When reading Tegmark’s tale of the Omega Group, I was very intrigued by the advancements Prometheus went through as the tale progressed. It made me think about how, if I were to read this ten years ago, I would have seen it as just a tale, but now it’s a little scary to think about how possible it would be for an AI like Prometheus to exist.
Tegmark’s text gives us an idea of how AI can lead us to Utopian outcomes with advancements and improvements in the quality of life, or it can lead to dystopian outcomes with a loss of control. To avoid undesirable outcomes, we would need to develop standards and regulatory frameworks for AI research and deployment. To maximize desirable outcomes, we would need to keep the public informed about AI and its potential.
The scenario does not address any long-term risks of having a single AI entity run the world. Even with an AI like Prometheus, we need to consider any risks that could potentially put the public at risk. If there is an AI running the world, you would think the public would be involved, but the scenario unfolds without any public awareness or insight into the AI’s development. Without the inclusion of the public, changes brought by the AI could result in major conflict.
The scenario also gives immense power to the Omega Group, which is risky because of potential human error, misjudgment, or corruption and abuse. The Omega Group also works secretly, which can lead to conflicts or mistrust between governments and other organizations. Moreover, the scenario has little consideration for the impact AI could have on society, culture, and human values.