The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens

Silicon Dreams and Carbon Nightmares: The Wide Boundary Impacts of AI with Daniel Schmachtenberger

Jul 17, 2024

AI expert Daniel Schmachtenberger joins Nate to discuss the alarming environmental risks of artificial intelligence. They explore how AI could lead to ecological destruction, intensify inequalities, and accelerate societal fragmentation. They highlight the need for a different set of values to ensure AI serves the betterment of life, offering insights on the wide boundary impacts of AI on the environment.

01:47:22

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Episode guests

Daniel Schmachtenberger

AI Summary

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The burden of proof should focus on proving safety amidst uncertainty in tech, not just reacting post-harm.

AI's potential environmental benefits hinge on efficiency gains but raise concerns about ecological impact amid efficiency-driven energy use.

Global AI data centers' rapid energy consumption growth raises sustainability challenges, highlighting the need for holistic solutions beyond technology.

Deep dives

The Precautionary Principle on AI and Catastrophic Harm

The burden of proof should be on proving safety when tech poses significant uncertainty and irreversible consequences. The current approach shift only after harm occurs irreversibly, hindering regulation. With AI's power and speed escalating, the precautionary principle emphasizes proving safety amidst uncertainties.

AGI Dominance and Global Control

01:16

Cultural Objectives Drive Change Across Structures

00:50

AI Dominance in Top Companies

01:04

Understanding the Essence of All Things

01:21

Intro

5min

The Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Sustainability

19min

AI, Transhumanism, and AGI Dominance

20min

Environmental Impacts of AI: Energy and Material Use

12min

Climate Impact Metrics and Technological Solutions

25min

AI Influence on Societal Structures and Environmental Issues

2min

Exploring the Influence of AI on Maximizing Returns on Power and the Evolution of Market Dynamics

5min

Addressing Environmental Demographics Marginalization and AI Risks

19min

(Conversation recorded on June 27th, 2024)

Show Summary:

Artificial intelligence has been advancing at a break-neck pace. Accompanying this is an almost frenzied optimism that AI will fix our most pressing global problems, particularly when it comes to the hype surrounding climate solutions.

In this episode, Daniel Schmachtenberger joins Nate to take a wide-boundary look at the true environmental risks embedded within the current promises of artificial intelligence. He demonstrates that the current trajectory of AI’s impact is headed towards ecological destruction, rather than restoration… an important narrative currently missing from the discourse surrounding AI at large.

What are the environmental implications of a tool with unbound computational capabilities aimed towards goals of relentless growth and extraction? How could artificial intelligence play into the themes of power and greed, intensifying inequalities and accelerating the fragmentation of society? What role could AI play under a different set of values and expectations for the future that are in service to the betterment of life?

We encourage you to explore the resources and research from The Civilization Research Institute on artificial intelligence compiled in this document:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61d5bc2bb737636144dc55d0/t/66958505d89b99287c4ecab3/1721074950447/AI%2C+Climate+and+the+Environment-07-12.pdf

About Daniel Schmactenberger:

Daniel Schmachtenberger is a founding member of The Consilience Project, aimed at improving public sensemaking and dialogue.

The throughline of his interests has to do with ways of improving the health and development of individuals and society, with a virtuous relationship between the two as a goal.

Towards these ends, he’s had a particular interest in catastrophic and existential risk, with focuses on civilization collapse and institutional decay. His work also includes an analysis of progress narratives, collective action problems, and social organization theories. These themes are all connected through close study of the relevant domains in philosophy and science.

Show Notes and More

Watch this video episode on Youtube

Read the Development in Progress paper

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