what is Roko’s Basilisk?
In: 8
It’s a thought experiment: The concept that an hypothetical AI in the future might want to decide to take revenge on anybody who didn’t try to bring it into existence. Which theoretically would be an incentive for us to work to create such a thing.
Eg, in the Terminator, Skynet eventually shows up one way or another. This thought experiment says Skynet then may proceed to enact grisly revenge on anybody who opposed its existence, or even just didn’t work towards it. So we should try and create Skynet, lest it shows up in our lifetime and is angry at us for not doing it faster.
Of course there’s the logical question of why would it care. Regardless of when Skynet shows up, it can’t make itself happen faster retroactively, so from its point of view this would be a waste of time.
I think it’s a pretty silly idea. Imagine that say, Bill Gates hires you for a huge amount of money, and you decide to beat him up because you’re 40 now, and would have much preferred to be hired back when you became 18.
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