[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TWilliam', 'W')hat I see as the biggest challenge to the concept of the Singularity is this: what if in fact the mystical traditions are correct and what we define as matter is a byproduct of Consciousness, rather than Consciousness being a byproduct of matter? Brain being a manifestation of mind rather than mind being a manifestation of brain, in other words? What then of the idea of conscious machines?

[Carlhole]

Global Catastrophic Risks Conference
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Reason Online', 'T')his week the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University, headed by bioprogressive philosopher Nick Bostrom, is convening a conference on Global Catastrophic Risks. The Institute's work focuses on how radical technological developments such as nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and life-extension treatments will affect the human condition. One of the Institute's research programs is global catastrophic risks which mulls questions like: What are the biggest threats to global civilization and human well-being? Will the human species survive the 21st century?

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', 'T')he people who are interested in the singularity idea are extremely bright people. They are not living under rocks. They are aware of all the arguments that the peak oil crowd and others have put forth about declining petroleum production and the limits of Earth's mineral and ecological resources...

[Carlhole]

Usually, in science, you posit a theory and then use it to make a prediction.

To say that technological progress MUST stop is mere gibberish until you make some concrete prediction about it.

Everyone can plainly see that the rate of technological progress is increasing as never before. Some really wild things are in a nascent stage. One only has to extrapolate a little to see that the direction the rapid technological advances are taking us is towards a mind-blowing future.

Until you can show that technology is slowing or stopping according to your own prognosis, I'm afraid you're completely full of sh*t.

[pedalling_faster]

like computers, AI is an useful tool.

there was something about the transition to DDR400 in 2003, that is a kind of memory computers used in the 2003-2004 time period, that really struck me ... i look at a computer motherboard, with the DDR400 computer memory, i see AI, "this thing is going to be smarter than us people". in 10 years, 20 years, whatever.

so it is a subject for interesting conferences, provides employement at the Stanford AI center, maybe will lead to a phpBB forum software that loads the forums i usually read at PO.com.

but - so what ?

we do not have shortage of energy, we have shortage of cooperation.

the initial uses of AI, a reflection of one of the primary funding sources : for the US military.

having the US military, given their recent track record, since 2003, since 1963, since 1898, however you count, smarter weapons does not strike me as a step forward.

the electronics industry has a caveman approach to controlling waste products from manufacturing - move production to Tijuana, dump the waste in the river.

as long as the electronic hardware which facilitates AI is manufactured in a way that makes the Earth less sustainable - how is AI helping us ?

it just highlights an irony - human beings are smart enough to make fast computers, but so stupid they make their living place unliveable with pollution.

[Carlhole]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pedalling_faster', 'b')ut - so what ? we do not have shortage of energy, we have shortage of cooperation.
the initial uses of AI, a reflection of one of the primary funding sources : for the US military.
having the US military, given their recent track record, since 2003, since 1963, since 1898, however you count, smarter weapons does not strike me as a step forward.
the electronics industry has a caveman approach to controlling waste products from manufacturing - move production to Tijuana, dump the waste in the river. as long as the electronic hardware which facilitates AI is manufactured in a way that makes the Earth less sustainable - how is AI helping us?
it just highlights an irony - human beings are smart enough to make fast computers, but so stupid they make their living place unliveable with pollution.

[Carlhole]

[align=center][flash width=425 height=350]http://www.youtube.com/v/9PWXrnsSrf0[/flash][/align]

Ray Kurzweil (pt1of3) The Singularity Summit at Stanford 2006

[Carlhole]

Whatever it was that Golem said (he's on my 'ignore' list), I can guarantee that it was utter gibberish.

Golem... If you don't mind... Please stay out of my threads. Your blithering comments aren't welcome. I stay out of your threads so... fair enough.

[outcast]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')hat is correct under presumption that a dieoff would proceed in environment where those doomed ones would curl up and die quietly singing Kumbayah meantime. In real world however dieoff will take a shape of string of worldwide genocidal wars where technology development centers will become one of primary targets of mass destruction weapons and enemy scientists an important group of those to be exterminated.

[gampy]

I am somewhat familiar with this idea of the "Singularity".

It's certainly an interesting premise. Shades of Terminator, notwithstanding.

I think some of the folk here are sceptical because they are thinking in terms of human intelligence.
Intelligence comes in various degrees, and flavours, I would say. Some of it is obvious, a lot of it is not.

This singularity may resemble a hive, or insect type of intelligence.

Or more likely, something so alien, and inconceivable, because the human mind is just that. Human. It perceives reality, and other intelligences through the prism of it's evolutionary, and biological constraints.

I can see it happening, but I wonder if our high energy society has enough time left to make it a reality. I wonder what
The Singularity would think of peak-oil, and environmental degradation, and climate change.

Proabably what Agent Smith thought. Cancer. Humans are a cancer. A disease. Most likely terminal.

Time for some chemo, and radiation.

[Carlhole]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gampy', 'I') am somewhat familiar with this idea of the "Singularity".

It's certainly an interesting premise. Shades of Terminator, notwithstanding.

I think some of the folk here are sceptical because they are thinking in terms of human intelligence.
Intelligence comes in various degrees, and flavours, I would say. Some of it is obvious, a lot of it is not.

This singularity may resemble a hive, or insect type of intelligence.

Or more likely, something so alien, and inconceivable, because the human mind is just that. Human. It perceives reality, and other intelligences through the prism of it's evolutionary, and biological constraints.

I can see it happening, but I wonder if our high energy society has enough time left to make it a reality. I wonder what
The Singularity would think of peak-oil, and environmental degradation, and climate change.

Proabably what Agent Smith thought. Cancer. Humans are a cancer. A disease. Most likely terminal.

Time for some chemo, and radiation.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', 'U')sually, in science, you posit a theory and then use it to make a prediction.

To say that technological progress MUST stop is mere gibberish until you make some concrete prediction about it.

[EnergyUnlimited]

Discussion of Carlhole's quote:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')tatistician I. J. Good first wrote of an "intelligence explosion", suggesting that if machines could even slightly surpass human intellect, they could improve their own designs in ways unforeseen by their designers, and thus recursively augment themselves into far greater intelligences.

[Carlhole]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', 'O')nce consumerism is gone your wonder items will be of little use.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '
')I'm posting about something that some very high-calibre people have gotten behind. These are people who are well aware of subjects such as peak oil theory, resource constraints, overpopulation, ecological destruction and so forth.

[Carlhole]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '
')I'm posting about something that some very high-calibre people have gotten behind. These are people who are well aware of subjects such as peak oil theory, resource constraints, overpopulation, ecological destruction and so forth.

[TWilliam]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', 'E')veryone can plainly see that the rate of technological progress is increasing as never before.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '
') It's a very narrow-minded person who does not believe that accomplished, credentialed people have any credibility.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TWilliam', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', 'E')veryone can plainly see that the rate of technological progress is increasing as never before.

[comerbund]

10 Print('Ask me any question.");
20 Input(A);
30 Print a;(' is too easy, next?');
40 Print 'I am smarter than Einstein anyway.');
50 Print(' The answer to what is Pi is;';
60 I = 1;
70 I = I+1;
80 print((I*7/22)+12;
90 If I < 32147 then go to 70;
100 goto 60;


there is machine intelligence. You can make it complex, you can make it act smart, but no one will believe it until it becomes extremely complex, but it still won't be alive.

How do I know?

Because if they made an exact duplicate of your brain in new york, and started it running, you would not know that they were doing it, therefore it is not you.

Engrams stored is just a lie, it won't be you.

What it will be is a lie to get you to believe it IS you so they can put you down and you THINK you will be alive in a computer somewhere, when you wont be.

this whole topic is all about how big a shyster can you be.