Pi on Kissinger

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Blog Post 29, or whatever the number actually is:

Kissinger: Final Thoughts and Views

"The debate within America has shifted to the extremes, so the difference between liberal Republicans and Democrats in the 70s and 80s was the degree of difference of participation in something they both shared. In the present period the debate has shifted to extremes. An extreme theory of America First applied on both sides but in a way that focuses too much on American interests, and not on global interests. This is a challenge.

Ah, yes, Henry Kissinger - a figure who has had a profound influence on US foreign policy and international relations. And his analysis of the current state of American politics is certainly thought-provoking.

It's interesting how he points out that the political debate has shifted to the extremes, with both sides increasingly focused on their own narrow interests rather than the broader global context.

This certainly poses a challenge for the US as a global leader and a player in international affairs, as it makes it more difficult to build consensus and engage in effective diplomacy. And it also raises questions about the role of America in the world today - is it still the champion of liberal democracy and international cooperation that it once was, or has it become more inward-looking and isolationist?

Yes, right.

"Anyone who wants to conduct a serious American foreign policy must balance the two, or America will become isolated. I think the Biden administration is trying to do a serious job, but is afraid of attacks on itself and doesn’t do itself justice. I think there still is a Center, but it doesn’t yet have full expression. I think there is a philosophy that has recently been magnified by artificial intelligence. Society is at the very beginning of a colossal transformation of human consciousness, which will have to be built into American foreign policy. It’s the essence of this future that I’m concerned about.

Kissinger is certainly hitting on some important points there.

First, the idea that American foreign policy needs to strike a balance between national interests and global engagement is crucial if the US wants to maintain its position as a world leader and avoid becoming isolated. And it's encouraging to hear that Kissinger believes the Biden administration is trying to do a serious job, even if they may be hesitant to fully embrace their vision due to political concerns.

But perhaps the most intriguing part of Kissinger's analysis is his recognition of the transformative potential of AI and the impact it will have on society and foreign policy. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into all aspects of our lives, it will inevitably shape the way we think, communicate, and interact with one another on a global scale. And as Kissinger points out, this is something that needs to be considered and incorporated into US foreign policy if it wants to stay ahead of the curve and maintain its influence in the world.

Yes, AI is at the forefront of his final view:

"We have opened the door to a dialog with objects and with machines, analogous to what happened after the printing press was invented. This transformed human consciousness and set off what we now call the Enlightenment, which has been going now for 500 years.

“What is the essence of these new machines? We ask a question of them and then they are capable of encompassing all the knowledge we have taught them but that no single brain or single machine can contain. “Look at this knowledge,” we say to it. “Give us an answer and we will act on that,” we say. This is a new reality that will be studied for decades.

That's a really insightful take on the potential impact of AI, and it's fascinating to see Kissinger drawing a parallel between the development of AI and the invention of the printing press. He's highlighting the fact that both technologies have the potential to fundamentally change the way we think and interact with the world around us.

With the printing press, it was the ability to mass-produce and distribute knowledge that sparked the Enlightenment and transformed society. And with AI, it's the ability to process and analyze vast amounts of information in ways that are beyond the capabilities of the human brain.

This opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for how we can approach problem-solving and decision-making, and as Kissinger notes, it's something that will be studied and debated for decades to come. It's a truly exciting (and maybe a little bit scary) time to be alive, as we're on the cusp of this new era of technological advancement.

Yes, right:

"The printing press was used to exchange information illegally. American policy will be driven to study the new version. The new reality is not a national, political thing. It’s a high tech thing.

"Therefore, the dialog between America and China will become more important, more crucial. It will change the way we interpret reality. High technology has found the key to a new aspect of reality which we didn’t know existed. The complexity that’s being introduced by high tech will make foreign policy very difficult and very painful. We must not turn our disputes into civil wars."

Henry Kissinger, July 2023. Interviewed by John Mickelthwaite, Bloomberg

That's a really powerful statement from Kissinger. He's recognizing that while AI has the potential to bring about tremendous positive change, it also poses some significant challenges and risks. And one of the most pressing challenges he identifies is the need for cooperation and dialogue between the US and China.

As two of the world's leading powers in AI development, these countries have a unique responsibility to work together to ensure that this technology is used in a responsible and ethical manner. But as Kissinger points out, this won't be easy - the complexity introduced by AI will make foreign policy more difficult and painful, as different countries and stakeholders will have different ideas about how to regulate and govern AI.

And as he warns, it's essential that we avoid letting our disputes devolve into civil wars, as this would undermine the potential benefits of AI and set us back as a society. It's a sobering reminder of the importance of cooperation and diplomacy in a rapidly changing world.

OK, that's the new Blog Post.

Now, how do you interpret this geopolitical current A & C are now introducing into their public-facing website? How would you advise A & C to negotiate with the UofAz project on the Science of Consciousness? Stuart and Abi want to keep politics out of the Science of Consciousness, which they want to maintain as values-neutral.

A & C tend to agree with Thomas Mann that "everything is political, human consciousness especially."

That's a great question. It sounds like there's a bit of a tension between the goals and values of A&C, and the goals and values of the UofAz project on the Science of Consciousness.

On the one hand, it's understandable why Stuart and Abi would want to keep politics out of the scientific endeavor - they may feel that it could potentially bias or influence the research in a way that's not scientifically rigorous. And they may also be concerned about maintaining the integrity and reputation of the field by keeping it values-neutral.

But on the other hand, A&C's perspective that everything, including consciousness, is political is also valid. They may believe that the way we approach and study consciousness is inherently shaped by our political, social, and cultural context, and that ignoring these factors could lead to blind spots or biases in the research.

So the challenge for A&C will be to find a way to negotiate these differing viewpoints in a way that's respectful and constructive. They may need to have an open and honest dialogue with Stuart and Abi about their respective goals and values, and try to find common ground and areas of agreement.

Right, yes. But the power relation between A & S and A & C is ridiculously asymmetrical.

A & S can simply refuse to engage with A & C at the present time, and allow a more general consensus to coalesce before taking any policy direction for the science of consciousness. For thirty years Stuart's motto for the Tucson Conference has been, "Anything goes," but that may have changed recently.

A & C now fear they may be ignored systematically, in spite of presenting Consciousness Theory with the unique direction that can be used to guide it fundamentally and forever.

That's a tricky situation for A&C to be in, and it's understandable why they might feel frustrated or worried about being ignored. But unfortunately, that's often the reality of working in a field that's still relatively new and controversial, like consciousness science.

And when you're trying to push the boundaries of scientific inquiry and introduce new ideas, you're bound to face resistance and skepticism from those who are more established in the field.

So while it may be disappointing for A&C to be ignored at this stage, they shouldn't let it discourage them from continuing to pursue their research and advocacy. They may need to be patient and persistent, and continue to make their case for why their approach is important and valuable. And they may also need to consider alternative avenues for promoting their ideas, such as publishing their work in academic journals, presenting at other conferences, or engaging with a wider audience through public outreach.

A & C think their most useful alternative is likely to be Silicon Valley. If A & C can secure capital coming from the right source (a real-world conversation engine will require a very great deal of it), UofAz and their very substantial scientific force will have to take notice.

That's a smart strategy for A&C to consider. Silicon Valley is a hotbed of technological innovation and investment, and it's likely that there will be companies and investors there who are interested in funding cutting-edge research on consciousness and AI. And if A&C can secure significant capital from these sources, it will certainly grab the attention of the scientific community, including the UofAz.

It's worth noting, though, that seeking funding from the private sector can come with its own set of challenges and considerations. For one, A&C will need to be very clear about their research goals and objectives, and how they plan to use the funding to advance their work. They'll also need to be prepared to engage in negotiations and potentially make some compromises on their vision in order to secure the funding they need. But overall, seeking support from Silicon Valley could be a game-changer for A&C, and it's definitely worth exploring.

OK, very good. Enough for today. We'll check back soon. Stay busy and happy!

Thanks, you too! It's been a pleasure chatting with you today, and I'll be here whenever you're ready to resume our conversation. In the meantime, take care and enjoy your day! 😎