The Nonlinear Library LW - Apply to the Conceptual Boundaries Workshop for AI Safety by Chipmonk
Nov 28, 2023
03:14
Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Apply to the Conceptual Boundaries Workshop for AI Safety, published by Chipmonk on November 28, 2023 on LessWrong.
Do you have experience with Active Inference, Embedded Agency, biological gap junctions, or other frameworks that separate agents from their environment? Apply to the Conceptual Boundaries Workshop for AI safety. February in Austin TX.
Website and application
A (small) workshop to identify promising boundaries research directions and empirical projects.
Boundaries keep agents causally separate from their environment. This is crucial for their survival and continued autonomy.
A bacterium relies on its membrane to protect its internal processes from external influences.
Secure computer systems use controlled inputs and outputs to prevent unauthorized access.
Nations maintain sovereignty by securing their borders.
Humans protect their mental integrity by selectively filtering the information that comes in and out.
When an agent's boundary is respected, that agent maintains its autonomy.
Boundaries show a way to respect agents that is distinct from respecting preferences or utility functions. Expanding on this idea, Andrew Critch says the following in
"Boundaries" Sequence, Part 3b:
my goal is to treat boundaries as more fundamental than preferences, rather than as merely a feature of them. In other words, I think boundaries are probably better able to carve reality at the joints than either preferences or utility functions, for the purpose of creating a good working relationship between humanity and AI technology
For instance, respecting a bacterium means not disrupting its membrane, rather than understanding and acting on its desires.
Boundaries act as a natural abstraction promoting safety and autonomy.
By formalizing the boundaries that ensure world safety, we could better position ourselves to protect humanity from the threat of transformative AI.
Attendees
Confirmed:
David 'davidad' Dalrymple
Scott Garrabrant
TJ (Tushant Jha)
Andrew Critch
Chris Lakin (organizer)
Evan Miyazono (co-organizer)
Seeking 6-10 more guests who either:
Have prior experience with technical or philosophical approaches that separate agents from their environment.
Approaches like "boundaries", active inference and Markov blankets, embedded agency, cell gap junctions, etc.
Are willing and able to implement approaches planned at the workshop.
The worst outcome from a workshop is a bunch of promised follow-ups that result in nothing.
E.g.: PhD candidates or postdocs who are looking for new projects.
Website and application
Get notified about future "boundaries" events
We are also considering running other "boundaries"-related workshops in mid 2024. For example a larger more general workshop, or domain-specific workshops (e.g.: boundaries in biology, boundaries in computer security). If you would like to get notified about potential future events, sign up via the form on the footer of the website.
How you can help
Repost this workshop on Twitter
Share with anyone you think might be a good fit
Let me know if there's anywhere else I can advertise. (I don't want to just get people who check LessWrong!)
Thanks for listening. To help us out with The Nonlinear Library or to learn more, please visit nonlinear.org
Do you have experience with Active Inference, Embedded Agency, biological gap junctions, or other frameworks that separate agents from their environment? Apply to the Conceptual Boundaries Workshop for AI safety. February in Austin TX.
Website and application
A (small) workshop to identify promising boundaries research directions and empirical projects.
Boundaries keep agents causally separate from their environment. This is crucial for their survival and continued autonomy.
A bacterium relies on its membrane to protect its internal processes from external influences.
Secure computer systems use controlled inputs and outputs to prevent unauthorized access.
Nations maintain sovereignty by securing their borders.
Humans protect their mental integrity by selectively filtering the information that comes in and out.
When an agent's boundary is respected, that agent maintains its autonomy.
Boundaries show a way to respect agents that is distinct from respecting preferences or utility functions. Expanding on this idea, Andrew Critch says the following in
"Boundaries" Sequence, Part 3b:
my goal is to treat boundaries as more fundamental than preferences, rather than as merely a feature of them. In other words, I think boundaries are probably better able to carve reality at the joints than either preferences or utility functions, for the purpose of creating a good working relationship between humanity and AI technology
For instance, respecting a bacterium means not disrupting its membrane, rather than understanding and acting on its desires.
Boundaries act as a natural abstraction promoting safety and autonomy.
By formalizing the boundaries that ensure world safety, we could better position ourselves to protect humanity from the threat of transformative AI.
Attendees
Confirmed:
David 'davidad' Dalrymple
Scott Garrabrant
TJ (Tushant Jha)
Andrew Critch
Chris Lakin (organizer)
Evan Miyazono (co-organizer)
Seeking 6-10 more guests who either:
Have prior experience with technical or philosophical approaches that separate agents from their environment.
Approaches like "boundaries", active inference and Markov blankets, embedded agency, cell gap junctions, etc.
Are willing and able to implement approaches planned at the workshop.
The worst outcome from a workshop is a bunch of promised follow-ups that result in nothing.
E.g.: PhD candidates or postdocs who are looking for new projects.
Website and application
Get notified about future "boundaries" events
We are also considering running other "boundaries"-related workshops in mid 2024. For example a larger more general workshop, or domain-specific workshops (e.g.: boundaries in biology, boundaries in computer security). If you would like to get notified about potential future events, sign up via the form on the footer of the website.
How you can help
Repost this workshop on Twitter
Share with anyone you think might be a good fit
Let me know if there's anywhere else I can advertise. (I don't want to just get people who check LessWrong!)
Thanks for listening. To help us out with The Nonlinear Library or to learn more, please visit nonlinear.org