Random utility function

A ‘random utility function’ is a utility function selected according to some simple probability measure over a logical space of formal, compact specifications of utility functions.

For example: suppose utility functions are specified by computer programs (e.g. a program that maps an output description to a rational number). We then draw a random computer program from the standard universal prior on computer programs: \(2^{-\operatorname K(U)}\) where \(\operatorname K(U)\) is the algorithmic complexity (Kolmogorov complexity) of the utility-specifying program \(U.\)

This obvious measure could be amended further to e.g. take into account non-halting programs; to not put almost all of the probability mass on extremely simple programs; to put a satisficing criterion on whether it’s computationally tractable and physically possible to optimize for \(U\) (as assumed in the Orthogonality Thesis); etcetera.

Complexity of value is the thesis that the attainable optimum of a random utility function has near-null goodness with very high probability. That is: the attainable optimum configurations of matter for a random utility function are, with very high probability, the moral equivalent of paperclips. This in turn implies that a superintelligence with a random utility function is with very high probability the moral equivalent of a paperclip maximizer.

A ‘random utility function’ is not:

• A utility function randomly selected from whatever distribution of utility functions may actually exist among agents within the generalized universe. That is, a random utility function is not the utility function of a random actually-existing agent.

• A utility function with maxentropy content. That is, a random utility function is not one that independently assigns a uniform random value between 0 and 1 to every distinguishable outcome. (This utility function would not be tractable to optimize for—we couldn’t optimize it ourselves even if somebody paid us—so it’s not covered by e.g. the Orthogonality Thesis.)