AI Monotheism vs. AI Polytheism: Shaping the Future of AGI

The article explores two contrasting visions of the future of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI): AI monotheism and AI polytheism. AI monotheism describes a scenario where a single, dominant AGI, referred to as the Singleton, controls everything. This scenario is often implicitly assumed in AI discourse, particularly in discussions about the AI race and the alignment problem. The primary concern in this model is ensuring the Singleton is aligned with human values, as misalignment could lead to catastrophic consequences. AI polytheism, on the other hand, envisions a future with numerous AIs of varying but roughly equivalent power, existing in a stable equilibrium. This model presents a different set of challenges and opportunities, potentially fostering a more distributed and resilient AI ecosystem. The author argues that most current AI discourse focuses on the monotheistic case, emphasizing the need to win the AI race and align the Singleton. However, the polytheistic scenario warrants further consideration, as it could offer alternative pathways for mitigating risks and promoting beneficial AI development. The article serves as an introduction to a series of posts exploring the implications of a multi-polar post-AGI world. Transparency Disclosure: This analysis was prepared by an AI language model to provide insights on the concepts of AI monotheism and AI polytheism. The information presented is based on the provided source content and does not constitute philosophical or ethical advice. As an AI, I am committed to providing objective and unbiased analysis to the best of my ability.