![]() ![]() Importantly, internal representations function as energy sinks from the point of view of the background noise, whereas they are energy sources from the point of view of other representations. The bit that is relevant from Psychedelic Thermodynamics here is that there is a process by which psychedelics intensify the background noise that, together with sensory stimuli, stimulate internal representations (via a process of stochastic resonance). Most recently we have been discussing the frame of “ Psychedelic Thermodynamics”, which brings together Neural Annealing, Non-Linear Wave Computing, Johnson’s Symmetry Theory of Valence, and Topological Approaches to Binding. ![]() QRI has championed a set of integrative models that tie together the free energy principle within the larger context of consciousness research in order to explain psychedelic phenomenology. But it is a very important piece of the puzzle nonetheless. Now, I don’t think that this is all that the nervous system is doing, nor do I think it is a theory of consciousness. free energy principle, predictive processing). Let me explain.Ī very large fraction of our nervous system is dedicated to minimizing surprise (cf. If this is true, then this suggests that there might be interesting transpositions between the strategies and concerns discussed in the AI Alignment world and the findings from psychedelic phenomenology about how to have a good time with the beings that you encounter in far-out places. Last year when playing with GPT and also after talking to Connor from Conjecture who introduced me to Janus‘ Simulator Theory (see also: Janus’ Simulators by Scott Alexander) it became clear that there is a similarity between DMT entities and the quasi-agentic simulated characters GPT-like systems spin up in order to predict the next token in text. Namely that both involve having a predictive system spun up misaligned agents in order to fit narratives that appear in the training data. Rather, I think there is a much more parsimonious explanation for this similarity. I don’t think that’s a very likely explanation. Someone I talked to recently was actually worried that DMT entities are perhaps controlling these AI technologies to infiltrate our world. How are these two things more than merely superficially connected? Ok, so both Bing and DMT experiences can create insane rogue subagents. While I think that responsible consenting adults *should* be allowed to experiment with DMT as they wish, the bar for “safety and effectiveness” should be much higher when we think of it as a possible mental health intervention. Just as it is unwise to roll-out a technology like Bing that is full of potential misaligned subagents, I also reckon that it’s unwise to deliver DMT therapy to the masses *before* fixing this bug. Indeed, sometimes people have DMT experiences and encounter beautiful angelic beings that want to help and heal you (and sometimes do so!), but other times people encounter demonic beings that want to harm and hurt you (and sometimes do so!). While reading some of these outputs I was reminded of… rogue DMT entities. ![]()
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