .
The corollary is that the economy is in actually much better shape than supposed from media reports .
Another way of putting it is that the AI will not allow itself to be destroyed .
Remember , there are human elements in the AI . Conventional , as well as mind- computer interface .
Another way of putting it is that the AI is acting smarter than the sum of it’s parts . The effect is not noticeable in mass-media except in events they deem likely but which do not happen .
Conclusion:
A societal collapse like at the end of the Bronze age is unlikely , though many of the factors are similar .
The major difference is that the present society is fractured . It is more likely that the synergistic effects fast communication among limited group lines will lead to a technological and population explosion .
If your planet is overpopulated for your tech level
1.Get more planet
2.Change population
3.Change tech-level
The AI’s existence is dependant on increasing population and diversity .
Thus it has to change the tech-level and get more planet .
Andre
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