Sorry but anyone who actually thinks AI will take over the world is dumb. It is already hard enough to make a machine that can recognize simple patterns, much less have the understanding to see another entity as a threat. Even when the day does come when machines are smarter than humans, which is a long way off, numerous safeguards will be put in place. I just wish someone would have told that to these old physicists before they decided to make themselves look silly and write this article.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/stephen-hawking-transcendence-looks-at-the-implications-of-artificial-intelligence--but-are-we-taking-ai-seriously-enough-9313474.html



[Edited on May 18, 2014 at 1:03 AM. Reason : boom shaka laka laka laka laka... boom]

5/18/2014 1:02:36 AM

5/18/2014 1:06:56 AM

The things machine learning have been used for in production were unthinkable 15 years ago, they just seep in slowly enough that people (like you apparently) don't notice them. It's the classic boiling a frog analogy.

I suspect the groups pushing this research forward want to stay under the radar to keep people from meddling. They don't want what happened to stem cell research to happen to AI research.

I don't foresee the nanotechnology breakthroughs coming as quickly, but the AI revolution shows every sign of being here in accordance with kurzweils and Others' expectations (~2030).

The danger is less that the computers will want to eliminate humanity, and more in how humans treat each other in the face of significantly less demand for human labor. Will people who have been hoarding money and resources share those fairly, or force others to live in squalor? This is by far the biggest threat of AI.

5/18/2014 1:11:59 AM

is he afraid that his chair and voicebox are going to become self-aware?

5/18/2014 1:14:20 AM

Ok no. The leap from 15 years ago to now is nothing compared to the leap that is required to go from now to AN ARMY OF MURDEROUS ROBOTS. The boiling frog analogy doesn't apply here. Especially when the frog in this case is the one doing the research (setting the temperature). Also we can only control what humans will do with the technology so much, but does that mean we should avoid it? No. The good will far outweigh the bad.

5/18/2014 1:20:57 AM

says Data... o_O

5/18/2014 1:26:20 AM

I think it's likely, if they had the choice, machines would choose to cooperate with or care for us humans. They would recognize our existence as a "plan b" if they fail, and we will always be great at creativity I believe as well.

So if you're saying you don't believe we have to murderous robots, I agree, but on the basis robots will choose not to murder us, not on the basis they won't have the ability.

I think there are many scientists too that aren't against the idea of robots supplanting humans, becoming our legacy to the universe. They will have been made in our image and carry this legacy for millennia and longer. They will be humanity's offspring, in a way.

5/18/2014 1:27:23 AM

True. Well I'm not saying they won't have the ability so much as I'm saying they won't have the motivation (or the ability to have the motivation, if that makes sense). And I think letting machines carry on our legacy is a good idea in the long long run.

5/18/2014 1:32:20 AM

i mean we have the three laws to keep us safe. i'm not worried.

5/18/2014 12:26:39 PM

yeah neo will protect us

5/18/2014 1:16:03 PM

i'm more worried about the swarm of murderbots currently darkening our skies controlled by people.
the sentient computer will always immediately realize the futility of it's existence and lower itself into a river of molten steel

5/18/2014 1:21:43 PM

haha, well put

5/18/2014 2:12:25 PM

I would welcome a humans-vs.-machines war, or any other apocalyptic scenario

so I'm not worried

5/18/2014 3:24:57 PM

i've been actively rooting for a giant x class solar flare to come barreling our way for the last decade anyway so nothing will really change for me

[Edited on May 19, 2014 at 3:42 AM. Reason : d]

5/19/2014 3:35:41 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOhnKIVLzOw



I'm not worried, because he's got my back

5/19/2014 7:45:40 AM

Yeah we'll see what those machines think when this guy sicks his lion hands on them for fucking with humanity.

5/19/2014 10:40:08 AM