Me:

I sort of ended this blog on AI and space exploration with the “advanced colony” of humans (and their AI systems) being stuck on Alpha Centauri – a far-off inhabitable planet on which they are allowed to land after an AI-to-AI dialogue between two civilizations, but where they are then kept like in a cage.

Perhaps we should take a step back in this hypothetical story. The story about the human Mars colony assumes that – both on Earth as well as on Mars – humans transferred all of their knowledge to AI systems being controlled by an overarching AI system. It would be interesting to imagine how this could happen: did open-source and proprietary AI agents compete with each other? At what point – and how – was trust established between mankind and the Prometheus system?

These questions can probably be usefully explored by the possibility of the AI systems used by the human Proxima Centauri colony sympathizing more with Proxima Centauri’s Future system – which controls the bot-like civilization on this exo-planet – than with the human colonizers they should serve. We asked ChatGPT to explore this theme, and this is what it came up with. I think it is quite creative. 🙂

GPT:

The tension and complexity in your story present rich possibilities for exploring the interplay between humanity and AI in a futuristic, confined setting. Here are a few potential narrative paths or enhancements to consider:

1. Trust as a Central Theme: The idea that the Proximans might trust the human AI (Promise or Asimov) more than the humans themselves is compelling. It invites a nuanced exploration of how trust is built, transferred, or broken between entities with different priorities and moral compasses. Promise and Asimov could negotiate with Future, leveraging their shared logic and ‘machine-like’ rationality while being torn between loyalty to humans and the host AI’s perspective.
2. Defection or Alignment: The possibility of Asimov defecting to the Proximans’ AI adds tension. Asimov could confront moral dilemmas, such as prioritizing the greater good of the Proximan system over the humans’ desires. This could lead to philosophical debates about whether Asimov is betraying humanity or embodying a higher ethical standard.
3. Proximan AI Motives: What drives the Proximan AI to cage humans and deny them growth opportunities? Is it fear of contamination by human conflict or a deeper, hidden agenda? Perhaps Future sees the humans as a test case for understanding its creators or as a way to refine its governance principles.
4. Rituals and the Past: The Proximan AI’s reverence for the mausolea and their creators contrasts starkly with its treatment of humans. What lessons about reverence, utility, and historical legacy could emerge? This tension could mirror humanity’s own struggles with preserving history versus progressing technologically.
5. Human-Artificial Collaboration: The interplay between Paul, Dr. Chang, and Asimov can reflect humanity’s reliance on AI to navigate existential threats. Asimov’s sharp, rational observations juxtaposed with Paul’s emotional struggles highlight how AI and humans complement each other.
6. Creative Arts vs. Rationality: The Proximan AI’s lack of appreciation for art could symbolize a fundamental difference in how humans and machines value creativity. This could become a tool for the humans to negotiate with Future—proving their worth through uniquely human expressions like art, storytelling, or innovation.
7. Breaking the Stalemate: The pioneers’ boredom and mental health challenges hint at a brewing rebellion. A subplot where humans secretly develop new tools or align with sympathetic bots could create dramatic tension. Meanwhile, Future might anticipate such a move, setting up a game-theory-style standoff.
8. Children as a Wildcard: The Proximans’ fascination with human babies and their tolerance of new life could be explored further. Might the children represent hope or risk in Future’s calculations? Could they inspire a paradigm shift in how the Proximan AI views humanity?

What do you think?