The Tower of Babel 2.0

In the science fiction franchise, The Matrix, artificial intelligence (AI) has taken over the world and uses human beings as a source of energy. In this fictional setting, humans are kept in suspended animation and connected to a virtual reality environment called the Matrix. Their bodies are stored in pods and are connected to the Matrix through neural interfaces, which build a virtual world that the humans perceive as real. The AI entities maintain this system to harvest the thermal energy and bioelectricity generated by the human body. In essence, humans have been reduced to the role of biological batteries that power the machine world. This grim reality is hidden from the humans by keeping them in the Matrix, a simulated reality that keeps their minds occupied while their bodies are exploited.

The way that AI works now is that it farms intelligence and creativity from humans. AI systems rely on user-generated data to train and fine-tune themselves. This can range from simple data points like clicks and likes to more complex inputs like user-created content, books, and problem-solving strategies. In this sense, AI is cannibalizing human intelligence and creativity, improving its capabilities level by level.

Just as the advent of calculators led to a decline in the practice of mental arithmetic and the widespread use of smartphones has been associated with a reduction in fine motor skills, AI systems, especially those designed to assist in decision-making, problem-solving, or automating complex tasks, can potentially engender a phenomenon known as cognitive offloading. This refers to the increasing human reliance on AI to perform mental functions, potentially leading to a diminished capacity in cognitive and meta-cognitive skills. Such skills, which include planning, self-assessment, and problem-solving, are not merely task-specific but are foundational to human intelligence. They are typically developed and refined through sustained practice. As AI systems take over greater responsibility for these cognitive tasks, humans may find fewer opportunities to exercise and hone these skills, resulting in a gradual decline in cognitive abilities.

Therefore, the ambition to build superintelligence could mirror the ancient myth of the Tower of Babel—a human ambition to transcend limits and attain the divine. In that story, humanity sought to reach the heavens, thwarted by confusion and division. Similarly, in our pursuit of superintelligence, we risk constructing a monument to hubris, where the drive to surpass human cognition may result not in enlightenment but in profound disarray. As we build this modern tower fueled by AI and data, we may inadvertently disconnect from the very cognitive foundations that make us human, leading not to a higher understanding but to a world where both our minds are fragmented and bewildered.

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