5 replies to this topic

[jroseland]

Next week on the LongecityNow Podcast we will be interview author and documentary filmmaker James Barrat. James wrote one of the top transhumanist titles on Amazon Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era, he predicts that "In as little as a decade, AI could match and then surpass human intelligence..."

Leave any other questions you would like asked below.

[jroseland]

I gotta question for this interview...

 

Isn't techno pessimism just something for sci-fi blockbusters and superstitious fear mongers? Consistently, modern cultures of greater intelligence try to take care of cultures of lesser intelligence, why would we surmise that super AI wouldn't do the same?

[niner]

I'd like to hear what he has to say about the prospect of AI taking over many "knowledge worker" jobs that used to be the province of human workers.  Between AI and robotics, a lot of people see a future of massive human unemployment.  Does he agree with such predictions?

[Mind]

I am going to ask him if he thinks tinkering with the brain and/or uploading consciousness will result in losing our "grip" on subjective reality as individuals.

[Mind]

File Name: LongeCityNow_James_Barrat2015.mp3

File Submitter: Mind

File Submitted: 15 Nov 2015

File Category: Podcasts

Guest: James Barrat

In this podcast hear James Barrat discuss the perils of artificial intelligence as well as some ideas to move safely forward in this field of human endeavor.

Click here to download this file

[Mind]

If the most recent interview with Andy and Kay Walker was techno-optimist, then this interview with James Barrat will balance things out a bit - talking about the dangers of artificial intelligence.

 

He mentions technological unemployment in regards to Uber. He mentions that Uber wants to take drivers out of the equation (use self-driving cars). When he talks about this he sounds rather negative about Uber. Sure, traditional taxis and drivers might be out of work, however, there are benefits. Uber's platform is ultimately more efficient for getting people where they want to go (thus helping the environment). Self-driving Uber taxis will always be ready and will rarely get into accidents. In a self-driving vehicle, there is no driver-passenger crime or abuse either.

 

He also shared some surprising information about Google's artificial intelligence ethics board as well.