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Can We Avoid a Digital Apocalypse?

Sam Harris [6.7.15]

A response to the 2015 Edge question.

It seems increasingly likely that we will one day build machines that possess superhuman intelligence. We need only continue to produce better computers—which we will, unless we destroy ourselves or meet our end some other way. We already know that it is possible for mere matter to acquire “general intelligence”—the ability to learn new concepts and employ them in unfamiliar contexts—because the 1,200 cc of salty porridge inside our heads has managed it. There is no reason to believe that a suitably advanced digital computer couldn’t do the same. ...

Can We Avoid a Digital Apocalypse? [1]

Related Content: 

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MACHINES THAT THINK? [2]

News From: 

The Daily Beast [3]
Sam Harris [4]
Read the full article → [5]
[ Sun. Jun. 7. 2015 ]

A response to the 2015 Edge [6] question.

It seems increasingly likely that we will one day build machines that possess superhuman intelligence. We need only continue to produce better computers—which we will, unless we destroy ourselves or meet our end some other way. We already know that it is possible for mere matter to acquire “general intelligence”—the ability to learn new concepts and employ them in unfamiliar contexts—because the 1,200 cc of salty porridge inside our heads has managed it. There is no reason to believe that a suitably advanced digital computer couldn’t do the same. ...

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Links:
[1] https://www.edge.org/news/can-we-avoid-a-digital-apocalypse
[2] https://www.edge.org/annual-question/what-do-you-think-about-machines-that-think
[3] http://www.thedailybeast.com/
[4] https://www.edge.org/memberbio/sam_harris
[5] http://thebea.st/1AUrptb
[6] http://edge.org/