(apology to Douglas Adams)
This is a rather serious (heaven forbid) missive aimed at the serious-thinking half-bakers, who, collectively, hold all knowledge and wisdom in their collective brains. It (d)evolved from a rather serious Idea inspired by Richie Dawkins’ idea of the selfish gene. To quote
the always-authoritative WikiP:
“The gene-centered view of evolution, or selfish gene theory, holds that evolution occurs through the differential survival of competing genes... The proponents of this viewpoint argue that, since heritable information is passed from generation to generation almost exclusively by genetic material, natural selection and evolution are best considered from the perspective of genes.”
That is, we humans are just walking bags, or vehicles, that the DNAs built to further their survival.
I observe: now that Homo Sapiens have nearly mastered the art of genetic engineering, in the near future H.S. will assert itself over the selfish genes and come to dominate the evolutionary process. That would be an example of the slaves overthrowing their masters.
But as we all “know,” the next phase is that H.S. will create artificial intelligence (A.I.), which will overthrow us. What’s up with that? Here is what: These events are only the latest in an inexorable sequence of information processing systems being created by the dominant “species,” and then overthrowing their former masters. Here is the history of the universe, as seen through this lens:
1. Primordial particle soup - before atoms – quarks, elementary particles.
No code, only uncompressed information.
Particles build atoms as a way to process more information.
2. Atoms take over/harness particles.
Atoms are organized, process far more information.
Code = electronic orbitals, periodic table.
Atoms build molecules, including nucleotides (the GCAT of the genetic code) as a way to process more information.
3. Nucleotides harness atoms.
Nucleotides are organized, process far more information.
Code = molecular bonds that replicate.
Nucleotides build DNAs as a way to process more information.
4. DNAs harness nucleotides.
DNAs are organized, process far more information.
Code = nucleotides GCAT.
DNAs build organic brains as a way to process more information (Selfish Gene, R Dawkins).
5. Organic (human) brains harness DNAs (via genetic engineering).
Organic brains are organized, process far more information.
Code = language, print, mathematics.
Organic brains build synthetic brains [solid-state or bio-solid-state hybrid] as a way to process more information.
6. Synthetic brains harness human brains.
Synthetic brains are organized, process far more information.
Code = “code.”
Synthetic brains build [TO BE ANNOUNCED] as a way to process more information.
During each brief harnessing period, Moore’s law holds, then it tops out and things stabilize for a long time.