X-Message-Number: 4075
From: 
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 1995 13:06:38 -0500
Subject: SCI. CRYONICS computer threat

I don't expect to "win" the uploading debate with Mr. Clark, since he will
doubtless outlive me (ante freeze, at least), and we are probably well past
the point of diminishing returns. But I'll say a word about possible
cryonics/upload competition and about the possible threat of a takeover by
intelligent computers.

1. Mr. Clark would be right about no competition between cryonics and
uploading at present, since cryonics is the only currently available
option--if people acted logically, as he always tries to do. But they don't.
 In some recess (abscess?) of the brain, in many cases, I think this
competition exists, even though it shouldn't. After all, fooling with
uploading is much safer psychologically, more comfortable, and perhaps more
rewarding career-wise, as well as less expensive.

2. Computers will not necessarily "want" anything, since they will not
necessarily have feelings or values. They could have goal-directed programs
in some sense, like an advanced version of Grey Walter's mechanical
tortoises, but it seems somewhat unlikely that anyone would program a
computer to threaten humanity. Anyway, at this stage, someone else would
program equally competent computers zealously to guard human interests.

In any case, before computer evolution reaches the most threatening stage
(independent and self-conscious computers, if that ever happens), we may
learn how to integrate a brain with a computer, i.e. make a computer an
auxiliary or extension of the brain. In that case, WE would be the benevolent
"computers" guarding against any enemy computers.

Robert Ettinger

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