ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

 

At a time when people seem to be getting dumber and dumber, Artificial Intelligence is needed more and more. 

Let me clarify that statement:

We tend to laud our achievements: that we have developed technology and modern medicine, and we have sent men into space; but 98% of us have done fuck all.  Two percent of our population (the bright 2%)  have envisioned and actually made these advancements, while the rest of us have been dragged along, often kicking and screaming. 

For the last two or three years, I have been hearing about AI (artificial intelligence), but only vaguely understanding what all the hype was about. 

I just finished reading The Age of AI, by Kissinger, Schmidt, and Huttenlocher, and still didn’t get my basic questions answered. 

I don’t actually give a fuck about the history, the math, or the philosophy of AI and humanity.   But to sate my curiosity, I would like some simple answers.

My questions are basic:

·       Does AI think

·       How is AI programmed

·       How does AI learn

·       Can AI teach itself

·       Can AI experience

·       Can AI become self-aware (alive)

·       Will AI lie to us

·       When we think of Singularity as in The Matrix, will AI intelligence expand exponentially – become god-like

·        Will AI ever be able to write its on codes – no need for human input

·       Can’t we just unplug AI if it becomes too controlling

·       What about power consumption

·       How will it be used in war: make a decision on its on to kill humans

·       What are the positive aspects that might outweigh the danger of a machine that is smarter than its creator

I have found some of these answers on YouTube in the following Star Talk clip that includes input from Jeffrey Hinton, the Nobel Prize recipient in Physics.

Unless you are interested in the concept, history, and mathematical concepts, I suggest you fast forward (select to begin) at the thirty-five-minute mark of the presentation. 

Note: the constant ad interjections are aggravating, but hang in there.

 

One of the statements that stood out to me was that AI's relationship with humans might become that of a teacher to a kindergarten class.

the Ol'Buzzard