If the machine predicts that you will take both Boxes A and B, Box B will be empty. But if the machine predicts that you will take Box B only, then Box B will contain $1,000,000,000. The machine has already done it’s prediction and the contents of box B has already been set. Which box/boxes do you take?

To reiterate, you choices are:

-Box A and B

-Box B only

(“Box A only” is not an option because no one is that stupid lol)

Please explain your reasoning.

My answer is:

spoiler

I mean I’d choose Box B only, I’d just gamble on the machine being right. If the machine is wrong, I’ll break that thing.

This is based on Newcomb’s Paradox (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcomb’s_paradox), but I increased the money to make it more interesting.

  • autumn@reddthat.comEnglish
    4·
    1 year ago

    Does the machine know that box is not an option? Thinking that A, A+B, and B are all valid options is something I could see an AI doing.

    There also isn’t much penalty for taking A+B? You’ll always get at least $1M. And if you took only B, the max you could get is $1M.

    Edit: I can’t read lol. I’d still take both, the result is

    Predicted A+B: $1M

    Predicted B only: $1001M

    If you only take box B, the result is

    Predicted A+B: $0

    Predicted B only: $1000M

    • Is This Lemmy Open?@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      41·
      1 year ago

      I think the machine predicts 2 results, either

      Box A is taken = True

      OR

      Box A is taken = False

      Something like:

      If (Box A Taken = True)
{place ($0) in Box B}
else
{place ($1,000,000,000) in Box B}

      Machine doesnt care if you also take Box B, it only cares if Box A is one of the boxes taken. If you take no boxes, Box B would still have a billion dollars, although thats kinda dumb choice from a gameshow host’s perspective.