RE: Interested in thoughts on this excerpt from Martin Rees

From: Stathis Papaioannou <stathispapaioannou.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 13:34:43 +1000

Bruno Marchal writes (quoting SP):

> > ...a controlled
> > experiment in which measure can be turned up and down leaving
> > everything else
> > the same, such as having an AI running on several computers in perfect
> > lockstep.
>
>
> I think that the idea that a lower measure OM will appear more complex
> is a consequence of Komogorov like ASSA theories (a-la Hal Finney,
> Mallah, etc.). OK?

I understand the basic principle, but I have trouble getting my mind around
the idea of defining a measure when every possible computation exists.

> >
> > (I realise this is not the same as changing measure in the multiverse,
> > which would
> > not lend itself so easily to experiment.) Would the AI notice anything
> > if half the
> > computers were turned off then on again? I think it would be
> > impossible for the AI
> > to notice that anything had changed without receiving external
> > information.
>
>
> I agree from some 1 pov. But 1 plural pov here would lead to some "Bell
> inequalities violation". That is: sharable experiments which shows
> indirectly the presence of some alternate computations.

I don't understand this statement. I am suggesting that the computers are
running exactly the same program - same circuitry, same software, same
initial conditions, all on a classical scale. I don't see that there is any way
for the AI to know which computer he was running on (if that question is
even meaningful) or how many computers were running.

> > If I
> > were the AI the only advantage I can think of in having multiple
> > computers running
> > is for backup in case some of them broke down; beyond that, I wouldn't
> > care if there
> > were one copy or a million copies of me running in parallel.
>
> Except, as I said above, for the relative probabilities. But this is
> equivalent with accepting a well done back-up will not change your
> "normal" measure.

Yes, I think what you mean by "relative probabilities" is that if there were
several possible versions of "me next moment", then I would be more likely
to experience the one with higher measure. It is only relative to the other
possibilities that measure makes a subjective difference.

Stathis Papaioannou
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Received on Mon Aug 07 2006 - 23:36:44 PDT

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