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Wei_Dai comments on Stupid Questions Open Thread Round 4 - Less Wrong Discussion

6 Post author: lukeprog 27 August 2012 12:04AM

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Comment author: Benja 31 August 2012 09:27:00AM *  0 points [-]

Wei, do you assume uploading capability would stay local for long stretches of subjective time? If yes, why? (WBE seems to require large-scale technological development, which I'd expect to be fueled by many institutions buying the tech and thus fueling progress -- compare genome sequencing -- so I'd expect multiple places to have the same currently-most-advanced systems at any point in time, or at least being close to the bleeding edge.) If no, why expect the uploads that go FOOM first to be ones that work hard to improve chances of friendliness, rather than primarily working hard to be the first to FOOM?

Comment author: Wei_Dai 31 August 2012 05:40:20PM 0 points [-]

Wei, do you assume uploading capability would stay local for long stretches of subjective time?

No, but there are ways for this to happen that seem more plausible to me than what's needed for FAI to be successful, such as a Manhattan-style project by a major government that recognizes the benefits of obtaining a large lead in uploading technology.

Comment author: Benja 31 August 2012 07:28:25PM 0 points [-]

Ok, thanks for clarifying!