Superintelligence: Identification of Friend or Foe for Future Cooperation with Non-human Intelligence

Abstract

Intelligence is one of the most studied attributes of mental activity. While non-human consciousness remains a subject of profound debate, non-human intelligence is universally acknowledged. The nature and possibility of artificial consciousness's existence are debated, but all participants in the discussion recognize intelligence as a necessary element of any consciousness, regardless of its nature. Intelligence can be measured in terms of processing or computational power, as well as problem-solving efficacy. It can also serve as a starting point for reconstructing arguments related to Artificial Consciousness. The shared modus of intelligence evaluation, regardless of its origin, offers a promising direction towards a more complex framework for assessing non-human consciousness. However, the successful resolution of an objective basis for intelligence studies by this approach unveils inescapable challenges. Moreover, when the potential for non-human intelligence exists in both biological and non-biological domains, the future of the relationship between humankind, as the possessor of human intelligence, and other intelligent entities remains uncertain. The central inquiry posed in this paper is focused on the potential for higher intelligence to exert adverse effects on less intelligent counterparts. It is conceivable that pure intelligence, as a computational faculty, can serve as an effective utilitarian tool. However, when integrated as an essential component within frameworks of consciousness, for example, in autopoietic systems, it may harbour inherent hazards for other actors and environment. In this paper an attempt has been made to answer the question concerning the future of interactions between human and non-human intelligence in the context of consciousness possession by an intelligent actor.