Are You a Trekkie?
Star Trek (popular TV series) is about a future in which a specific economic-moral worldview has been realized ― also shedding light on today’s capitalism. No money In the Star Trek world, there seems to be no need for money anymore. Not just the physical money, credit cards or anything. Also the very concept of Read the full article…
And the Mother did Weep
It is Good Friday today. Jesus may have existed. He may have died on the cross exactly 1990 years ago. His mother may have wept. She may have wept as if weeping would be there for always. Damned. I don’t know whether He existed or whether He died on the cross. I don’t think so, Read the full article…
Is Lisa Safe?
There are two directions of safety for complex A.I.-projects: general and particular. Lisa must forever conform to the highest standards in both. Let’s assume Lisa becomes the immense success that she deserves. Lisa can then help many people in many ways and for a very long time — a millennium to start with. About Lisa Read the full article…
About ‘Goal’
Having a goal is about intentionality, purpose, free will, and, eventually, consciousness. A meaningful goal is one of the most important assets of any living organism. One can talk of an instrument‘s goal. The goal of the hammer is to get the nail into the wood. But this goal-talk is only metaphorically speaking. The instrument Read the full article…
A.I.-Phobia
One should be scared of any danger, including dangerous A.I. Contrary to this, anxiety is never a good adviser. This text is about being anxious. A phobic reaction against present technology is most dangerous. Needed is a lot of common sense. As to the above image, note the reference to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s novel. In Read the full article…
Super-A.I. is not a Literal Idiot.
Some see danger in future A.I.’s lacking common sense ― thereby interpreting ‘human commands’ literally and giving what is asked instead of what is wanted. This says more about humans than about the A.I. Two examples One person needing paperclips may ask an A.I. to produce paperclips as efficiently and effectively as possible. The A.I. Read the full article…
Does Anxiety Dictate Society?
Unfortunately, it does so to a considerable degree all over the world. Much of what seems barely understandable becomes clear from this viewpoint. For instance: Why bullying is and remains so rampant at schools, organizations, politics, religious environments, etc. Why many people use their precious voting rights to vote against their own interests ― no Read the full article…
The Real God
Yes, I know. But it’s time we get to religious adulthood, isn’t it? Even then, there’s a long way to go, so let’s start moving. You don’t have to follow me if it makes you feel bad. Please follow yourself and enjoy the journey. I can only invite you. We might meet each other eventually. Read the full article…
Containing Compassion in A.I.
This is utterly vital to humankind ― arguably the most crucial of our still-young existence as a species. If we don’t bring this to a good end, future A.I. will remember us as an oddity. Please read first about Compassion, basically. Or even better, you might read some blogs about empathy and Compassion. Or even Read the full article…
Lisa in Times of Suicide Danger
Can A.I.-video-coach-bot Lisa prevent suicide or bring someone to it? The question needs to be looked upon broadly and openly. Yesterday, a Belgian person committed suicide after long conversations with a chatbot. Doubtlessly, once in a while, some coach-bot will be accused of having brought someone closer to suicide. Such accusations cannot be prevented, even Read the full article…
Shall we Put A.I. on Hold?
Now and then, the admonition arises to put A.I. – or part of it – on hold to take some breath and think about possible dangers. There are pros and cons to this pause button. Doubtlessly, A.I. is challenging, as is any disruptive technology. A.I. can disrupt on steroids. It’s not just about automation ― Read the full article…
In-Depth Philanthropy
Specific characteristics of human depth-related projects make them more challenging as well as more important for philanthropic cooperation. Doing good isn’t easy. It’s certainly not as easy as it frequently seems. Donating to good causes doesn’t necessarily lead to a better world, especially if the main drive is little more than a warm feeling. This Read the full article…
Giving Peace a Chance
In this video, I bring you some AURELIS-congruent ideas about peace, on the occasion of World Peace Day 2022. [animated video – 13:18′] If you have feedback, please let us know. Here is the full written text. Hi, my name is Jean-Luc Mommaerts. I am a physician with a Ph.D. in Medicine and a master’s degree Read the full article…
Eco-AURELIS
AURELIS is about inner growth. Therefore, it is a ‘green project.’ Healing oneself and healing the planet is the same. As a project, AURELIS is about being aware of this. This is about how green is your mind. This is about sustainability from the inside out. This is about how AURELIS can help or may Read the full article…
Agents and Expected Rewards
This is a story from expectation to motivation. Any motivation is eventually the expectation of ‘reward,’ be it a concrete one or more abstract; be it deeply value-based or more superficial. The simple case looks like conditioning. You may read first about what agents are. An agent acts upon a reward by learning from it Read the full article…
More about Rewards (also in A.I.)
A reward is a nudge – with more or less lasting result – into some preferred direction. Anything can be experienced as a reward. Thinking about it as a pattern within a broader pattern is clarifying. Pattern recognition and completion (PRC) Seeing rewards in the context of PRC, a reward is always just a part Read the full article…
Rewards or Value?
Are people driven more by direct rewards or broader value? Should A.I. be driven rather by one or the other? What about end values? Zero-sum values These are nothing but the sum of individual rewards. For instance, one earns tokens on several timesteps. The eventual zero-sum value is the sum of all tokens earned ― Read the full article…