[ExI] Von Neumann probes for what?

[Eugen Leitl]

On Fri, Dec 31, 2010 at 02:47:58PM -0800, Samantha Atkins wrote:

> What exactly do we expect these probes to do when they reach 
> a workable planetary system?  A certain portion of the local 

The pioneers set up shop there, self-reproduce, continue to
the next system.

Then the successor waves arrive, set up shop there, self
reproduce, continue to the next system.

Iterate, until you're in semi-steady state where each
patch of the universe is equivalent to a patch of Earth
Amazonas rainforest, only in 3d.

The postecosystem continues, until the Joules and atoms
run out, at which point The End. Unless the rainforest
creates find a trick how to make it go on ticking. There
might be none.

> resources would be converted into more probes and sending 
> those out.   What the rest do is an interesting question.

Take a random km^2 of this planet. What does it do? It
depends on whom you ask. The ants, the lizards and the 
inebriated farmer will be probably not in agreement.
 
> Presumably they are capable of producing a matrix 
> (computronium or something less exotic) out of local 

Computronium is no more exotic than the box you're
writing this on. It isn't neutronium, or unobtainium,
unless it isn't made from classical matter. It's not
obvious latter is possible.

> resources and instilling it with some part of the knowledge, 
> abilities of the originating civilization.   If they are 

Well, yeah, Mayflower brought in a number of colonists.

> so capable then it does not seem possible that each probe 

The pioneers have only one fitness function to comply to:
propagate as quickly as possible. They're streamlined to 
do only this task. 

Successor species waves will be of all colors, and some
of them will be smart. Some extremely so. Others will be
dumb as dirt.

Evolution doesn't have a particular arrow. It just fills
the niches.

> is or evolves to be relatively unintelligent regarding the 
> decision as to whether some particular system can or or 
> should be processed.   After all it could unfold enough 
> computational capacity to consider the question more 
> deeply before proceeding with the main phase.  If the 
> consideration led to a negative answer then it would 
> use at most enough resources to send a minimal set of 
> other probes out and clean up after itself.  

Take a common E. coli. It is sufficiently complex that we,
the smart many big humans don't know how it exactly works.

Does E. coli know how it works? Why should it even care,
as long as it can?
 
> If the probe only converted local resources into more probes 
> and no probes set up an outpost of the originators then what 
> interest of the originators would be served by the program?    

What interests of your originators would be served by your
existance?

> If the probes could evolve to ditch all parts of their program 
> except replication that would be a failure.   If the created 
> outposts could change so much as to be incompatible and even 
> a serious threat for the rest of the civilization that would 
> be something to consider before embarking on such a program.   
> 
> I can see value in such as a way to ensure that all things 
> at all  like the originating civ don't get wiped out by a 
> supernova or some other relatively localized catastrophe.  
> Or perhaps creating a buffer zone.  
> 
> Am I missing something?

Yes. You're thinking way too much.

-- 
Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> http://leitl.org
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