Novacene

A birthday gift from Nico, with the subtitle, "The Coming Age of Hyperintelligence", providing a nice hook. Novacene has to be considered with both fascination and unease. Lovelock's theory is persuasive, but clearly only constitutes one (controversial) perspective. Lovelock, always something of a maverick, roots Novacene in his "Gaia" hypothesis—namely that Earth functions as a self-regulating system. Against this background, he believes that we should embrace silicon-based intelligence, even if we do ultimately become subservient to it. His reasoning is based on the idea that only a new form of (artificial) superintelligence can save the planet. Humans would clearly be beneficiaries as a result—and here I am fully sympathetic—AI should be engaged with rather than reflexively feared. If Lovelock is right, the most consequential question is not whether technology will change the world, but whether we are wise enough to shape what comes after us.

By James Lovelock