Artificial Super Intelligence: Are We Nearing a Point of No Return?

Topic:

In this seminar, we will explore the state of artificial intelligence.

Readings:

1. The AI Revolution: The Road to Superintelligence by Tim Urban

2. The Singularity Isn’t Near by Paul Allen

3. Review: Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control by Thomas A. Hemphill

4. OPTIONAL: The Quest to Upload Your Mind Into the Digital Space by Jerry Adler

5. OPTIONAL: The AI Revolution: Our Immortality or Extinction by Tim Urban

6. OPTIONAL: We’ve Put a Worm’s Mind in a Lego Robot’s Body by Marissa Fessenden

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you interpret the difference between Artificial Narrow Intelligence and Artificial General Intelligence?

2. As our world moves from a society run on Artificial Narrow Intelligence towards one where Artificial General Intelligence is possible, how will daily life change? What will Human-Level Artificial Intelligence look like for us?

3. Think of the graph in the first reading that charts time’s effect on human progress. How close are we to the point of singularity?

4. Artificial Intelligence both scares and fascinates me. What are your predominant emotions that you are experiencing during these readings?