Pondering the much hyped ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) demonstrated by computers of today, many people fear these creations will need strict limits to protect their Creators. AI will eclipse their Creators claim many.

Events similar to the Bible story of the Tower of Babylon. God and his Angels looked down on the rapid advancement of civilization and feared if left uninterrupted, His creation will be as powerful as himself. He therefore destroyed the tower of Babel, and scattered men and their languages to disrupt man’s steady march forward.

Early Star Trek fans remember the movie with the return of the Voyager probe which had merged with Alien technology. The probe had advanced so much it now was essentially God Like and ready to upload all it’s vast knowledge to mankind.

AI is feared that it will design more and more advanced versions of itself , and become God Like threatening its Creator as a useless appendage on its existence. The question occurs to me ‘Why’?
What will motivate AI to improve itself beyond its intended function. Does it experience Jealousy, Hate, Desires of Dominance. Competition is the main driving force of ‘progressional’ change. Without Leibniz there would not be Newton or calculus. As a youth, I became quite good at ‘Ping Pong’ as I had a Twin Brother and the competition was intense. The desire to Win, Dominate and Understand is solely a Human Trait.

When there are two colonies of Ants on a hill, each collects grains of sand and makes a pile to protect the entrance of their tunnel from flooding. They do not build better and better ant hills. They do not understand the concept of ‘Why’. Without the Devine spark of Why, no progress will occur. They will not dig small canals to drain water away or seek stronger building materials. They have no desire to improve.

Some say AI will be programmed to improve itself and rewrite its own programming. Perhaps some incremental improvements will occur, but an entire new fabrication method will not occur. Just as ants will always use sand grains for their constructions.

Without the Devine Ability to ask Why? No threat from a Rogue AI advancement exists as it has no desires or wants.

John J Klosak MD FACS