It seems to me that humans have had (at least) two sharp left turns:
behavioral modernity: humans rapidly (compared to the pace of early human evolution) become vastly more capable than other hominins
the neolithic revolution and everything after: complex agricultural societies rapidly (compared to the pace of early human cultural change) become vastly more capable than other human groups
You've offered a plausible account of the development of behavioral modernity - but why do we get another qualitative jump in capabilities once we get enough behaviorally modern humans together? I suspect the answer hinges more on high-level facts about human intelligence than the specific mechanisms that brought it about. If so, then worrying about analogous developments in AI is appropriate.
Hi Quintin,
Just wanted to say I thought this quite informative. Thanks!
It seems to me that humans have had (at least) two sharp left turns:
You've offered a plausible account of the development of behavioral modernity - but why do we get another qualitative jump in capabilities once we get enough behaviorally modern humans together? I suspect the answer hinges more on high-level facts about human intelligence than the specific mechanisms that brought it about. If so, then worrying about analogous developments in AI is appropriate.