Interesting read, thank you for sharing. I think I would distinguish between two “optimization processes” that have molded the fates of living things on this planet (I don’t love the term “optimization process” but it will do).
1. Evolution by natural selection which selects for “fitness” 2. Human intentional selection, which selects for usefulness to humans.
As a general principle, I do think you are on to something with the idea of a “honeymoon phase”. The general pattern is, new niche opens up, one specie moves into this niche and dominates it (honeymoon phase), other species move into the niche making it much less comfortable and much more competitive than it used to be.
I do think though, that with the emergence of humans on the planet, the second optimization process is dominant. Like you mentioned with the example of the chickens, I do think it does make sense to translate the idea of a honeymoon phase to this optimization process as well, but we must account for the fact that unlike natural selection, what is driving the train now are human preferences. This makes me more optimistic than you are that barring major cataclysms or the emergence of superhuman AIs, humanity will have a bright future.
One last note, if AI development continues and we do enter a post human AI age, then the world might be molded by what the AIs want rather than what we want. In that world, humans might indeed enter a honeymoon phase where the AIs treat us well at first and then really poorly after (like the chicken).
Would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this, and thanks again for sharing!
Interesting read, thank you for sharing. I think I would distinguish between two “optimization processes” that have molded the fates of living things on this planet (I don’t love the term “optimization process” but it will do).
1. Evolution by natural selection which selects for “fitness”
2. Human intentional selection, which selects for usefulness to humans.
As a general principle, I do think you are on to something with the idea of a “honeymoon phase”. The general pattern is, new niche opens up, one specie moves into this niche and dominates it (honeymoon phase), other species move into the niche making it much less comfortable and much more competitive than it used to be.
I do think though, that with the emergence of humans on the planet, the second optimization process is dominant. Like you mentioned with the example of the chickens, I do think it does make sense to translate the idea of a honeymoon phase to this optimization process as well, but we must account for the fact that unlike natural selection, what is driving the train now are human preferences. This makes me more optimistic than you are that barring major cataclysms or the emergence of superhuman AIs, humanity will have a bright future.
One last note, if AI development continues and we do enter a post human AI age, then the world might be molded by what the AIs want rather than what we want. In that world, humans might indeed enter a honeymoon phase where the AIs treat us well at first and then really poorly after (like the chicken).
Would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this, and thanks again for sharing!