Why is it alarmist to talk about the "AI threat theory" again?

Author: Jerry, ThePrimediaDAO

The threat of AI to humanity is an eternal topic, just like the threat of nuclear weapons and the ecological crisis of the Earth. Therefore, we must first break the topic down; "re-discussion" is the key phrase.

The previous "AI threat theory" was a deep consideration by human thinkers and practitioners, but discussing the "AI threat theory" again now is merely a case of unnecessary worry, because as AI develops, humanity is also evolving—humanity now has the potential and feasibility to evolve towards governing AI.

Moreover, using government orders to halt large AI research like GPT-5 is merely a temporary measure, only addressing an immediate concern. If government orders could eliminate the threat of AI, then they could also eliminate the threats of nuclear weapons and the ecological crisis…

Next, let’s analyze why the previous "AI threat theory" was a deep consideration by human thinkers and practitioners, while discussing the "AI threat theory" again now is merely unnecessary worry.

The modern great scientist Hawking once warned humanity that while AI could help solve most problems, it could also go out of control and threaten human survival; today’s top technology entrepreneur Musk even went to the U.S. Congress to lobby the government to be wary of the potential threats of AI development to humanity.

In the early stages of AI development, we may not have understood Hawking's concerns. However, AI and the "super brain" are indeed advancing rapidly; quantum computing will enhance the overall computing power of the "super brain," and intelligent network nodes will eventually surpass human neural network nodes. Musk, who is committed to engineering AI for use in the Mars colonization plan, understands this deeply, so his concerns are not unfounded.

A few years ago, we were also filled with worries about AI. In 2019, a film released in 1982, "Blade Runner," surprisingly merged with reality. The "replicants" launched a bloody revolt against their "creators," with the plot starting in November 2019.

In the real world, genetic engineering and intelligent algorithms are constantly evolving. In 2019, the U.S. and Italy collaborated to attempt to clone a human; the artificial intelligence Pluribus defeated humans in poker, marking AI's expansion from a two-player world to a multiplayer world, and machines are becoming socialized…

Our concern is that a "replicant" that no longer needs to evolve could retaliate; a failed experiment or the revenge of a tech fanatic could be enough to destroy human civilization… even though we have already recognized that blockchain is suitable for establishing "social order" for intelligent networks and helping humanity with digital governance.

But at that time, our understanding of human digital evolution had not yet formed; we, like friends who hold the "AI threat theory," could only hope for "technology for good."

Based on the practice and exploration in the crypto world, we now have the possibility and feasibility of digital governance through blockchain/Web3 decentralization, token incentive mechanisms, and DAO organizational governance. The metaverse is precisely a scenario that adapts to human digital existence and development. When AI and blockchain/Web3 converge in the metaverse, it is merely a component of human digital society.

We once proposed the formula "AI + blockchain/Web3 = civilization at a standstill." Humanity can only have the possibility of resolving the ecological crisis of the Earth and conquering the stars and seas by completing digital evolution. This is yet another new proposition, and ThePrimediaDAO will collaborate with insightful friends in the future.

The assertion that "why discussing the 'AI threat theory' again is unnecessary worry" and that blockchain can help humanity govern AI is by no means a fleeting whim to grab your attention; for more information, you can refer to the following article:

《Value Discovery and Psychoanalysis of DID in the Context of DeSoc (Part 2)》

To summarize briefly: attempting to stop the "AI threat" through government orders in light of this wave of AI advancements is wishful thinking. The elites in today’s business and technology sectors signing the "Pause Large AI Research" agreement to formulate and implement safety protocols and establish review and supervision mechanisms is completely unreliable—it's better to focus on the constructive establishment of order and governance rules in the digital world system.

Through Satoshi Nakamoto's Bitcoin, we opened a window to glimpse the dawn of the digital world. After the early builders of the crypto world have forged ahead, the process of moving towards the digital civilization era through the crypto economy is unstoppable.

AI will be an important element in this, but there is no need for unnecessary worry; it will engage and coexist with you within the order of digital civilization. It will not be AI that destroys humanity's future; it will always be humanity itself.