The Singularity, AI + the Future of Humanity, and Why You Should Pay Attention

If you invent a breakthrough in artificial intelligence, so machines can learn, that is worth 10 Microsofts. --Bill Gates

This past weekend I was invited by Bruce Klein to attend not only the 2007 Singularity Summit, but the  pre-Summit cocktail party at the home of Peter Thiel in San Francisco's Marina district. While, admittedly, I had previously lacked a deep knowledge of The Singularity, I did understand this: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Future of Humanity was something that I needed to pay attention to, and learn more about.

And that, I did. Gratefully so. From the brief conversations I had with several of the speakers at the cocktail party (thanks to Susan Fonseca-Klein for gracefully leading the way) to the intense education I received during the Summit's first day, I realized the extreme importance of AI, how it affects and relates to our future, and present, and how important it is that others gain an understanding -- and why they should pay attention, too.

In its simplest definition, the Singularity is "the technological creation of smarter-than-human intelligence." As MIT's Dr. Rodney Brooks explains,

The singularity period will encompass a time where a collection of technologies were invented, developed and deployed in fits and starts, driven not by the imperative of singularity itself, but by the normal economic and sociological pressures of human affairs.

This, then, summarizes the reason I have made this a priority:

it seems like a good guess that many supporters of the Singularity have in common a sense of being present at a critical moment in history; of having the chance to win a victory for humanity by making the right choices for the right reasons. Like a spectator at the dawn of human intelligence, trying to answer directly why superintelligence matters chokes on a dozen different simultaneous replies; what matters is the entire future growing out of that beginning.

As Seth Godin once said, "it is the edges that people stand in line. It is the edges where people notice you." Singularity, then, is the fringes. And it is in the fringes where the few 'see' and act on the present future. It is in the fringes where most, because it is so foreign, can't 'see' it - and turn away.

In the coming days and weeks, I will continue posting on this topic, the speakers, and the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence. I will also continue my education, and share what I learn, here. For more interesting coverage, see the AP, Wired, Forbes, and bloggers Renee Blodgett (great seeing her again), Dan Farber, the Daily Galaxy and Betterhumans.

 

Comments

[watch my wife]

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Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be
rich and continue to help others.

[Tracy Sheridan]

Taratuta342,

Your first question is the same that I asked of several speakers, prior to the conference.

Dr. Rodney Brooks, MIT Professor of Robotics, answered with his own question: do you think in 1783, when the creation of aviation was proven successful by manned flights of the hot air balloon, that they could even imagine, lest predict what the future of aviation would bring?

Dr. Brooks' point to me was strong: we cannot predict, we cannot put a timeline on this.

Indeed, I believe it is already here: virtual worlds (SL), Mirror Worlds (Google Earth), nanotechnology and so on.

I echo your closing statement and would add that, in order to make that happen (use AI properly, and understand it before we release it to the world), more of us must become involved. It is our future.

(IMO A good opportunity for that is OpenCog.org - the open source community for AI, to be launched in 2008.)

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[Tracy Sheridan]

Seb,

You are absolutely correct. From what I see, and surely a major influence on my attending the conference, the mission of the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence is to explore both beneficial and ethical advancements in AI. Positive AI.

You point out an indirect, likely unintentional benefit to the advancement of AI: the power of the human spirit. I think you will like the message of Paul Saffo, about which I'll blog, shortly.

Always good to hear from you.

[Seb Zar]

Artificial intelligence certainly has the potential to be a menace if not controled properly, in the other hand it could represent a major step forward for the human kind.
My guess is that AI will make a lot of room for the area on which it can't be useful. What are these areas ? Everything related with emotions, feelings.. I'm thinking about the words creation, artistic expression, spirituality.
People are concerned about the intellect, although the spirit predominates in our lives. AI will make everybody understand that.
We won't be separate anymore.
Peace
( thoughts of an artistic distorted brain at 6AM just after meditation ;)

[Taratuta342]

This conference you attended may have brought insight to The Singularity, but do these people ever have an idea of when this time will occur?

Some believe it could happen as soon as 5 years, 10 being more likely, while others are still on the fence about creating better than human intelligence.

Will science continue to create A.I. even if there is a public outcry for, 'Playing God?'

I think that artificial intelligence could greatly benefit mankind, as long as we use it properly, and understand it before we release it to the world.