Richard_Hollerith2 comments on Ends Don't Justify Means (Among Humans) - Less Wrong

44 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 14 October 2008 09:00PM

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Comment author: Richard_Hollerith2 15 October 2008 04:49:55PM -1 points [-]

Andrix, if it is just a recoiling from that, then how do you explain Stalin, Mao, etc?

Yes, Nancy, as soon as an AI endorsed by Eliezer or me transcends to superintelligence, it will probably make a point of preventing any other AI from transcending, and there is indeed a chance that that will entail killing a few (probably very irresponsible) humans. It is very unlikely to entail the killing of millions, and I can go into that more if you want.

The points are that (1) self-preservation and staying in power is easy if you are the only superintelligence in the solar system and that (2) unlike a governing coalition of humans who believe the end justifies the means, a well-designed well-implemented superintelligence will not kill or oppress millions for a nominally prosocial end which is in reality a flimsy excuse for staying in power.