Risks and Rewards of AGI: Insights from David Shapiro

In this podcast episode, Riley Brown interviews David Shapiro, a prominent commentator on AI, to discuss the risks and rewards of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). The conversation covers a range of topics including the basic definitions of AI and language models, the importance of data protection, and the potential timeline for AGI development. Shapiro explains the concept of ‘Moloch,’ a mythical figure representing the race condition in AI development where companies and nations rush towards AI advancements without considering the potential dangers. They also discuss the ethical concerns surrounding AI, such as the dangers of social media algorithms that optimize for engagement at the cost of user well-being. Shapiro introduces his ‘Gato Framework,’ which aims to align AI development with universal principles like reducing suffering, increasing prosperity, and enhancing understanding. The framework includes multiple layers from model alignment to global consensus, and emphasizes the importance of corporate and national regulation. Shapiro also touches on the potential for AI to contribute to biological immortality and fusion energy, which could lead to a utopian future. The episode concludes with Shapiro outlining the ‘Gato Traditions,’ a set of guidelines for individuals and organizations to contribute to a positive AI future.