The End Of Knowledge - Vault 4/99 - AI For Good - 2024 - Understanding biodiversity

graph LR classDef main fill:#cccccc, font-weight:bold, font-size:14px classDef problem fill:#ffcc99, font-weight:bold, font-size:14px classDef AI fill:#99ccff, font-weight:bold, font-size:14px classDef animal fill:#99ff99, font-weight:bold, font-size:14px classDef ethics fill:#ff9999, font-weight:bold, font-size:14px classDef future fill:#ffccff, font-weight:bold, font-size:14px A[Understanding biodiversity
AI to decode
non-human communication] A --> B[Narrow optimization
harms whole, disconnected. 1] A --> C[Earth Species Project
decodes non-human language. 2] A --> D[Complex animal communication
includes naming young. 3] A --> E[Primrose flowers hear
bees, produce sweeter nectar. 4] A --> F[AI reveals worlds hidden magic. 5] A --> G[Dolphins understand and perform
abstract concepts. 6] B --> H[Restoring communication
with nature is powerful. 22] B --> I[Indigenous myths: human-nature
communication loss. 23] C --> J[Listening to animals
is primary goal. 15] C --> K[Humpback whales recognize
own vocalizations. 16] C --> L[Real-time two-way communication
experiments underway. 20] F --> M[AI translates languages
without Rosetta. 7] F --> N[AI represents words
geometrically by meaning. 8] F --> O[Language shapes align,
showing universal meaning. 9] F --> P[AI translates text, images,
music, DNA, brain. 10] F --> Q[AI humbles humanity,
expands perspectives. 24] G --> R[Animals show self-awareness
and rich experiences. 11] G --> S[Overlapping animal communication
complicates data separation. 12] G --> T[Advances help address
animal communication challenges. 13] G --> U[Understanding animal behavior
to influence actions. 14] H --> V[Whale songs spread virally,
must be cautious. 18] J --> W[AI might enable fluent
interspecies communication. 17] K --> X[Discovering animal sentience
could transform society. 21] X --> Y[Open-source limits prevent
misuse, ensures safety. 19] class A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y main class B,H,I problem class C,D,E,J,K,L,W,X animal class F,M,N,O,P,Q AI class G,R,S,T,U ethics class V,Y future

Resume:

1.- Major global problems stem from narrow optimization at the expense of the whole, a form of disconnection.

2.- Earth Species Project aims to discover and decode non-human language using AI.

3.- Much is already known about complex animal communication, e.g. parrots and dolphins naming their young.

4.- Plants like primrose flowers can "hear" and respond to the sound of approaching bees by producing sweeter nectar.

5.- AI expands what humans can perceive, showing the world is more magical than we realize.

6.- A study showed dolphins can comprehend abstract concepts like "do something you've never done before" and coordinate novel synchronized behaviors.

7.- In 2017, AI gained the ability to translate between any human languages without needing examples or Rosetta Stones.

8.- AI represents semantic relationships geometrically - words with similar meanings are clustered near each other.

9.- The shapes representing different human languages can be aligned, revealing a universal structure of human meaning.

10.- This approach works across modalities, enabling AI systems to translate between text, images, music, DNA, brain scans, etc.

11.- Animals like dolphins, elephants, and lemurs show signs of self-awareness, altered consciousness, and rich inner experiences.

12.- Challenges include overlapping animal communication, with 97% of beluga whale data unusable because individuals can't be separated.

13.- Advances like separating simultaneous speakers and using multimodal sensor data can help address these challenges.

14.- Potential applications include understanding and influencing animal behavior, like encouraging whales to avoid areas with heavy ship traffic.

15.- The goal is to listen to animals, not speak, as true change comes from listening. Speaking ability is only needed to test understanding.

16.- Early experiments, like humpback whales recognizing recordings of their own vocalizations, show two-way communication is possible.

17.- AI may enable fluent interspecies communication before we fully understand the meaning, requiring caution and ethical guidelines.

18.- Humpback whale songs can spread virally across vast distances for unknown reasons, so we must avoid inadvertently manipulating their culture.

19.- Open-sourcing this technology is limited due to potential misuse by ecotourism or poachers, necessitating safeguards and responsible disclosure.

20.- Experiments in real-time two-way communication, starting with zebra finches, are underway, with a 6-year timeline to achieve it.

21.- Discovering animal sentience and consciousness could transform human society, from law to religion to our relationship with nature.

22.- The disconnection between humans and nature is a fundamental problem; restoring communication may be deeply powerful.

23.- Indigenous myths often begin with humans communicating with nature and losing that ability; this tech may allow us to reconnect.

24.- AI can help us realize that humanity is not the center of the universe, breaking our ego in a necessary way.

25.- AI's highest potential may be in expanding our perspective and revealing the world as more magical than we currently believe.

Knowledge Vault built byDavid Vivancos 2024