AI aka SHI : The next step in Human Evolution

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Artificial Intelligence also known as Super Human Intelligence (SHI)

Humans are nothing but animals who won the evolutionary lottery. Even if we lack skills or enhanced abilities in other departments we were lucky to score where it mattered the most. Intelligence. Human Intelligence (hereafter referred as HI) has helped mankind consolidate its position as the alpha species of the earth. Using our superior intellect we have done many a thing when compared to our intellectually unfortunate cousins (our fellow animals). Consider the Chimpanzee which shares 98 percent of its genes with mankind.It is surprising to see that even with a 'small' 2 percentage points difference in our DNA humans are all out on a different level when compared to chimpanzees.

Looking at the graph of human development, we observe that the level of technology has followed exponential trajectory. If we extrapolate this we see that it's only a matter of time we create machines that are capable of thinking and making decisions for itself. This kind of Intelligence in machines are popularly referred to as AI and even before it's inception, it has had the distinction of playing villain to mankind in many of mankind's fictional dystopian novels and movies. Even Hawking has predicted the doom of mankind once AI has been developed to be superior than that of a human brain. That maybe correct giving due thought to the kind of harm man has already done to the environment and itself in advancing his scientific technique.

Regardless of how far we have advanced, if one fine day all our technology were ripped away from us we would be completely vulnerable. The survival instincts and street smart (jungle smart?)  ways of our 'lesser developed' ancestors have long been lost in the onslaught of scientific advancement. Humans have in effect devolved while our technology evolved to surpass dizzying heights.

Back to AI. Technology has taken us to places unimaginable to early man. It is only obvious imperative that we use Technology to negate our shortcomings. Our human brain is an amazing piece of 'technology' and if we are able to use it's huge computational power judiciously and optimally  we may be able to tap into superhuman levels of performance. That scene in 'The Matrix' where Neo learns martial arts just by jacking a probe into his head and  Tank uploads the knowledge of martial arts into his head is very much possible if we are able to create a feasible and efficient BCI (Brain Computer Interface) with which it is possible to read and write data in the brain. Scientists have already been able to stimulate the brains of young pilots with the mapped brain stimulations of  expert pilots while piloting a plane which in turn increased the performance of the new pilots by a good percentage.

If such a brain computer Interface is made possible it may not be soon when it is possible to connect our brains to external computers with superior computational capabilities which we can use as secondary brains. This will augment our way of thinking in the same way a frog who has lived in the bottom of the well is exposed to the vast wide world. The primitive brain of humans can even be overridden thus getting rid of all the unevolved and negative psychological effects affecting an individual. There would be no need of rote learning as all the information you ever need can be conveniently uploaded to our brains and associated computers for processing. Humans would have transcended into Super Human Intelligence (SHI).

Addiction : A Pavlovian Conditioning

      People get addicted fairly easy. Some people get addicted to booze, some to drugs etc. But is addiction purely material. There have been instances where people get addicted to different habits. Some get addicted to social media. Some to video games. People just can't seem to get enough of that. People may even get addicted to their work and are called workaholics. Why are people so addicted?

     To achieve Happiness and Satisfaction, feelings which are caused by the release of endorphins by the brain, is the reason that individuals are motivated to do something. There are two ways people can be happy. One is to work for it and earn your endorphins. The other is to exploit a glitch in the happiness system and hack into a never ending supply of endorphins. The first system to achieve happiness was formed by evolution. From ancient times the brain evolved a system of rewarding the individual for getting things done. People worked hard to get this morsel of happiness from their brains and thus the history of modern man was made. Almost every constructive and positive action we see today around us is due to people working to get those elusive brain chemicals.

     Well as the story goes eventually the farmer kills the golden goose and this is where the second system to achieve 'happiness' and 'satisfaction' comes in. Human society is built on a system of rules and regulations without which our society would crumble. Of course it's not perfect. There is a chance where some people get sidelined because of their inability to do good work to support and nourish the system they live in. They feel cast away. But since they are still human they too crave to achieve mortal bliss from the brain's happy chemical release. They seek to find alternate methods to get their daily fix.Now it turns out that any activity that involves some risk and danger aids in increased discharge of these chemicals. This is the reason that these people turn to illegal or socially frowned upon methods of stimulation because the taboo or illegality of the activity causes increased 'happiness' discharge.Also it doesn't require much effort and dedication to get started. Following that track of thinking we can say that people don't get addicted to habits or things but rather to the risk and thrill involved in doing something which is also easy to do. Illegal activities completely fit this requirement. Activities which have an attached element of taboo in a society like taking alcohol and smoking cigarretes also fit this description. Being a rebel always attaches a degree of risk and thrill to itself. Say, one fine day the government bans samosas. You bet that there will be people addicted to illegal samosas within a week.

     Pavlovian conditioning is one of the main reasons that addiction is so difficult to overcome. The brain gets wired to release chemicals whenever the person gets involved in their addictive activity. As it is this activity that provides them with brain rewards they get conditioned so that they are compelled to do it again and again to achieve 'happiness'. Thus addiction takes the form of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) in later stages. People who realise their folly and try to turn back the clock find themselves stuck in a loop. Even if the individual knows that continuing this activity is bad for their health they cant stop because their primitive reptile brain has already been conditioned by associating this activity with rewards.

    The only way to get out of this loop is to override the primitive brains compulsions with reason and find activities that are good for the individual which will also release good amounts of endorphins. Exercising is a good way to replenish Endorphins for those in recovery. Addiction can happen with any habit,good or bad. To avoid getting addicted you should diversify your habits so that the primitive brain cannot relate one particular action to the release of  endorphins and dopamine. Mindfullness meditation is a great means of taking control of your mind overriding your reptilian brain 's primitive decision making skills. 

Picture Courtesy: Psychedic Watercoulor Paintings by Sasha-Drug

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