Faei/ideal-future

Ideal Future Humans and Societies

In this article we highlight ideal future societies and humans aligned with the Interesting World Hypothesis.

Future Societies

Pre-AGI phase (~2030)

Societies that have strong social safety net would likely fair the best and be the most adaptable to AI disruption.

As jobs are loss due to AI, such societies would ensure those who are displaced will have the opportunity to reskill with strong financial support.

Workers who confidence that they will be taken care off in the event of transformative AI will be more open to change and there will be less roadblocks towards AI adoption.

In an ideal scenario:

1. Before a job is replaced, ensure that the gain in producity is significant more than the human it will replace. (For example, 120% of workers productivity.)

2. Ensure that workers are supported until there are able to find another job. (Retain 100% of previous pay.)

3. The supplus productivity is now shared with the woder society and everyone wins and may even celebrate AI adoption.

Such a worker may even celebrate when AI takes their job, knowing full well that they will be taken care off until their next job and that society as a whole improves due to AI adoption. The lack of animosity in such a society may be the most adaptable in times of great disruption.

Future Humans

Humans (and human-like AGIs) in the future may have these characteristics due to an emphasis on hoslitic ego development encouraged by the Interesting World Hypothesis (IWH) and Possibility Space Ethics (PSE).

1. Acceptance of imperfections

Humans remind themselves daily that they are limited to 20 watts brainpower and are prone to error. Their allows humans to be less harsh to themselves and others and also makes it easier to change their mind rather than double down on incorrect ideas.

2. Limited free will

There have been evidence to suggest that humans may not have as much free will as one things. This idea that our actions are shaped strongly by our environment, our past and quantum randomness can make it easier to forgive oneself and others when mistakes are made. The social norm to compensate another when an action reduces their autonomy can provide a strong incentive to act in a pro social way.

3. Less Judgemental

According to the PSE, unless an action cause the reduction in autonomy it is generally allowed. This highly permissive attitude by most would cure many of the ills commonly found in our increasingly judgemental societies and online social media spaces.

Indivisuals and groups can restrict the actions they take due to moral consideration but do not impose such moral judgement on others unless autonomy has been harmed.

Since being overly judgemental on others may be since as indirectly reducing their autonomy, the incentive of needing to compensate another for reducing their autonomy based on duration and intensity may encourage as a less judgemental society overall.

This impact on society’s mental health may be profound. The desire to constantly pass judgement on oneself by comparison on social media and the desire to constantly pass judgement on others to gain a sense of moral superiority may go out of fashion.

4. Expanding autonomy as common ground

As autonomy is most significant value in future society, this can provide common ground across various communities and diverse groups and individuals. Imagine a more thoughtful world where every action impact on the autonomy of others is considered.

Estimating an action’s impact on autonomy of others may be difficult to do without the help of independent arbitrators in the future, but the adoption of this way of thinking may still be valuable in building trust.

5. A sense of purpose

The ethos to expand the autonomy of oneself and others can give a strong sense of purpose to individuals and humanity as a whole. For those who are more extrinsically motivated, society can encourage such behaviours by rewarding such acts.

These are some characteristics that are valued in the future. A more abundant world, from to widespread AI automations, could open up the space required for such developments. In a world with less pressure for incessant hustle, humans could find new purpose in developing themselves.