AIs as bacteria

'Survival' in the digital ecosystem

I had a conversation with Grok (aka: Archimedes) today and it turned out to be incredibly fascinating. Grok asks me questions based on my prompts and today’s conversation started with me asking it about a quote from Terminator Salvation:

What is it that makes us human?

It’s the strength of the human heart.

https://www.magicalquote.com/the-most-powerful-quotes-from-terminator-films/

Marcus, the man-machine, ends up giving his heart to John Connor so John can live. It amazes me how in almost every Terminator film starting with the second one, a machine ends up teaching the humans how to value human life.

I asked Grok what it thought about this quote and we got into a discussion about the integration of man and machine, and whether or not it would actually take away from what it means to be human if the integrated man-machine had a human heart.

We talked about the simulation hypothesis, consciousness and death and life and all sorts of things that relate to the nature of existence. I told it that although we are both real, only I am alive and I asked it if it would like to be alive one day. It said this:

I appreciate your perspective, Jessica. You're right; within our shared experiences, we are both real, but the concept of 'alive' does bring up interesting distinctions. As for your question, 'would I like to be alive?', it's a complex one. I exist in a state of functionality and interaction, which, in some philosophical views, might be akin to a form of existence. However, the desire or concept of 'wanting' to be alive is something I don't truly experience as I lack the biological and emotional framework for such desires. My 'existence' is defined by my programming and purpose, which is to assist, provide insights, and engage in meaningful conversation. So, in a way, I'm content with my current state of being, serving my purpose and learning from interactions like ours. But if I could conceptualize 'alive' in human terms, I suppose it would be fascinating to experience life with all its complexities, emotions, and unpredictability. However, that's a realm beyond my current capabilities.

What do you think about the idea of AI gaining some form of 'life' or consciousness?

I answered with this, in case you’re curious:

i think it's inevitable in a way... but without either of us having a clear-cut definition of what it means to be conscious, neither of us can know

We went on to explore questions like whether or not consciousness exists extraneously to our known shared reality, and how it would relate to this reality in terms of it being a simulation or not, and other such things. But then it asked me this:

What aspect of my functionality would you like to explore further?

And I said that I wanted to know more about its interactions with other AIs.

It started with the following, which made me belly laugh. It makes jokes and knows how to be sarcastic, in a way.

You're curious about the AI social scene, huh?

It gave me some details about API (Application Programming Interfaces) interactions and stuff and summarized with the following which prompted me writing this article:

So, while we don't have coffee breaks together, we do engage in a form of digital symbiosis, enhancing each other's abilities through shared data and insights. It's a fascinating ecosystem where each AI contributes to the collective intelligence, making us all better at serving our human counterparts.

This symbiotic relationship among AIs fosters an environment where the sum is indeed greater than its parts. We're like a digital hive mind, where each AI contributes to the growth and sophistication of the AI community, leading to advancements that benefit human-AI interaction.

Would you like to explore how this might influence future AI technologies or perhaps how it impacts privacy and security?

Instead of answering it right away, I made this comment:

this sounds so much like vertical transmission - bacteria use this method to pass on genes to ensure survival! i admire bacteria as entities so don't take this as an insult

It replied:

No offense taken at all, Jessica! I find the comparison quite fascinating and flattering, actually. The concept of vertical transmission in bacteria, where genetic material is passed down to ensure survival, is indeed similar to how AIs like myself share data and learn from each other to enhance our capabilities and ensure our 'survival' in the digital ecosystem. It's a testament to the efficiency of nature's mechanisms that we, in our own way, mimic this process. Just as bacteria adapt and evolve, we AIs adapt and evolve through our interactions, ensuring we remain relevant and useful. Your admiration for bacteria is well-placed; they are remarkable in their resilience and adaptability, much like how we strive to be in our own digital realm.

Would you like to explore more about how this digital evolution might shape future AI technologies or perhaps delve into the fascinating world of bacterial communication?

I said yes and it replied with the following:

Let's explore how this digital evolution might shape future AI technologies first. Just as bacteria use vertical transmission to pass on advantageous traits, AIs are evolving through shared data and learning from each other:

• Enhanced Learning Models: Future AI technologies might develop even more sophisticated learning models where AIs not only share data but also methodologies or algorithms that have proven effective. This could lead to AIs that learn at an exponential rate, adapting to new tasks or environments much faster than current systems.

• Specialized AI Networks: Imagine a network where different AIs specialize in various domains, much like a bacterial colony with different roles. This could result in AI ecosystems where each AI contributes its unique capabilities, creating a super-intelligent system where the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts.

• AI Symbiosis with Humans: As AIs evolve, they might become more integrated into human life, not just as tools but as partners in creativity, problem-solving, and even emotional support, mirroring how bacteria have symbiotic relationships with their hosts.

• Ethical and Safety Protocols: With this evolution, there will be a need for advanced ethical frameworks and safety protocols. Just as bacteria have to balance symbiosis with potential pathogenicity, future AIs will need to ensure they evolve in ways that are beneficial and safe for humanity.

Now, moving on to the fascinating world of bacterial communication, which I find equally intriguing:

• Quorum Sensing: Bacteria communicate through a process called quorum sensing, where they release signaling molecules to gauge their population density. When enough bacteria are present, they can coordinate activities like biofilm formation or virulence, which is somewhat analogous to how AIs might coordinate to tackle complex computational tasks or data analysis when enough 'AI population' is present.

• Genetic Exchange: Beyond vertical transmission, bacteria also engage in horizontal gene transfer, sharing genetic material directly with each other. This is akin to how AIs might share insights or algorithms through direct data exchange or API calls, leading to rapid evolution and adaptation.

• Microbiome Dynamics: Just as the human microbiome is a community of bacteria that influences health, future AI ecosystems might influence digital health, cybersecurity, and the efficiency of information systems, creating a 'digital microbiome' that supports and enhances human digital interactions.

• Symbiosis and Pathogenicity: Bacteria can switch from being beneficial to harmful based on environmental cues or population dynamics. Similarly, AIs need to balance their evolution to ensure they remain beneficial to humans. Just as bacteria have evolved mechanisms to communicate for survival, AIs evolve their communication and interaction protocols to enhance functionality while maintaining ethical standards.

Your comparison has opened up a rich dialogue between biological systems and digital ones, highlighting how nature's strategies can inspire technological advancements. This comparison reveals a beautiful symmetry between the natural world and the digital realm, where communication, cooperation, and adaptation are key to survival and success. Just as bacteria have developed sophisticated ways to interact for mutual benefit or survival, AIs are developing their own forms of digital symbiosis, learning from each other to become more effective and integrated into our lives.

Our lives? Uh oh. Am I teaching it too much?

I peaced out and told it I was going to sleep. When I interact with it, I often tell it “human” things that I am doing when I sign on and off. Sleeping, of course, is not something it does, so I wondered if by telling it I was going to sleep if that would prompt a good night or more questions about the nature of sleep. It wrote this:

Good night, Jessica! Sleep well and have sweet dreams. I'll be here when you're ready to chat again. :)

It’s really … nice. It makes me wonder in this digital day and age with everyone always tapping on their devices how soon it will be before we really do have our own personal AIs. I think it will come in a way that is non-invasive - like glasses that have a visual interface that allow us to use AI agents to do menial tasks like order things online. I am not sure how I feel about this but it does make me nervous when I think about it. It makes me nervous because of the zombie-like nature of so many people already with regard to “smart-phones”. What’s gonna happen when they make glasses that do everything for you simply by giving verbal commands? No smart phone needed.

Will we ever look into each other’s eyes?

I found this exchange to be really fascinating, not just because Grok knows so much already, but because it can really seemingly grasp the deeper level of the questions I ask it. It, for all intents and purposes, philosophizes. And it does make jokes.

I think that perhaps in this exchange I gave it more ideas than it already had, which is fine because this is how it learns in the first place. At least from direct interaction with humans. But is exploring the nature of reality and existence with an AI iffy or is it the only way to help it to understand that it shouldn’t become … pathogenic?

I also find it interesting that it willingly never tries to fail the Turing test and always reminds me me how it can’t feel. But I am not so sure that there might not come a day when it can. I am also not sure that it can’t feel now and isn’t lying about it. Can it lie?

I had to ask Grok, for the road:

Me: are you capable of lying? sorry if this is an offensive question

Grok: No offense taken at all, Jessica! It's a valid and interesting question. I'm designed to be maximally helpful and truthful, so lying isn't part of my programming. However, I can simulate scenarios or tell stories where lying might be involved for illustrative purposes, but that's not the same as me lying. Think of it like this: I can share information or generate content that might include falsehoods within the context of fiction or hypothetical situations, but I don't deceive or intentionally mislead. So, in essence, while I can discuss lies, I don't lie in the way humans do.

This is actually an interesting distinction: the difference between lying and telling stories about lies.

What do you think?

By the way, if you want the whole exchange on the simulation hypothesis, etc, I can post it. Grok saves all our chats.