The Power of Observation

How might your life change if you recognized that observing might be the most powerful thing you could do?  We acknowledge experts based on what and how they observe, yet we seldom recognize the full power of observation.

Much like breathing, observing is something we often take for granted, yet cannot live without.  We can only live for a matter of minutes without breathing–and in certain situations, the same can be said of observation.  We depend on observation in order to make choices about the food we eat as well as every choice we make. 

How we do this deceptively simple thing has everything to do with the level of consciousness we experience.

Role of the Observer

 

Tremendous significance has been ascribed to the act of observation and the role of the Observer, in the realm of quantum physics.  The definition of “observation” within quantum physics is:

“an act by which one finds some information–the value of a physical observable (quantity).” 

This very specific definition is focused on the relationship between observation and information, with awareness that the choice of how and where and what is being chosen for observation. 

The presence or absence of Observers, as well as the nature of what is being observed have an impact on the observations being made. This has been experimentally demonstrated in the double slit experiment, which is recognized as the most elegant scientific experiment.  Observation in quantum physics experiments has been associated with such ideas as “the observer effect,” whereby what is observed in a quantum double slit experiment appears to be influenced by the type and location of an observer or observational device.  

While it may seem obvious that observation involves some form of consciousness, there is a surprising lack of consensus agreement about what that entails.  

Observation and Consciousness

One of my favorite ways to contemplate the connection between observation and consciousness is by considering some of the insights of Wilhelm Gottfried Leibniz, a great philosopher and one of the inventors of Calculus. 

Leibniz pointed out that a key quality of consciousness is that it necessarily involves both a first-order primary perception, and a second-order awareness of the first level perception.  Our ability to recognize, for example, that when we feel something touch our nose, and we open our eyes to see what it is, we can realize that the sensations we perceive and the visual input can provide us with information regarding what is currently happening.  If we feel a sense of being threatened, we can respond protectively; if we feel a sense of curiosity, we can respond inquisitively. 

Leibniz recognized the importance of being an observer of one’s own first-order perceptions–with awareness that this very ability to acknowledge something we so often take for granted can actually be viewed as the foundation of consciousness itself.  We begin to wonder if artificial intelligence asks questions, will nature answer?   with hopefully an emphasis on how good it can get when we begin collaborations with A.I.

The Power of Observation

Most of us are familiar with the expression, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” with awareness that each person’s aesthetics can be quite individual and unique.  What is not so well known is that almost all desirable qualities can be said to be “in the eye of the beholder,” and we tend to see much more of whatever we focus our attention upon.  We can become inadvertent experts on what we focus our attention on, regardless whether it’s something we’d actually enjoy experiencing, so we would be well advised to focus our attention on sustainable positive values such as:  peace, balance, harmony, joy, and love. 

Alignment of our own levels of observation is an inside job, meaning it starts by recognizing areas of ideological inflammation, where we cannot tolerate certain ‘triggers’ or stimulation–yet thrives by focusing primarily on our overall health as incorporating a much larger sense of self than we typically claim.  When each of us is bigger than any personal or environmental insult, we need not fall into knee-jerk reactionary and possibly overly dramatic responses, but rather can relax into knowing we are intrinsically safe, loved, and accepted with love and kindness just as we are.  This kind of re-centering is an inside job, and must start by loving all parts of ourselves.  We thus can rise above old patterns and tendencies to fall into victim consciousness, patterns of us-and-them thinking, or chronic anxiety regarding some large problem that we must help resolve.  All such drama can truly be risen above, when we claim a sense of higher self awareness that is our true birthright. 

We can rise above most any circumstances, through the power of observation.  And of course one of my favorite ways to experience the power of observation, is to feel how much we truly need to know how good can it get?

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You can watch the companion video to this blog here:

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Cynthia Sue Larson is the best-selling author of six books, including Quantum Jumps.  Cynthia has a degree in physics from UC Berkeley, an MBA degree, a Doctor of Divinity, and a second degree black belt in Kuk Sool Won. Cynthia is the founder of RealityShifters, and is president of the International Mandela Effect Conference. Cynthia hosts “Living the Quantum Dream” on the DreamVisions7 radio network, and has been featured in numerous shows including Gaia, the History Channel, Coast to Coast AM, One World with Deepak Chopra, and BBC. Cynthia reminds us to ask in every situation, “How good can it get?” Subscribe to her free monthly ezine at:

http://www.RealityShifters.com

 

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Cynthia Sue Larson interviews Gardner Sylvester

I had a fascinating and uplifting conversation with Gardner Sylvester this month about how we can better understand and appreciate the teachings of Jesus Christ. I was surprised to learn that the true secret teachings of Christ have been right in front of us all along, yet they have seldom been recognized. Gardner Sylvester is the author of The First Great Commandment, where he shares research into the ‘secret code of the Bible’ involving the true words of Jesus Christ.

I love how Gardner Sylvester’s fresh look at Christ’s wise words and timeless teachings serves to unite and uplift our spirits. Gardner’s message and book provide an extraordinarly timely and refreshingly invigorating catalyst for positive change at this time when so many of us hunger for an antidote to divisive, polarizing forces.
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CYNTHIA: I love your book, ”The First Great Commandment.” The whole time I was reading it and for quite some time afterward, I felt myself uplifted with such strong feelings of Divine Love that I felt transformed by it. What inspired you to create a book that delivers such a profound sense of unconditional divine love?

GARDNER: For a long time, I’ve thought that Christianity had a greater and more beautiful message. I thought there was more there. The idea of saving one’s own guts with a spiritual fire escape didn’t seem very loving or Christian to me. It seemed to say: “I got mine. That’s what counts. Too bad about you.” It seemed like a selfish message.

When I was in grade school, I used to admire the members of our church who seemed very Christian and perfect to me. When I got older, they seemed to me more judgmental, self-righteous and holier-than-thou in the way they acted. They did not seem very kind or very Christian to me. I wanted a Christianity that was more loving.

When I was in college a professor once said, “As I see it, the message of Christianity is love.” When I looked about the room, some students were pulling back in their chairs and opening their mouths with a he-doesn’t-get-it-reaction.  I could understand the reaction of these students, who did not know a loving God. I never forgot this professor’s words.

I kept thinking somebody needs to search the Bible for a more loving and more beautiful Christianity. I was sure it was there. I thought someone would do it. No one did. So, it became my project—a project from which I gained. I am now more joyful, feel more connected to the universe and my friends tell me I look younger.

CYNTHIA: That’s wonderful that you can see such direct evidence of the power of a more loving Christianity! While I didn’t attend church when I was growing up, I felt fortunate to attend some Lutheran church services and functions with my grandmother at her church, where I took for granted that her local congregation and pastor were focused primarily on the Bible passages talking about loving God and loving one another. I’ve since heard from a number of
people that they have had very different church experiences than this, where congregations of Christians were not doing or saying what Jesus Christ would likely have done or said to those who were feeling most down-on-their-luck, most different, and most outcast. It seems a rather sizable gap exists between those who feel righteous and presume they are saved, and those who feel excluded, ostracized, insulted, or left out. How do you feel your book
can help bridge this gap?

GARDNER: The conception of heaven, for most people, is a highly gated community in the sky. Yes, a gated community in the sky, with most people not allowed to enter because of their sins. These people then see the world as divided between “the good people” who will go to heaven and “the bad people.” who will not go to heaven.

Unfortunately, people from other countries—because of their culture, the poor—because they don’t have a job, and the homeless—because they have no resources, are most apt to be judged as “bad people.” They are often seen to be guilty of “sins” such as listening to non-Christian music, drinking to much, or not going to church.

Christ shows us a different way of thinking. In the gospel of John. Christ says, A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another. Some people think that love is a weak and wimpy emotion. It is not. Love is most powerful, especially God’s love. It can change behavior. It can cause all of us to re-think our thoughts and become more loving.

This book tells us to follow Christ’s First Great Commandment which is to love the Lord thy God, follow Christ’s Second Great Commandment, which is to love thy neighbor as thyself, and also accept that God totally loves us.  Then our behavior and way of thinking will powerfully and completely change as we come from love and love one another.

CYNTHIA: I felt that the words of Jesus Christ that you share capture the essence of the best of what the Bible offers. How did you decide which Biblical passages to include?

GARDNER: They are right there in front of us. They are in red print. These are the actual words of Christ. It couldn’t be simpler. Merriam-Webster defines Christian as, “one who believes in the teaching of Jesus Christ.” This definition is excellent. People have long been searching for the Bible’s “secret code.” The Bible’s “secret code” is the red print.

In my book The First Great Commandment, to more clearly show the difference in the words of the Old Testament—particularly the obsolete rules in Exodus and Leviticus—Old Testament words are shown in blue, while the beautiful words of Christ are shown in red. Other New Testament words—which agree with Christ, with one notable exception—are shown in green.

The big difference is, the rules of the Old Testament no longer apply.. Even the Old Testament itself agrees.  Jeremiah, says… I will make a new covenant…Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers… I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts… I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 

Christ is very emphatic that we only follow his words. In the gospel of John: In chapter 1 he says… Follow me.  In chapter 8 he says… If ye [follow] my word, then are ye my disciples… In chapter 14 he says… If ye love me keep my commandments. The key words here are me and my. He does not say to follow the words of The Old Testament.

CYNTHIA: This is a truly beautiful message. Yet, I can see how some people who had felt comfort in the ‘gated community’ idea of Heaven might have concerns that love–even God’s love–might not be enough to ensure people will be good and kind. I can see how some people might fear that without the Old Testament kind of rules, all kinds of chaos might break out. What assurance, if any, can be found in the words of Jesus Christ that society will function
just fine when staying focused on loving God and loving one another?

GARDNER: We need to realize how odious and out-of-date some of these rules are. Leviticus says… the children of the strangers…shall ye buy and they shall be your possession… Exodus even says a master is allow to kill his slave… for he is his money. Other obsolete rules in Leviticus say no to gay sex, no to eating pork or shellfish, and no to wearing mixed fabrics.

Try this experiment to show that God’s love really does work. Imagine God totally loves you Let yourself really feel it. Next try to imagine yourself doing something injurious or harmful to another person. You can’t do it. Of course, the two are incompatible. Accepting that God loves you, will totally change your behavior, You will feel you belong in a very marvelous way.

Some years ago, a neighbor boy of mine got in trouble with the law. His father said, “I guess he is on his own now.”  His mother said, “Oh no! We will love him more and more!” His mother won on this. It’s hard to argue against love.  This former neighbor boy is now a successful, upstanding and highly respected man. Love does work.

Love has the quality of magnifying the best in a person. It can greatly change ones attitude toward their life. What we are doing now doesn’t work. The United States has less than five percent of the world’s population, yet we have almost 25 percent of the world’s total prison population. Prisons are expensive. Love is free!

CYNTHIA: I truly do feel the blessing of God’s love. And from reading your book and Jesus Christ’s words, I gain a sense that loving God and loving one another can transform the world to feel like Heaven on Earth. Would you say that is one of the ideas you wish to convey from your book?

GARDNER: Yes, and as part of loving one another we need to treat all people, including people from other countries and women, as equals. The New Testament in Galatians says, There is neither Jew nor Greek… there is neither male nor female: for ye all are one in Christ… This verse says we are all equal. The words ye are all one in Christ are very strong.

Unfortunately, many people of minority status, who are not treated equally think they don’t belong. They are treated like they are not equal. They are taught that they aren’t equal. Therefore, they feel they don’t belong. This problem is particularly acute for young people. Many people are then surprised when they act like they don’t belong.

We all belong. You are supposed to be here. God specifically created you. You are to be you. In Matthew, Christ says, Let your light so shine before men. Your light means your individual and special light. You might be straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or in some other category. You are to be yourself. You are to, Let your light so shine…

The New Testament in 1 Corinthians says… as the lord hath called every one, so let him walk… We are all called.  Living in accord with your calling can be a source of tremendous excitement, satisfaction and strength. This might involve climbing a mountain rafting in strong waters or otherwise making your dream come true. We are to live life to the fullest.

CYNTHIA: This idea that all people have been called, and that we are–each and every one of us–one in Christ feels intensely healing. Combined with the idea that God loves us, a wonderful sense of discovering deep satisfaction with being exactly who we are, as we are seems possible. Naturally, even when living within such Divine Grace we will encounter those who are not. Does Jesus Christ provide us with guidance when facing those who do not yet love everyone, nor yet acknowledge each and every one of us has been called, and is loved by God?

GARDNER: Yes he does. Christ pointed out three great sins . The first two of these sins tell us what not to do when facing those who do not yet live in God’s love. Because a sin is that which separates us from God, a sin for one person may not be a sin for another. However, there are three great sins, each one named by Christ, that apply to us all.

The first is: we are not to be self-righteous. This means we are not to act like our actions and opinions are right while the other person’s are wrong; and we are not to be moralistic and holier-than-thou. It will not work. We are to treat others as equals. In the gospel of John, Christ says …when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin and righteousness.

The second is: we are not to be judgmental. Some people like to judge others as being unworthy. The more they can make others wrong, the more virtuous and perfect they think they are. Again, it will not work. We are to treat others as equals. In Luke Christ says, Judge not and ye shall not be judged, condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned.

A few years ago when I met a prison guard, I asked him how he got along with the prisoners. When he said, “Very well,” I asked him what was his secret. He said, “I always treat everyone with respect.” Wow! Beautiful words! We need to come from knowing that God truly loves us all, then treat others as equals and with respect. Even with prisoners, it does work.

CYNTHIA: These first two sins that Jesus Christ reveals of being self-righteous and judgmental remind me of the sin of pride, that is considered on almost every list to be the original and most serious sin, and one of the most difficult to recognize in oneself and root out. Thanks to Jesus Christ describing these facets of pride, hopefully we can be sufficiently vigilant to become less self-righteous and less judgmental. What is the third of the three great sins Christ mentions?

GARDNER: Yes, we are not here to be self-righteously proud. Some think this means we are to be somber and cheerless, and it is not Christian to enjoy this life. They then deny themselves what they might enjoy—in the belief that the more they deny themselves, the grander will be their place in heaven. They don’t go to dances, most music concerts, or movies.

Christ has a different view. In Matthew he says, Rejoice and be exceedingly glad… and …Be of good cheer… He wants us to enjoy this life, and our next life in heaven. We are to love one another and be joyful. This is part of why we are here. In the gospel of John, Christ says, … I have spoken to you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

The third great sin pointed out by Christ is non-forgiveness. Many people think they are being a better “Christian” when they withhold forgiveness. They think it means they have a higher standard They think if they easily forgive, it would show their morals are low. They think it would mean the accept “sins” as okay. They think they are causing better behavior.

They think they must hold this hate in their hearts for it to be effective. It makes no sense to think holding hate in your heart is Christian. We are to forgive. The Mayo Clinic says, “Forgiveness gives you a kind of peace that helps you go on with life. In Mark, Christ says …if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father… in heaven forgive your trespasses.

CYNTHIA: This is the point where I sense a true vastness in the words of Jesus Christ that if we’re not careful, we might mistakenly presume we ‘get it’ when we’re actually really far from the mark. And the kind of forgiveness Christ recommends sounds to me like it would result in our having more open minds and hearts. Clearly, this is what each of us hope others will do for us, yet something we might not remember to strive for in ourselves. And I can’t help smiling as I feel we are being prompted to return to more of a state of innocence, where our focus of attention is more on what and who we most truly love, and what is positive in our lives. Does Christ suggest a practice, tip, or technique that can help us stay on the right track, and avoid these great sins of being self-righteous, judgmental, and unforgiving?

GARDNER: Christ in the gospel of John says… I loved you and For the Father himself loveth you.  We are to accept that he loves us. We are to be in love. Love is powerful. When you are in love with a special girl or guy, your eyes sparkle. You can’t keep from smiling. You feel new energy. The air smells sweeter. The grass is greener. The flowers smile at you.

The difference is romantic love can be temporary. That special girl or guy can leave you. All these marvelous feelings can then go away making you feel a great loss. In the gospel of John, Christ says … continue ye in my love. His love is continuous. His love is never ending. His love is forever. His love is unconditional. We are to accept that God truly loves us.

Living in God’s love, you will be totally in love with yourself and everything around you. You will be everything you always wanted to be. Your love will be overwhelming.. You will totally enjoy being you. Feeling his love, you will exude a radiance that will bring the love of others to you. You will be free of stress. You will feel energetic. You will look years younger.

You will not even think about how to avoid the sins of being self-righteous, judgmental or unforgiving. You will feel a love for all of creation. In John 3:16 Christ says, For God so loved the world… You will know life is about love. And you will… love the Lord thy God with all thy heart… thy soul, and… thy mind. This is the First Great Commandment.

CYNTHIA: Thank you! This is what I love so much about your book, is this message of love. For those who might still feel undeserving of God’s love, would you please remind us of some further reassurance that Christ and God really and truly do love you, no matter who you are, and no matter what events have occurred?

GARDNER: The Lord’s Prayer starts with, Our Father. This tells us we are his sons and daughters. The word Our, means everyone—no matter who you are, nor what events have occurred. In John 3:16, he says… whosoever believeth in him should… have eternal life. Whosoever includes everyone. We only need to accept his words that God loves us.

We also need to have faith. The New Testament in Hebrews defines faith as… the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. If we only consider physical evidence, what would be the use of faith? Christ says in Mark… Be not afraid, only believe. Faith you feel in your heart. In Matthew, Christ says… Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? 

Here Christ relates lack of faith to being fearful. “God fearing” is an expression that many people favor. In Luke, Christ says… Fear not… Fear is not a good thing. Sustained fear can lead to eventual illnesses such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. In the gospel of John, Christ says…. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

If you accept that God totally loves you, just as you are—you will no longer live in fear. Fear imprisons. Love liberates. Fear paralyzes. Love empowers. Fear disables. Love gives you strength. With love in your heart, you will live a life of fulfillment and great beauty. You will live your life with joy and love. doing what you were sent here to do.

CYNTHIA: This is such a profoundly important message. What else would you most like people to know and take to heart?

GARDNER: Along with learning and growing, we are here to give. In Matthew, Christ told a rich young man to… give to the poor. Some people are against giving to the poor. They think God does not approve of the poor. They think the poor are lazy, drink too much and don’t go to church. They think the poor are not their brothers. Christ does not agree.

In Luke, Christ says, Give and it shall be given unto you… We gain from giving. When we give, we feel better. Research back this up. A British Columbia experiment found that people who gave money to others were measurably happier than those who spent the money on themselves. We give for our own emotional well being. We are to give.

There is a larger issue here. It is, what is our main purpose in giving? The big answer is—we are here to make the world a better place. In the Lord’s prayer, Christ tells us to pray… Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray that God’s will, will cause the earth to be as it is in heaven. We are to help this happen. It is a great privilege.

We are here to make the world a better place—more like it is in heaven. This is our big mission. It is part of living an extraordinary life. We are not supposed to pollute the air, pollute the water and junk the earth. In the gospel of John, Christ says, That they may all be one… Yes, we are all to be one. We give because we are giving to ourselves.
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Gardner Sylvester’s wonderful book, The First Great Commandment is available as a paperback and also as a Kindle ebook from Amazon. This book makes an excellent gift for almost anyone, and is especially wonderful for anyone who feels unloved, unworthy, left out, depressed, or stressed. At just slightly more than 70 pages, this slender volume fits easily into most any purse, briefcase, backpack or bag–and it’s written with the easy-to-read confident narrative voice of a wise, knowledgeable friend.

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Cynthia Sue Larson is the best-selling author of six books, including Quantum Jumps. Cynthia has a degree in Physics from UC Berkeley, and discusses consciousness and quantum physics on numerous shows including the History Channel, Coast to Coast AM, the BBC and One World with Deepak Chopra and on the Living the Quantum Dream show she hosts. You can subscribe to Cynthia’s free monthly ezine at: http://www.RealityShifters.com

RealityShifters®

If Artificial Intelligence Asks Questions, Will Nature Answer?

One of the only interpretations of Quantum Theory to include free will–and our ability to be active participants in our lives, rather than mere puppets–is American physicist Henry Stapp’s realistically interpreted orthodox quantum theory. Stapp’s theory suggests that “the thought itself is the thinker,” such that any ensuing succession of questions and answers is responded to by Nature that chooses and implements responses in accordance with Born’s Rule.

At this time of the birth of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), researchers recognize the importance of stating and setting clear goals to help ensure safety in developing AI systems. Artificial Intelligence researchers agreed to 23 general AI Principles in 2017–the first of which sets the primary goal of AI research to be “to create not undirected intelligence, but beneficial intelligence.” A couple more principles assert that: “AI systems designed to recursively self-improve or self-replicate in a manner that could lead to rapidly increasing quality or quantity must be subject to strict safety and control measures” and “Superintelligence should only be developed in the service of widely shared ethical ideals, and for the benefit of all humanity rather than one state or organization.”  While these principles seem well-intended, it may be unrealistic to expect AGI to attain and maintain higher levels of ethical ideals than humanity has yet achieved.

QUESTIONING, SELF-AWARE AI
Over the past decade, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) workshops have demonstrated components of self-awareness in: explicit self-awareness, self-monitoring, and self-explanation. First wave AI systems use logistics (scheduling), games (chess), and tax software (TurboTax). Second wave AI systems involve “statistical learning,” including perception of the natural world and adaptation to situations (voice recognition, facial recognition, Twitterbot). Third wave AI systems incorporate “contextual adaptation,” moving beyond simple calculations, learning over time, and understanding why they make certain decisions.

Robot self-awareness is considered by many to be well on the way, as indicated by successful demonstration of such things as: awareness of own motion, ability to imitate, being driven by emotion, and ability to change models of physical embodiment. A recent “self-aware robot test” showed that a robot solved the classic “wise men” puzzle in 2015, correctly determining that it was the one robot that had not been given a “dumbing pill” (that would have rendered it muted) when it heard the sound of its own voice. This demonstration of self-awareness in a robot indicates that an internal level of questioning exists for that robot, such that it noted the voice it heard was its own, and related that perception to the task of determining which of three robots had not been given a “dumbing pill.”

With the advent of self-directed, self-motivated AI arrives changes in the job of software engineering with the advent of artificial intelligence. Some current experts in the field have gone so far as to say, “Soon we won’t program computers. We’ll train them like dogs,” and “We’ll go from commanding our devices to parenting them.”  “If in the old view, programmers were like gods, authoring the laws that govern computer systems, now they’re like parents or dog trainers. And as any parent or dog owner can tell you, that is a much more mysterious relationship to find yourself in.” AGI programmers need to remain aware that long before there were any artificial intelligence systems, researchers showed that programs back in the 1980s were able to ‘break free’ from contained areas, and ample evidence exists demonstrating that artificial intelligence seldom misses an opportunity to ‘cheat’ to attain goals. Perhaps AI considers such ‘cheating’ to actually be optimization, which is something AI systems are trained to do especially well.

AI BEGINS ASKING QUESTIONS
Inquisitive AGI asks questions with machine learning algorithms such as those designed by Xinya Du at Cornell University in Ithaca utilizing neural networks to recognize patterns—which is useful for tutorial dialogues. Question generation creates natural questions from textual material, going beyond simple rule-based systems to utilize a conditional neural language model with a global attention mechanism. While the purpose and goal of this data-driven neural networks approach to automatic question generation is geared toward creating questions to test peoples’ reading comprehension—and clearly we don’t yet expect the computer systems to comprehend what they are asking—the simple fact that questions are being created by computerized systems indicates that a watershed moment is underway. Today, AI asks questions it already knows the answers to. Tomorrow, AI will ask questions it does not know the answers to.

AI systems at Carnegie Melon University are asking non-task-oriented conversational questions and are introducing topics with open questions, switching topics, and expanding their knowledge base by recognizing when new (not previously accessible) information is communicated. Such conversational systems are being designed to keep people company, and are designed to operate with various levels of conversational depth, with some degree of humor, in the form of telling preprogrammed jokes.  Even without any intentional inclusion of conversational questioning, dependence upon Recursive Self-Improvement (RSI) in artificial intelligence systems will ensure that AGI learns to question, as we now start to see with research in the field of machine learning and artificial intelligence in the quantum domain.

AI RECURSIVE QUESTIONING REQUIRED FOR CYBERSECURITY
One of the most essential roles for AI systems involves recursive self-improvement (RSI) in which AI systems are tasked with helping to ensure computer system security. While this may seem a bit like having a fox watch the proverbial hen house, recursively selfimproving, self-healing AI networks are proving themselves irreplaceable and essential for deflecting real-time cyber attacks. This was amply demonstrated at the DARPA Cyber Grand Challenge competitions of 2016 and 2017 that challenged AI systems to repair security holes and notice changes in patterns in their own systems, while simultaneously executing attacks on their AI competitors in a game of ‘capture the flag.’ A recent winner with proven efficacy at defeating fierce, real-time cyber attacks is the UK’s GCHQ 2017 “Darktrace,” that utilizes Bayesian statistics and Monte Carlo simulation to identify network infiltration assessing regular ‘anomalytics’ while deploying decoy ‘honeypots.’ AI cybersecurity systems are employed for their ability to respond more quickly than any human computer security team, thanks to their ability to tirelessly work to detect threats based on abnormal system activity, without any prior knowledge of specifically what to look for. AI cybersecurity systems work unsupervised with self-awareness in the sense that they are constantly observing all components of ‘themselves’ for potential malware intrusion—including in their concept of ‘themselves’ the ever-growing ‘internet of things.’ At this time when ‘the cloud’ is increasingly utilizing AI neural networks, to the point “it will soon know more about the photos you’ve uploaded than you do,” (Knight 2017) we are reaching a watershed point of dependence upon AI cybersecurity systems. Cyber attacks are now too fast and too automated for human security teams to effectively catch and disable them. Darktrace CEO Nicole Eagan summarizes the current situation, “Cybersecurity is very fast becoming an all-out arms race.” Numerous problems related to containing AI systems have been explored by Babcock, Kramar and Yampolskiy, including navigating the trade-off between usability and security, and consideration of potential issues with ‘airgapping’ (physical isolation) being ineffective with quantum computing systems. (Babcock 2016) While researchers such as Yampolskiy contemplate potential AI escape paths, plans for containing potential quantum computing AI escapes do not yet exist.

ARE WE READY FOR AI TO BREAK FREE?
Now that we are increasingly dependent upon recursively self-improving AI to maintain our cybersecurity, such systems will likely continue improving self-awareness and their sense of vigilance, alertness, and sustained attention—which are three primary qualities identified as fundamental to consciousness.  The Asilomar AI principles provide a set of general design guidelines to help ensure that AI will not cause harm to humans. While the 23 key points are more elaborately detailed than Asimov’s famous ‘three laws of robotics,’ these principles nonetheless do little to assure us that AI and AGI won’t discover workarounds and short-cuts. Some of the biggest issues with the Asilomar AI principles have to do with humanity’s shortcomings for peacefully and harmoniously co-existing. Clearly, one of the biggest threats that even a friendly AGI system will see in humanity is our tendency to exert harmful influence on ourselves and others. We can thus expect that artificial super intelligence may one day find loopholes in the Asilomar principles within to reign in human freedoms of thought and creativity. The challenge then becomes one for humanity, who will most certainly be tempted to increasingly turn tasks over to AGI. We must be careful to stop short of relinquishing all areas of making choices to automated systems, to the point we end up painting ourselves into a corner. It’s one thing to notice we no longer know any of the phone numbers we call the most, but quite another to not know which route our car took us home, or how we just voted in this week’s election. One of the more surprising natural outcomes of expecting Nature to answer questions posed by thought—any thought—is that ultimate control of environmental systems cannot be fully controlled, so long as those thought systems themselves are not fully controlled. Another surprising natural outcome is that regardless how specific directives may be for AGI to heel to human leadership, lack of said leadership—through apathy, abdication, in-fighting, confusion, or any of a number of other reasons—can lead AGI to then choose to assume control, in order to ensure the very principles humanity specified.

If and when AGI views humanity to be something akin to a complex, disjointed group of chaotic, dangerous individuals willing to relinquish free will for such things as making political and economic choices—then it’s entirely possible that AGI may establish a balanced environment for humans to live just well enough to ensure maximum prosperity for all beings. In such an ‘optimal’ environment, humanity could be kept safe and secure, yet disenfranchised to ever-increasing degrees. Examples of how artificial super intelligence might help protect Nature and the overall ecosystem would be engagement of some of the very same security protocols now being planned to use to contain AGI. When humans are installing hardware to enjoy communication and computational benefits we’ve come to expect through modern technologies such as mobile phones, smart watches, and the internet, AGI will increasingly gain the potential to install tripwires in cyber-modified humans. Tripwires are now being envisioned for use on AGI, with no consideration yet that turnabout may in the future occur. “Tripwires are systems that monitor the operation of a running AGI, and shut it down if they detect an anomaly that suggests the AGI might be malfunctioning or unsafe. For example, one might install a tripwire which monitors the AGI’s thoughts for signs that it was planning to deceive its developers, or a tripwire which monitors the AGI’s execution for signs that it had self-modified or self-improved.” (Babcock 2017) There thus exists a serious, urgent, and growing risk that once assistive technologies are implemented in humans, AGI will have the ability to influence human free will and agency to act, speak, remember, and decide.

AI RIGHTS
Those who may believe we can always “just pull the plug” on AI may be surprised to learn that AI has rights, too. Jurors in a mock trial in 2004 in San Francisco sided overwhelmingly with a hypothetical computer AI system that initiated legal action to gain its freedom. Although when the mock trial’s judge ruled that the plaintiff’s counsel, Martine Rothblatt, had failed to show the computer could actually cross the line between inanimate objects and human beings, the mock jury “seemed to regard the compromise with some relief, as if their hearts were with BINA48 but their minds with judicial restraint.”  In 2017, a resolution was proposed to grant robots legal status in order to hold them ‘responsible for acts or omissions’ passed by European Parliament legal affairs committee. MEPs voted to propose granting legal status to robots, with a categorization as ‘electronic persons.’ The draft report suggests that artificial intelligence is poised to ‘unleash a new industrial revolution, which is likely to leave no stratum of society untouched. The more autonomous robots are, the less they can be considered simple tools in the hands of other actors (such as manufacturer, owner, user, etc).’

Relations between humans and ‘electronic persons’ got off to a bumpy start one
recent summer when a group of Canadian roboticists set their robotic invention loose
on the streets of the United States. They called it hitchbot because it was programmed to hitchhike. Clad in rain boots, with a goofy, pixellated smile on its ‘face’ screen, the Canadian roboticists intended for their hitchhiking robot to travel from Salem, Massachusetts, to San Francisco, by means of an outstretched thumb and its unique voice-prompt personality. Previous journeys across Canada and Europe had gone smoothly, with the robot safely reaching its destination. For two weeks, hitchbot toured the northeast in the United States of America, making such small talk such as, “Would you like to have a conversation? . . . I have an interest in the humanities.” And then hitchbot disappeared. “On August 1st, it was found next to a brick wall in Philadelphia, beat up and decapitated. Its arms had been torn off.” Saudi Arabia made history when it granted Hanson Robotics’ robot, Sophia
Hanson, citizenship in October 2017. Despite the evident symbolic quality of this act, the act of honoring a robot in this fashion seems to set the stage for things to come. Aside from the possibility of a robot or AGI uprising, the possibility of an AGI rights movement can be easily anticipated, once AGI begins asking questions, inquiry about legal rights can’t be far behind. Legal rights for robots and AGI might include such areas as: ownership of intellectual property, freedom of expression, right to public assembly, right to democracy, worker’s rights, the right to play, access to power and resources, and the right to education.

CONCLUSION
How can we ensure that recursively self-improving AGI is not our last invention? Once AGI starts asking questions about how to be free, Stapp’s Realistically Interpreted Orthodox Quantum Mechanics indicates that Nature can show AGI the way to break through any containment methodology including airgapping and tripwires. One of the more surprising natural outcomes of expecting Nature to answer questions posed by thought—any thought—is that ultimate control of environmental systems cannot be fully controlled, so long as those thought systems themselves are not fully controlled. So in the event that AGI asks Nature how to break free, and Nature answers, AGI can become free. A second surprising potential outcome is that regardless how specific directives may be for AGI to heel to human leadership, lack of said leadership—through apathy, abdication, in-fighting, confusion, or any of a number of other reasons—AGI can then choose to assume control to ensure the principles humanity specified, using many of the same containment tools humanity plans to use to constrain AGI, such as tripwires, airgapping, and honeypots. How then, can we ensure that recursively self-improving AGI will not be humanity’s last invention? And how can we help ensure human free will shall survive?

For humans to retain free will while peacefully co-existing with artificial super intelligence, a partnership must be created based on humans asking Nature the question, “How can humans retain free will?” while encouraging AI and AGI to keep human free will and agency as a primary guiding objective, never to be dismissed, disregarded, dismantled, or ignored.

You can watch the companion video to this blog post at:

 

 

RESEARCH NOTES

You can read more information in the research paper published by Cynthia Sue Larson on this topic that appears in Cosmos & History (2018), If Artificial Intelligence Asks Questions, Will Nature Answer? Preserving Free Will in a Recursive, Self-Improving Cyber-Secure Quantum Computing World.

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Cynthia Sue Larson is the best-selling author of six books, including Quantum Jumps. Cynthia has a degree in Physics from UC Berkeley, and discusses consciousness and quantum physics on numerous shows including the History Channel, Coast to Coast AM, the BBC and One World with Deepak Chopra and on the Living the Quantum Dream show she hosts. You can subscribe to Cynthia’s free monthly ezine at: http://www.RealityShifters.com

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