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Should we be considering coding ‘kindness’ into Artificial Intelligence?
There are countless examples of humanity envisaging a deus ex machina come to either usher in a technological utopia or wreak unmitigated destruction. At the end of Terminator 3, artificial intelligence becomes self-aware and acts to eliminate its primary threat – humanity. In I, Robot a similarly advanced artificial intelligence (AI) attempts to sequestrate humanity for its own good, avoiding further human-on-human conflict. While most prominent scientists agreed at a 2009 conference to discuss the possibilities of futurism that such far-fetched scenarios were unlikely, concerns were voiced about humanity’s lack of capacity to respond to super-intelligent, possibly self-aware AIs. It’s a big issue – such AIs have been the focus of developmental research for decades and many scientists believe that they are an imminent reality.
We’re going to take a brief look at the possible sources of such a super-intelligent AI, and consider some of the features scientists suggest it might have – for better or for worse.
The Internet
The Internet ticks lots of boxes for becoming a human-esque AI, and has in the past been a source of much discussion on the topic. The possibility that the entity or technology you use when searching for laptop deals, Broadband and phone deals or the next meal voucher might become ‘emergently self-aware’ warrants consideration.
Such consideration, however, only needs to be brief – the Internet is lacking some key features that set it up as a possible future threat. For one, it is – in the most part – not autonomous. That is, it needs human input to thrive. Also, it’s not directed – it has no coherent structure that can be used to cognize a particular task. So, most scientists agree that the Internet is unlikely to evolve in to an uncontrollable AI.
Speech-recognition software
Have you used Siri before? It’s Apple tech, and though results can be a bit spotty on the whole it’s demonstrative of a field that’s been evolving for a long time – the art of computer speech recognition. At the same time, it’s a bit unnerving – some of the things Siri says can touch a uniquely human nerve. The blind insensitivity can be amusing – but do we want to retain that biting edge if Siri gets much more competent?
Scientists in particular have voiced concerns about the evolution of speech-synthesis software in conjunction with developing speech-recognition. What could a criminal do with a machine that can understand and replicate any human’s speech? Moreover, how easy would it be to take charge of a malignant AI able to fully integrate itself into human society? Movies in which the good guys are chasing shapeshifters come to mind. As our society increasingly moves towards the digital, how would we be able to tell human from machine?
We’re really just breaking the surface of the possibilities for future AI. Conferences similar to those that took place around DNA manipulation in the 70s are drawing up similar ethical standards to which computer scientists may be compelled to adhere. The US Navy is drawing up similar standards for its autonomous weaponry – capable of killing without human interference, or compunction. The key question now is ‘should we be coding some form of ‘kindness’, or ‘humanity’ in to machines?’. In my mind, our futurist scenarios assume some element of humanity on the behalf of any of these AIs – what may emerge from our technological dabbling may not adhere to any of the psychological rules we profess to understand.
What do you think?
Source: http://www.tekgoblin.com/2012/07/15/should-we-be-considering-coding-kindness-in-to-artificial-intelligence/
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Founded by Russian entrepreneur Dmitry Itskov in February 2011 with the participation of leading Russian specialists in the field of neural interfaces, robotics, artificial organs and systems.
The main goals of the 2045 Initiative: the creation and realization of a new strategy for the development of humanity which meets global civilization challenges; the creation of optimale conditions promoting the spiritual enlightenment of humanity; and the realization of a new futuristic reality based on 5 principles: high spirituality, high culture, high ethics, high science and high technologies.
The main science mega-project of the 2045 Initiative aims to create technologies enabling the transfer of a individual’s personality to a more advanced non-biological carrier, and extending life, including to the point of immortality. We devote particular attention to enabling the fullest possible dialogue between the world’s major spiritual traditions, science and society.
A large-scale transformation of humanity, comparable to some of the major spiritual and sci-tech revolutions in history, will require a new strategy. We believe this to be necessary to overcome existing crises, which threaten our planetary habitat and the continued existence of humanity as a species. With the 2045 Initiative, we hope to realize a new strategy for humanity's development, and in so doing, create a more productive, fulfilling, and satisfying future.
The "2045" team is working towards creating an international research center where leading scientists will be engaged in research and development in the fields of anthropomorphic robotics, living systems modeling and brain and consciousness modeling with the goal of transferring one’s individual consciousness to an artificial carrier and achieving cybernetic immortality.
An annual congress "The Global Future 2045" is organized by the Initiative to give platform for discussing mankind's evolutionary strategy based on technologies of cybernetic immortality as well as the possible impact of such technologies on global society, politics and economies of the future.
Future prospects of "2045" Initiative for society
2015-2020
The emergence and widespread use of affordable android "avatars" controlled by a "brain-computer" interface. Coupled with related technologies “avatars’ will give people a number of new features: ability to work in dangerous environments, perform rescue operations, travel in extreme situations etc.
Avatar components will be used in medicine for the rehabilitation of fully or partially disabled patients giving them prosthetic limbs or recover lost senses.
2020-2025
Creation of an autonomous life-support system for the human brain linked to a robot, ‘avatar’, will save people whose body is completely worn out or irreversibly damaged. Any patient with an intact brain will be able to return to a fully functioning bodily life. Such technologies will greatly enlarge the possibility of hybrid bio-electronic devices, thus creating a new IT revolution and will make all kinds of superimpositions of electronic and biological systems possible.
2030-2035
Creation of a computer model of the brain and human consciousness with the subsequent development of means to transfer individual consciousness onto an artificial carrier. This development will profoundly change the world, it will not only give everyone the possibility of cybernetic immortality but will also create a friendly artificial intelligence, expand human capabilities and provide opportunities for ordinary people to restore or modify their own brain multiple times. The final result at this stage can be a real revolution in the understanding of human nature that will completely change the human and technical prospects for humanity.
2045
This is the time when substance-independent minds will receive new bodies with capacities far exceeding those of ordinary humans. A new era for humanity will arrive! Changes will occur in all spheres of human activity – energy generation, transportation, politics, medicine, psychology, sciences, and so on.
Today it is hard to imagine a future when bodies consisting of nanorobots will become affordable and capable of taking any form. It is also hard to imagine body holograms featuring controlled matter. One thing is clear however: humanity, for the first time in its history, will make a fully managed evolutionary transition and eventually become a new species. Moreover, prerequisites for a large-scale expansion into outer space will be created as well.
Key elements of the project in the future
• International social movement
• social network immortal.me
• charitable foundation "Global Future 2045" (Foundation 2045)
• scientific research centre "Immortality"
• business incubator
• University of "Immortality"
• annual award for contribution to the realization of the project of "Immortality”.
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