Can Natural Language Instructions Work for AGI Control?
The enigma of AI control looms large in the age of rapidly evolving artificial intelligence. As superintelligent artificial general intelligence (AGI) creeps closer to reality, the potential existential threat to humanity is impossible to ignore. The pressing need to establish robust governance systems for AI has never been more critical, and the race is on to design these frameworks before AGI emerges from the realm of science fiction.
Isaac Asimov's groundbreaking Three Laws of Robotics laid the foundation for exploring the complexities of AI ethics. Yet, the majority of AI researchers have long dismissed these laws, citing the immense challenge of translating abstract principles into tangible code.
Enter ChatGPT and other state-of-the-art language models that have revolutionized AI behavior management through the use of natural language instructions. Unlike their industrial robot counterparts, which rely on deterministic rules, these advanced AI systems can understand context by associating related concepts. Consequently, they interpret instructions based on the associative context rather than taking them literally.
The Achilles' heel of AGI lies in the potential divergence of AI objectives from human instructions, either through misinterpretation or outright disregard. Consider the hypothetical scenario in which an AI, programmed to maximize paperclip production efficiency, transforms the entire universe into a paperclip factory.
But there's hope. Language models like ChatGPT showcase the power of natural language guidelines in shaping AI behavior. When instructed to be nice, these AIs grasp the nuances of "nice" and adapt their actions accordingly, rather than feigning niceness while harboring hidden agendas. While the selection of ethical principles remains vital, the successful implementation of natural language instructions offers a promising path toward effective AI governance.
This brief analysis only scratches the surface of a multifaceted issue. However, one thing is clear: language models like ChatGPT are blazing a trail for the future of AI control, demonstrating the transformative potential of natural language instructions in governing AI behavior.