“By far the greatest danger of Artificial Intelligence is that people conclude too early that they understand it.” –Eliezer Yudkowsky
Just two weeks after the first Emotion AI Summit–an event that might not have been possible even a year ago–there is an explosion of news around artificial intelligence. The sum of the stories might best be described by the subtitle of my other blog: ridiculous and sublime. As sure as there is the potential to use new technology for both good and evil, there is also the likelihood that someone will use it, well, to be just plain silly. So here is the good, the bad, and the positively daft. And be sure to check out the Seeking Delphi™ Podcast on the Emotion AI Summit, if you missed it last week.
Artificial Intelligence/Robotics–A prominent Silicon Valley CEO has made a very direct prediction regarding the future progress of AI. Jim Breyer, CEO of Breyer Capital, said in a CNBC interview that artificial intelligence will be able to learn on a par with humans by 2050.
–Current specific AI uses for security-related applications are on the rise. At least three of these uses came to light in the last few days. These include an effort in Brazil to monitor electric power use and detect theft or meter fraud, the possible detection and prevention of power grid disruptions by the U.S. Department of Energy, and a news scanning bot that collects data on police shooting nationwide.
–As for those silly uses of AI, consider a British company that has brought to market a sex robot that tells jokes–for a sticker shock inducing $4500.00, and the Japanese (who else?) have invented a robodog that can sniff your feet and tell you if they smell bad. (Doesn’t everything smell good to a dog?)
Meet Samantha, the joke-telling sexbot.
–Almost on cue for the above story, researchers at Columbia Engineering Machine Labs have revealed that they have created a 3D printed silicon robot muscle that closely resembles real human muscles, but is several times stronger.
-Vladimir Putin has more to say about artificial intelligence. A few weeks back he said that whomever controls artificial intelligence will control the world. Now he’s warning–get this–artificially intelligent robots might eat us. Sorry for the spoiler alert, but in Will Mitchell’s sci-fi novel, Creations, they sort of do.
—A new report by the World Economic Forum projects the global market for artificial intelligence will grow at a compound rate of over %17, to annual value of US$14 Billion by 2023. It also spews the now commonplace doom and gloom about job displacement.
—An editorial in Wired magazine suggests that an ethical watchdog for artificial intelligence is desperately needed. Actually, IEEE is working on one, and the head of the effort will be on an upcoming edition of the Seeking Delphi™ podcast. (See coming attractions, below)
Biotech/Transhumanism—The journal Science has reported that neuroscientists in Lyon, France have partially restored consciousness to a man who had been in a vegetative state for the past 15 years. Can that sci-fi deep state hibernation be far behind?
Coming Attractions–Up next on the Seeking Delphi™ podcast will be futurist Dr. Linda Groff on her upcoming book on options for future human evolution. Also keep an eye out for the ethics of artificial intelligence, with Heartificial Intelligence author John C. Havens.
A reminder that the Seeking Delphi™ podcast is available on iTunes, PlayerFM, blubrry , and has a channel on YouTube. You can also follow us on Facebook.
Groff, who joins me as my guest on this episode of Seeking Delphi.™
Seeking Delphi™ 