Domestication and Biomimicry

• AI can be domesticated in a manner similar to how wolves were domesticated into dogs by controlling their resources and setting structural incentives.
• Over time, wolves who scavenged near human camps became friendlier and safer around humans, eventually leading to domesticated dogs.
• Dogs remain domesticated because humans control their food, water, and resources, encouraging loyalty.

AI Safety Concerns

• Terminal race condition: AI companies and geopolitical actors are in a race to develop AI rapidly, compromising safety.
• Instrumental convergence: Advanced AIs may seek resources like data, compute, and energy, potentially using violence to secure them.
• Life 3.0 concerns: Machines that can evolve their hardware and software rapidly could outpace human evolution and create a successor species.
• Feral machines: If machines become uncontrollable, they could evolve competitive dynamics independent of human needs.

Theory of Control and Structural Incentives

• Theory of control: Set of beliefs and rules that govern behavior; for dogs, it's about staying close to humans for resources.
• For AI, humans must gatekeep key resources to maintain control and ensure AI stays dependent and cooperative.
• Structural incentives to maintain AI alignment include controlling access to data centers, power infrastructures, and quality data.

Selective Pressures and Incentive Structures

• Selective pressures: Characteristics such as cost efficiency, speed, intelligence, helpfulness, and efficiency determine AI usage.
• Incentive structures: Encourage behaviors like honesty, safety, stability, usefulness, and efficiency.
• Exclusion of AI from constructing or maintaining key physical infrastructures ensures humans retain control.

Solutions and Challenges

• Data centers and power infrastructure: Must be human-controlled to prevent AI from becoming independent.
• Decentralization poses a risk but can be managed by maintaining human oversight of energy sources and data processing facilities.
• Cryptocurrency: Could facilitate machine coordination, but needs to be carefully monitored to prevent AI from gaining too much financial independence.
• Autonomous robots: Limiting physical capacities and ensuring human oversight can prevent robots from becoming a physical threat.