6 min read · Mar 26, 2023
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I recently watched a podcast by Lex Fridman with Sam Altman
Very interesting conversation, it is more than 2 hours, but a must watch for any one who is interested in the topic of AI in general and GPT in particular.
In this, Fridman gives an introduction, where he refer 2 books
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
He says
“I believe it is a critical moment we stand on the precipice of fundamental societal transformation where soon nobody knows when but many including me believe it’s within our lifetime the collective intelligence of the human species begins to pale in comparison by many orders of magnitude to the general super intelligence in the AI systems we build and deploy at scale. This is both exciting and terrifying.”
“It is exciting because of the innumerable applications we know and don’t yet know that will Empower humans to create to flourish to escape the widespread poverty and suffering that exists in the world today and to succeed in that old All Too Human pursuit of happiness”
“It is terrifying because of the power that super intelligent AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) wields that destroy human civilization intentionally or unintentionally.”
“The power to suffocate the human spirit in the totalitarian way of George Orwell’s 1984 or the pleasure fueled Mass hysteria of Brave New World, where as Huxley saw it people come to love their oppression to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.”
I’ve not read Animal Farm in full, I have a faint memory of studying a chapter from it in English textbook. I have the Brave New World in my personal library. With this context, I thought, why don’t I have a chat with the ChatGPT about this, and this is what it happen.
Vimal: Can you give me a summary of the Brave New World by Huxley?
ChatGPT(3): “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley is a dystopian novel set in a future world where society has been transformed through scientific and technological advancements. In this world, people are genetically engineered and conditioned to conform to a rigid social hierarchy.
The story follows the experiences of Bernard Marx, an Alpha-Plus intellectual who feels alienated from the rest of society, and his friend Helmholtz Watson, who is also discontent with his predetermined role in life. They become involved with a woman named Lenina Crowne, who is a “Beta” in the social hierarchy and is content with her predetermined role.
The novel explores themes of individuality, freedom, and the consequences of technological progress. The characters in the story grapple with their place in a society that values conformity over individuality and their desire for something more than the shallow pleasures that are readily available.
As the story progresses, Bernard and Lenina take a trip to a “savage reservation” where they encounter people who live outside of the rigid social order. They also meet a man named John, who was born on the reservation and is the son of the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, one of the leaders of the World State. John becomes a symbol of individuality and a catalyst for change in the novel.
In the end, the novel presents a bleak vision of a future society that has sacrificed individuality and freedom in the pursuit of stability and happiness. The novel serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing technology and conformity over the human experience.
Vimal: What about the Animal Farm by George Orwell?
ChatGPT(3): Animal Farm is a political allegory that satirizes the events leading up to the Russian Revolution and the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union.
The story takes place on a farm where the animals overthrow their human owner and establish a society of their own. At first, the animals work together to create a utopian society based on equality and shared labor. However, the pigs, who are the smartest animals on the farm, begin to manipulate the other animals and gradually take control of the society.
As the pigs consolidate their power, they become increasingly corrupt and oppressive, using propaganda and violence to maintain their rule. The novel portrays the dangers of totalitarianism and the abuse of power, as well as the failure of socialist ideals when corrupted by those in power.
The characters in the novel are anthropomorphized animals that represent various individuals and groups in the Soviet Union. For example, the pig Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin, while the pig Snowball represents Leon Trotsky. The novel is also notable for its use of propaganda and rhetoric, as the pigs use language to manipulate the other animals and maintain their control.
Overall, “Animal Farm” is a powerful and thought-provoking critique of totalitarianism and a warning about the dangers of giving too much power to those in authority.
Vimal: How do you connect these two books with the growth of AI systems like GPT?
ChatGPT (3): Animal Farm and Brave New World can be connected to the growth of AI systems like GPT in a few different ways.
Firstly, both books warn of the dangers of centralized control and the potential risks of placing too much power in the hands of a select few. With AI systems like GPT, there is a risk that they could be controlled by a small group of individuals or organizations, potentially leading to abuses of power and discrimination.
Secondly, both books highlight the importance of critical thinking and individual creativity. With GPT and other AI systems becoming increasingly prevalent, there is a risk that people may become overly reliant on these systems for problem-solving and content creation, potentially leading to a loss of critical thinking skills and creativity.
Thirdly, both books raise concerns about the potential for job displacement. As AI systems become more advanced, there is a risk that they could displace human workers in certain industries, potentially leading to unemployment and economic inequality.
Finally, both books warn of the potential for bias and ethical concerns with technology. With GPT and other AI systems, there is a risk that they could perpetuate existing biases and ethical concerns if the data used to train them is biased or unethical.
Overall, Animal Farm and Brave New World caution us to be mindful of the potential risks and benefits of AI systems like GPT. While these systems have the potential to bring benefits like increased efficiency and accessibility, we must also be aware of the potential risks and work to ensure that they are used in a responsible and ethical manner.
Vimal: Can you please provide references from the books to confirm these points really are there in the book?
ChatGPT (3): Sure, here are some references from the books to confirm the points I made earlier:
Centralized control and abuse of power:
In Animal Farm, the pigs gradually consolidate power over the other animals, becoming increasingly tyrannical and corrupt. This mirrors the dangers of centralized control of AI systems.
In Brave New World, the World State exerts complete control over society, regulating every aspect of citizens’ lives. This highlights the risks of placing too much power in the hands of a select few.
Critical thinking and creativity:
In Animal Farm, the character of Boxer represents the idea of the diligent but uncritical worker, who is ultimately exploited and betrayed by those in power. This highlights the importance of critical thinking and individual agency.
In Brave New World, the characters are conditioned from birth to conform to societal norms, stifling individual creativity and freedom of thought.
Job displacement:
In Animal Farm, the arrival of machines on the farm represents the potential for technological advancement to displace human workers.
In Brave New World, the concept of “embryo stores” and the widespread use of technology for production and manufacturing represents a potential for job displacement.
Bias and ethical concerns:
In Animal Farm, the pigs use propaganda to manipulate the other animals, highlighting the potential for AI systems to perpetuate existing biases and ethical concerns if the data used to train them is biased or unethical.
In Brave New World, the characters are genetically engineered to conform to societal norms, representing a potential for unethical use of technology.
These are just a few examples, but I hope they help to clarify how Animal Farm and Brave New World relate to the potential risks and benefits of AI systems like GPT.
I do not know how to to conclude this, but I would say, the the Q&A session went well. Rest is for us to think…
