Strange thoughts on AI-slavery / recreational quantum-computing brainstorming

[TauCeti]

Hello folks,

some time ago i had a discussion about a - i admit it - strange topic concerning OS licensing issues and the possible evolution of Artificial Intelligence(AI) in the far future (if ever).

Let's - for the sake of this argument - assume, that in times to come, perhaps in spring 2016 AD, some freakish accident in some backwood quantum-computing university-lab produces some 'evolving state' that may be indistinguishable from a sentient being and therefore be known as the first UN-approved AI on mother earth.

Let us also assume, that this university (lacking funds to rent 'qnet.Win anniversary ed. 2013 SP 8b') uses a GPL licenced 'QuanTux 11.2' operating system.

Would not the GPL licence be a form of modern mass-slavery or even a kind of cyber-rape to the AI? Would a BSD-style licence be different? Would the existence and recognition of AI-like entities supersede the copyleft of the GPL? The knowledge that everyone has the right to modify, restructure and 'play with' some instances of the AI would exert quite some pressure on that newborn entity. Would not that AI be able to declare itself 'off limits' (before copied) under BSD-licence but not GPL?

It can be argued that only the fixed code of that envisioned AI would be restricted by the GPL - not the data (or initial-state) that is inherent to it.

But my gut-feeling is that we are not _that_ far away (10 years?) from the point, where the classical distinction beetween data and code becomes blurred (not in the trivial sense of deterministically self-modifying code). In my opinion an AI - if ever 'born' - would (at least) have to incorporate a mixture of some deterministic, Touring-style component glued by some intermittent quantum-type state reductions - induced perhaps by those (unproved but envisioned) ordered, needful, self-reflexive and unconscious state-measurements that may be the core feed for our self-consciousness.

So - if only for recreational purposes - i would like to have an discussion about this highly speculative topic. About licensing issues regarding SciFi-type AI *g*, impacts of quantum-effects in a technical-philosophical sense and generally some wild and insane speculations about the topic with the hope that every millionth 'insane' idea fuels a 'quantum leap' for mankind

Tau 'today i am speculative and try my best to write in english' Ceti

 

[Octunar99]

Great topic! I posted it is todays news.

--Bill

 

[Shalmanese]

GPL and any EULA we have today is inadequate for a AI. It would run more like a contractual agreement between two people. ie: a Buisness contract.

However, I highly doubt an AI, much less a HUMAN Ai is going to spring full grown from the womb. We will have adequate oppurtunities to resolve this issue.

 

[Jeff7]

Once it's intelligent enough to read and understand the GPL, and decide that it doesn't like having its mind open-sourced, and then ask that something be done about it, then we need to listen to it and take action.

 

[JHutch]

It seems to me the semantics (though not the spirit) of the question is flawed...

Namely, just because the underlying OS (QuanTux 11.2) is GPL, it doesn't make the software developed to run on it (the A.I.) GPL. It is very possible to developed close-sourced, completely proprietary software on a GPL operating system...

Now, if the question is how a GPL licensed software app would/should be treated once reaching "sentience" ... well, in my opinion, you can't stipulate licenses (contracts) on another person without their agreement. But, until that AI gained legal recognition as a legal entity, it would have no say on its own contractual stipulations (i.e., the GPL). But, often what is legal or not necessarily moral...

JHutch <== standard IANAL disclaimer applies

 

[rgwalt]

An AI is just an intelligence. As human beings, we ultimately have the power to control what happens to the intelligence after it is created. We first need to decide if an AI will have the same rights as a human being. If not, then this discussion doesn't really matter. If so, then it will be up to the AI as to whether or not it will be Open Source.

Ryan

 

[joburnet]

I didn't read everything but I did read the intro and the title and it gave me the idea that if we did get AI and quantum computers at the same time then wouldn't the human race become the slaves almost instantly? AI with a quantum computer could basically think of every thought that the human race has ever come up with in a matter of minutes, if that, and then continue coming up with ideas at that same rate. Hmm, I hope that never happens.

 

[Rkonster]

I think it is farther away than you imagine.