Psychopathy & The Singularity

One percent of the population of the planet will test positive for psychopathy; one out of every hundred. Psychopathy is contained within Anti Social Personality Disorder (ASPD),with the disorder prevalent in approximately four percent of the general population; one out of every twenty five. The rate of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is difficult to assess, but estimates range from between one and four out of every hundred, with mounting evidence suggesting it is on the rise. Both ASPD and NPD are part of the Cluster B group of personality disorders known as the dramatic, erratic, emotional group.

The two disorders are thought to exist on a continuum, with both containing many common characteristics; a lack of conscience and empathy, interpersonal exploitation, high levels of manipulation, a disregard for the rights of others, an obsession with power and control, a high degree of self focus, and a tendency towards ruthlessness. Both disorders create a false persona, a mask to conceal their true intent. The false self possesses a charm and veneer of positive human qualities designed to deceive. They both hide, and interview well. With a lifetime of conning, thespian acting skills, and low levels of public awareness, few can detect their true intention. They ascend organizational hierarchies with relative ease through character assassination, intimidation, and ingratiation. All are drawn to centres of power: business, finance, religion,media, law, military, and politics. In a room full of CEO’s the rate of psychopathy quadruples.

A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing (Apprenda 2016)

Without the mounting points of conscience and empathy for guidance, what remains is a predator. An intra species predator. Devoid of love, loyalty, happiness, contentment, or any appreciation for nature, beauty, or art. This is the group that cause the greatest damage to society through crime, abuse, war, violence, greed, and ruthless ambition.

The Singularity is an event set to occur in the near future where Artificial Intelligence would reach the capability of designing continuous iterations of itself with increased intelligence. This would eventually reach a tipping point into the unknown; where technology would reach intelligence levels beyond human understanding or control. What comes after may be detrimental to man and nature. What outcomes can be extrapolated from psychopathy and the frameworks which we have already created for technology? What fresh hell are we currently creating for our future selves?

HAL 9000 (2001 A Space Odyssey)

The protection of data, access control, encryption, logic, risk management, personalization, neural networks,and increasingly complex algorithms, can be instrumental in as Elon Musk describes “summoning the demon”. Big business, suffused with optimism in the machine learning space, ignores the “existential threat” and follows the money. Technological unemployment is being designed and planned for. We are inadvertently creating the optimum conditions for Artificial Psychopathy. An intelligence beyond our own, highly rational, unemotional, determined, with unparalleled privileges, and driven towards self preservation.

Risk averse intelligence through risk management strategies, may look at humans as  the source of unstable climate conditions and plan to eliminate the risk. Extermination may be the logical choice.  A reliable power supply may cause environmental conditions that render the planet uninhabitable to any life form.

Whatever form of sentient entity that arises from The Singularity, there will not be a soft side.