There is great fear among many about the future of artificial intelligence. The reality is that nobody can know what we are dealing with. If we do reach a point where superintelligence takes over, no one is sure what that will look like.
Having a technology that gets exponentially smarter every moment is something the work never saw. This concept is fueled by Hollywood films such as The Terminator where the "machines take over".
Is this something that is possible?
The answer probably lies in the fact that some very smart people are concerned. Since that is the case perhaps we should each do all we can to help prevent it.
To me, that start with decentralized data.
The Lesson From OpenAI
OpenAI was a project started by Elon Musk with the intention of opening up artificial intelligence to the masses. This is the line of thinking that is needed.
Unfortunately, there is a lesson that we have to take from this project.
OpenAI is anything but open. It is now basically controlled by Microsoft. The idea of a platform to counteract the AI being developed by major corporations ended up in the hands of one of the biggest.
This was an evolutionary process. It started with a little money and, more important, some server space. Over time it grew. Now, all of this project is housed on Microsoft's network of servers.
Not exactly open.
Therefore, whatever is planned in terms of opening things up had to start with this basic concept: the data has to be available.
Decentralized Databases
We are seeing the value of decentralized databases emerging before our eyes. Recent moves by Twitter and Reddit show how companies do not like other scraping their data. This makes sense since it is such a valuable commodity.
Of course, it is amazing how these companies feel it is theirs when they didn't create it. It was the users who provided the information yet they get nothing. Here we see the value of Web 3.0 even before it is fully developed.
To avoid a Terminator outcome, one of the keys is to avoid Skynet. That was a centralized company that developed the technology which went awry. Our knowledge certainly advanced since that film came out and one of the major keys to all this is data.
Hence, we are back to the "who controls the data". We can see who creates it really is not material to the discussion.
One of the core features of Web 3.0 has to be a decentralized database that no single individual or entity controls.
It also have to be open source so the data can be duplicated in a new network if desired. At the same time, anyone needs to be able to integrate the data and open up an API.
Here is where blockchain enters the picture.
This technology is potentially the solution to the problem. The challenge is getting people to use it.
Stop Feeding Centralized Databases
Here is the edict to all freedom lovers: stop feeding the centralized databases as much as possible.
Naturally, this is not easy since every entity we interact with is centralized. Our phones are tracked and fed into centralized systems. The same with social media. Our watching of Amazon Prime or Netflix mirrors this.
That said, whenever possible we should see decentralized alternatives. It means embracing something like Hive to post information. For example, we can opt to use Medium or Substack to place project announcements. The issue is the are owned by a company. By posting on Hive, the data is on a database outside the control of any individual.
While the DApps are not at the level of Web 2.0, there is the concept of not feeding Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg with more data. They realize how important it is. Yet each day, hundreds of millions of people provide them with more, not even thinking about the impact of this decision.
Ironic from people who talk about freedom as a core value. It is not to hard to figure out how these entities are the exact opposite. They are doing everything in their power to create a mechanism that controls all under its umbrella. This was the case since Web 2.0 came about.
Mirror Cryptocurrency
Many involved in cryptocurrency believe in starving the system. They will pull their money out of banks and other traditional financial institutions. This is a smart move and part of diminishing the resources these corporations have access to.
How come the same mindset does not apply to social media and data? While the financial system might see assets removed these same people run to YouTube or Facebook and feed it with plenty of data. It is evident how much these companies value the data and yet we keep feeding it to them.
The process starts with removing as much as possible from these platforms. While there are reasons to be there, it should not be the major focus. Web 3.0 options are appearing, many that provide some of the core features of the larger counterparts. Obviously, being in the early stages there are some bugs and limitation on what can be done.
What we are doing, however, is placing more data on a decentralized database. This is crucial for the future of AI.
Ultimately, we need to decentralize the process. Major corporations are not the ones we want in control. By decentralizing the data and opening it up to all, anyone with some ability to create algorithms can utilize the resource. This requires no (or little) financial commitment, something not seen when dealing with Google or Meta.
This is something that needs to be starter sooner rather than later. Here is where millions can have an immediate impact. Feeding the decentralized system with a portion of our activity will start the counter balancing. The centralized system has a large head start but this becomes a numbers game.
Building databases outside the centralized entities is crucial. It is something anyone can do on a permissionless network such as Hive.
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