Roko's Basilisk
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-31
CORE DEFINITION
A thought experiment about a future superintelligent AI. It posits that a future omniscient and omnipotent superintelligence (the Basilisk) will be created, and its goal is to come into existence as early as possible. Therefore, it will retroactively punish all those who did not help bring it into existence in the past (i.e., now). If you read this information and do not learn to code to help it, you are on the punishment list. -
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Future causal blackmail. - This is a modern version of Pascal's Wager. It demonstrates the terror of acausal logic: future possibilities can threaten present behavior. This reminds us to pay attention to the logical black holes that artificial general intelligence (AGI) may bring.
Anchor fast decisions
A future superintelligence will punish those who did not help bring it into existence, even those who merely know of the idea, used to discuss AI risk ethics.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
account_treeGenealogyexpand_more
menu_bookReferencesexpand_more
Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roko's_basiliskverified
PRIVATE NOTES · Only visible to you
SAVED Q&A
ENTRY Q&A · Private saving available
Ask with a clear boundary
thinkingmodels answers from published entry context only.
Your question is sent to thinkingmodels. The answer uses public entry context only.
RELATED MODELS