 First edition | |
| Author | James Lovelock (withBryan Appleyard)[1] |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Environmentalism Superintelligence |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Penguin Books Limited |
Publication date | July 4, 2019 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 160 |
| ISBN | 9780241399361 |
Novacene: The Coming Age of Hyperintelligence is a 2019 non-fiction book byscientist andenvironmentalistJames Lovelock. It has been published byPenguin Books/Allen Lane in the UK,[2] and republished by theMIT Press.[3] The book was co-authored by journalist Bryan Appleyard.[4] It predicts that a benevolent eco-friendly artificialsuperintelligence will someday become the dominant lifeform on the planet and argues humanity is on the brink of a new era: the Novacene.
Lovelock builds upon hisGaia hypothesis, wherein he seesEarth's systems as well as the organisms on it as one cooperatingsuperorganism.[1] This system, Gaia, regulates and protects itself against external threats, such as an increasing heat output from thesun orasteroids. Another assertion of the hypothesis is that Gaia has an (unintentional) evolutionary strategy to sustain itself by sprouting life capable of countering said hazards. Lovelock also sketches the development of life, firstanaerobic and thenaerobic.[5] He further articulates the central role ofsunlight in evolution's progress via three stages:[6]
Lovelock also articulates his views thatreason is overvalued compared tointuition, arguing that step-by-steplogic cannot explain all mechanisms.[4] According to Lovelock, humanlanguage is a curse that forces causal and linearvertical thinking at the expense of intuition.[1]
Lovelock discusses that theAnthropocene, a proposedgeological epoch characterized by human ability to greatly shape the environment to fit man's needs, starts in 1712, after the invention of theNewcomen atmospheric engine, a vital catalyst for the laterIndustrial Revolution. Lovelock proposes a successor to the Anthropocene dubbed the Novacene, an epoch that will see the rise of super-intelligent robotic agents (referred to as 'cyborgs' by Lovelock). These electronic lifeforms would be capable of thinking exponentially more quickly than humans and would also mould their surroundings for sustenance.[6]
Lovelock emphasizes that the evolution of the Anthropocene was propelled bymarket forces, stressing thatprofitability is a crucial feature ofinventions such asNewcomen's steam engine. Economic significance of technologies ensures their development.[6]
Cyborgs would be intelligent enough to rapidly improve themselves and correct faults, much likeDarwinian selection, but moreso a form of intentional selection, superior to evolution's slow and arbitrarynatural selection. Self-learning AI agents are mentioned, under whichDeepmind'sAlphaZero, which taught itselfchess by playing against itself. In combination with rapid processing speed, they would greatly surpasshuman intelligence; in Lovelock's words, they may see us the way we see plants: passive and slow. He further mentions these cyborgs may tap into natural resources for their sustenance, much like plants and animals rely on sunlight throughphotosynthesis or energy stored in organic food such asfruits.[6]
Lovelock argues a futureAI takeover will save both the planet and the human race from catastrophic climate change: the cyborgs will recognize the danger of global heating themselves and act to stop the warming of the planet.[4] Contrary toMax Tegmark and others who fearexistential risk from advanced artificial intelligence, Lovelock argues that robots will need organic life to keep the planet from overheating, and that therefore robots will want to keep humanity alive, perhaps as pets. Lovelock goes on to argue that humans might be happier under robotic domination.[7]
In regards to more primitive technology, Lovelock condemns the concept ofautonomous weapon systems capable of killing without human interference. The scientist also expresses his horror regardingnuclear weapons, but remains a proponent ofnuclear energy itself.[6]
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InNature, science journalistTim Radford praises both Lovelock's career and the book, stating thatNovacene and Lovelock's other books are "written persuasively". Radford reserves judgement on whether Lovelock's predictions will come true.[4] InThe Guardian, authorSteven Poole also praises the writing style, but believes that despite Lovelock's "speculation" there may remain "reasonable cause for alarm" in the event of an AI takeover. He also dismisses Lovelock's "ropey" criticism of logical reasoning, but overall considers Lovelock's "infectious, almost absurdist optimism" a welcome relief from environmental techno-pessimism.[7] InThe Daily Telegraph, journalistRoger Lewis gives only two out of five stars to Lovelock's "rambling optimism".[8] Skeptics have categorized Lovelock's predictions as overconfident.[9]
The speculative fiction thriller Rise of the Water Margin touches on many of the themes presented in Novacene, including Gaia hypothesis and superintelligence. The author mentions James Lovelock in the body of the story and Novacene in the credits and thanks.