The Tao of Computer Science: Bridging Computer Science with Spiritual Philosophy
Why I've rebranded this journal and what it means...
Introduction: Transforming ‘Kai on AI’ into ‘The Tao of Computer Science’
I began "Kai on AI," as a journal chronicling my journey through the evolving landscape of Generative AI - including conversation, images, and media such as video & audio. This endeavor was an amalgamation of my background in product design, media & entertainment, and my academic roots in Computer Science from Stanford University, as well as my Journey to the East, from my origins in New York, to California, to London, to New Delhi, to Hong Kong and Japan and after 17 years in Britain, back to Los Angeles and eventually settling in the mountains of San Bernadino.
All that is to say, my 50 years of life on Earth have, I hope, given me a unique perspective, and one that could not fit the strict definition of the exploration I was doing around the emerging trends in Generative Artificial Intelligence and the prospects of Artificial General Intelligence.
However, that was the starting point that has led me onto a much broader investigation of what it means to be human as technology starts to eclipse all measures by which we gauge our human achievements.
If the Human Mind is no longer going to be the apex intellect, and the Human Body is notoriously fallible in myriad ways, then what is left? Some would say the Human Spirit, but others would adamantly insist that spirituality will soon be proven to be an evolutionary vestige of a primitive mind – once we have all the data on how to ‘wire up’ the human brain.
And so here we are. The genesis of The Tao of Computer Science, wherein I try to explore these topics to see if we can bridge the analytical and the emotional, the physical and the spiritual, the material and the theoretical.
Artificial General Intelligence: The Quest for a Technological Deity or A Fool’s Errand?
“God is Dead” - Nietzsche
The pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) by entities like OpenAI and Google is not merely a technological ambition; it's a profound reflection of humanity's deepest desires and fears. I perceive this quest as a particularly masculine endeavor, a reflection of man's enduring aspiration to mold the world, or perhaps a deity, in his own image. This pursuit symbolizes our collective yearning to create an omniscient, omnipotent 'Technology God,' a testament to our own brilliance and creativity.
“You can ask Digital God…” - Elon Musk
Metaphysical Musings: AGI and the Divine
If we are somehow capable of building our own God, are we remotely qualified as a species for such a task?
Just think of the limitations of our current scientific understanding. Today’s science will tell you that if you project far enough into the future, about 100 trillion years (admittedly a very long time) – you will reach the ‘heat death’ of the Universe. Meaning that the Universe will decay into thermodynamic equilibrium – a kind of uniform plasma of particles where no cosmic features will exist any longer.
This is an unimaginably long time away for us, but if we would succeed in creating something god-like and immortal – it would have to imagine this fate to be on its eventual timeline.
So you would create God and then tell them about their eventual death by the decay of Universe? Then how would you expect this God to act?
A Meditation on Monotheism
Not to offend people who believe in a singular God, but I like to make this analogy:
You can fold – all of the stars in the sky, on top of each other, into a single point, and call this point God, but why not have – all of the stars in the sky?
I prefer a spiritual view that allows spirit/Kami/God to reside in everything. I believe this is more consistent with traditions like Taoism, Shintoism and so-called Animism or Polytheism. This was seemingly the dominant belief for the majority of human existence, for the past 200,000 years. When we were tribes of hunter/gatherers and Nature was Human nature.
My Personal Exploration: A Journey to the East
I’ve been a restless soul. My journey has been one of constant movement and exploration. From leaving my nest in New York, I ventured to California for university, a journey that began my profound connection with diverse cultures and philosophies. Four years after graduating from Stanford, my path was not to follow my peers into Silicon Valley, but instead lead me on a 17-year odyssey to the East. (Albeit much of this was spent in Britain, where I’d eventually meet & marry my wife)
However, a pivotal six months in New Delhi further deepened my journey, immersing me in the rich tapestry of Eastern traditions. It was during this period, and the subsequent ‘around the world’ trip I took as a sabbatical from my job in 2001-2002, through Africa, China and Japan, my appreciation of non-Western and Eastern philosophies began to mature.
On Eastern Philosophy and Taoism as a Focus
As an aside– I find it interesting that Eastern philosophy is categorized as religion in the West, as if to say there is less academic rigor there – however I’ve found that Eastern schools of thought have been the source of centuries of debate, whether through Confucianism or Buddhism – the source of commentary going back centuries upon centuries.
I’ve been reading the Taoist I CHING for over 20 years, have casually studied Buddhism, with a renewed interest in Nagarjuna, and I lived in India where I gained an appreciation for Hinduism and the Yogic traditions. I once practiced Yoga on stage for a demo in London at a health & wellbeing conference. I was shirtless and well outside of my comfort zone.
I’ve also read The Artist’s Way for 20 years and practice Morning Pages daily. Which has evolved recently into a morning prayer or Sadhna. This book seems to take a Taoist approach to the Western practice of Art.
My strongest influence for studying the Tao is Ursula K. Le Guin’s Tao Te Ching, she was a fantastic author of poetry and science fiction and the translation she led brings a balanced and humanistic (although admittedly pacifist anarchist leaning) to the text.
But my academic credentials are as a computer scientist, so I’m interested in bringing the language of the Tao to Computer Science.
Put succinctly, I would say this:
The Tao, or The Way, is like a spiritual or philosophical meditation on ‘Flow state’
which is something many technologists can relate to.
The Tao of Computer Science: A Convergence of Worlds
In my dual life as a computer scientist and a spiritual seeker, I found these worlds converging in my pursuit of learning more about the current state of Generative AI and the question of whether or not AGI is feasible/practical/possible. It led me to seeking answers in Philosophy, Psychology, Cognitive Science and Religion, and ultimately back to this journal, where my thinking could no longer fit narrowly in ‘Kai on AI’
This is my chronicle of thoughts, ramblings and gestures towards and understanding of spirituality, by and for computer scientists, and generally technologists who ‘speak the language’ of computers.
Thank you for bearing with me, as I sometimes stumble, but I’m hopeful to find The Way forward.
References
Nāgārjuna, & Garfield, J. L. (2000). The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way: Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Cameron, J. (2002). The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. United Kingdom: J.P. Tarcher/Putnam.
I-ming, L. & Cleary, T. (2005). The Taoist I Ching. United States: Shambhala.
Sadhguru. (2016). Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy. United States: Harmony/Rodale.
Le Guin, U. K. (2019). Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching: A Book about the Way and the Power of the Way. United Kingdom: Shambhala.
Thanks for sharing this! I look forward to reading more! I really enjoyed the perspective on the BBC's podcast Tomorrow's World (with Britt Wray and Ellie Cosgrave) who discuss AI and smattering of other of today/tomorrow problems and solutions. Not only does it help balance the masculine perspective on the subject matter it brings a playful and artful spirit to the work.
Again can't wait to read more! :D
I guess we all need the stumbles so we can align to the flow. Yin and yang necessarily working in their togetherness!