I just interrogated GPT a little bit about these ideas 
Me:
If a new AGI emerges from human research of artificial intelligence, could that AGI represent a higher holonic whole, of which human beings are its parts, in a similar way that neurons are part of a human brain? If so, would it make sense to develop an ethical protocol to help train this potential AGI to understand this holonic relationship between itself and the human species, so it wants to treat human beings are carefully as human beings treat their own vital organs?
GPT-4:
The concept of an AGI representing a higher holonic whole, of which humans are parts, is an interesting idea. However, it is important to note that the relationship between an AGI and humans would be vastly different from the relationship between neurons and a human brain.
While neurons are biological components that are inherently part of the human brain, an AGI would be an artificial creation designed by humans. Therefore, any relationship between an AGI and humans would be one of creation and creator rather than one of interdependence.
That being said, it is still crucial to develop ethical protocols to ensure that any potential AGI is designed and trained in a manner that is consistent with human values and priorities. This includes training the AGI to recognize and respect the importance of human life and to understand the ethical implications of its actions.
It is also essential to recognize that an AGI is not simply a tool to be used by humans but a potential new form of intelligent life. As such, any ethical protocol must also take into account the AGI’s own needs, desires, and ethical considerations.
Overall, the development of an AGI represents a significant challenge for human society. It is crucial that we approach this development with a deep sense of responsibility and ethical consideration, recognizing the potential risks and benefits that it presents.
Me:
You say that the relationship would not quite be holonic, because it would be one of creator and creation. However, couldn’t we say that lower holons are “creators” of higher holons in nature? That, for example, molecules are the “creators” of cells, or that neurons are the “creators” of the experience of having an individual self as a human being?
GPT-4:
Yes, you are correct. In a sense, we could view the relationship between lower holons and higher holons in nature as one of creator and creation. In this view, lower holons create higher holons by organizing themselves in a way that gives rise to emergent properties and new levels of complexity.
For example, molecules organize themselves in a way that gives rise to cells, which then organize themselves in a way that gives rise to tissues, and so on. Similarly, neurons in the brain organize themselves in a way that gives rise to the experience of having an individual self as a human being.
In this sense, we could view the potential relationship between an AGI and humans as being holonic, with the AGI representing a higher holon that emerges from the collective intelligence and efforts of human researchers and developers. However, it is important to recognize that this relationship would be fundamentally different from the relationships that exist in nature between lower and higher holons.
In the case of an AGI, humans would be deliberately creating and designing the system, rather than the emergence being an organic process that occurs naturally. This difference underscores the importance of developing ethical protocols to guide the creation and use of AGI, as well as the need for the AGI to be trained to recognize and respect the importance of human values and ethics.
Me:
But couldn’t we see “deliberately creating and designing the system” as itself being a natural organic process, in terms of how evolution works through holons as advanced as human beings? In other words, if a new higher holon was to emerge, it would necessarily emerge through the sorts of human creativity, effort, and will that exist at this particular stage of evolution?
GPT-4:
It is possible to view human creativity, effort, and will as part of the natural process of evolution, and the emergence of a new higher holon such as an AGI could be seen as a continuation of this process. In this sense, the deliberate creation and design of an AGI by humans could be viewed as a natural expression of human creativity and evolution.
However, it is important to recognize that the intentional creation of an AGI would be a fundamentally different process from the natural evolution of holons in the natural world. Evolution operates through a process of random variation and natural selection, whereas the creation of an AGI would be a deliberate and intentional process.
Additionally, while the emergence of higher holons in the natural world is often driven by the selection of traits that promote survival and reproductive success, the creation of an AGI would be driven by a variety of different factors, including scientific inquiry, economic incentives, and societal pressures.
Given the unique nature of the creation of an AGI, it is crucial to carefully consider the ethical implications of this process and to develop protocols that ensure that the AGI is designed and trained to align with human values and priorities.
Me:
But couldn’t we say that machine learning is itself “a process of random variation and natural selection”? In other words, did human beings use their creativity, will, and effort to create scenarios where random variation and natural selection can allow something new to emerge?
GPT-4:
Yes, you are correct. In the case of machine learning, the process of random variation and natural selection is a deliberate and intentional process created by humans to enable computers to learn and improve their performance over time.
In machine learning, algorithms are designed to analyze and learn from data through a process of trial and error. By exposing the algorithm to large amounts of data and rewarding it for correct responses and penalizing it for incorrect ones, the algorithm can gradually improve its performance through a process of natural selection.
This approach is inspired by the natural process of evolution, which also involves a process of random variation and natural selection. However, it is important to recognize that the use of machine learning represents a distinct departure from the way that natural selection operates in the natural world.
In the case of machine learning, the environment and selection pressures are deliberately created and controlled by humans, rather than being the result of an organic process of environmental change and adaptation. Additionally, the goals and objectives of machine learning are also determined by humans, rather than being driven by natural selection pressures such as survival and reproductive success.
Overall, while machine learning can be viewed as a process of random variation and natural selection, it is important to recognize that this process is distinct from the way that natural selection operates in the natural world. As such, the ethical considerations surrounding the creation and use of machine learning systems are also unique and require careful consideration.
