Technological singularity?

[Trar]

Over the past month or so I've come across a number of works that had to do with the possibility of a technological singularity. That thing that scientists say is going to happen sooner or later where an artificial intelligence becomes smarter than humanity and possibly becomes self-sufficient.

And I'm a bit worried about the implications. If we fuck this up, we as a species stand a good chance of dying. I see a Matrix-like scenario as close to extinction, FYI.

So what do you lot think? How are we going to deal with this? Because I...am not entirely sure myself. Scientists say human history will become hard to predict or even envision after the singularity and I think they're right.

Also: the stuff I played/read:

Emdgame: Singularity, a strategy game where you play the AI.

Friendship is Optimal, where the singularity is ponies. It's a better read than you think.

The Infinite Ocean, brilliant point-and-click game/adventure about the first AI coming alive. Among other things.

[brainiac3397]

I hope to God it's not the military that has control over a computer that reaches awareness.

The military does stupid stuff when it doesn't know what to do. That's how Skynet was born. That and the fact that one of the creators was pretty much a misanthropic son of a bitch.

[Gwedin]

I hope we never develop an AI smart enough to think for itself. But of course, I do want robots dominating the work force...

Agh, such conflicting thoughts are best left for tonight.

[brainiac3397]

I want to be the one to create an AI capable of thinking itself...then merge my own personality into it.

Would be an eccentric and somewhat quirky AI...but benevolent. That is after achieving world domination. My ambitions are pretty mighty.

[Trar]

Just don't fuck up like the GOP and I'd probably be alright with your rule.

[brainiac3397]

I dun know.

If someone spills tea during a party...I might become illogically radical.

[Potato]

humans will go extinct regardless of whether or not we develope super intelligent AI. if we survive long enough, the simple drift of our gene pool will turn us into a different species even if natural selection stopped completely, and that's if we don't kill all of us through war or get whipped out by natural disasters. and i don't think it would be a bad thing if we could create the beginning of a better life form than us before we go. but honestly i don't give a fuq what happens after i die as a person so i don't give a fuq about the future of humanity. however if AI took over the planet within my lifetime THEN i would be pissed... unless if i've been turned into a robot myself, which would be awesome.

but on the topic of the singularity and technological progress in general, i agree with peter thiel's position, which is that progress has slowed down in all areas of technology except computers and our trajectory doesn't seem to be heading towards a singularity any time soon



but in the short term, i think we'll see a huge wave of technological unemployment wash over us, with low skill jobs becoming automated by machines like this http://momentummachines.com/

and work hours per week will probably decrease dramatically because of it, employers will probably be forced by the government to hire more people with this kind of laws http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/35-hour_workweek

the teaching profession will be dead within the century, replaced by the internet, because it's a low skill job that can be automated (give lecture, grade assignments)

[Trar]

Yes, there's a problem on the horizon with regards to employment. We need to figure out how to let machines work for us instead of just replacing us. I did a bit of reading on this a while back and one of the conclusions I remember was something about everyone working working for shorter periods of time, aided by robots.

[brainiac3397]

Or just let them replace us and let nature take it's course.

Humans are adaptable creatures. They'll figure something out.

Maybe even not need to work. If a robot works more efficiently without much costs(no benefits, no breaks, no sick days, no vacation, no overtime pay), and business owners don't decide to gobble up all the profits(meaning there'll have to be laws passed), it's possible that people can simply get paychecks from the government(probably state govt).

We can have a socialist utopia!

Then again nothing is ever ideal, and I still need to clear up some stuff on this theory because it's pretty unrefined. It's just a thought I had saved in the back of my mind.

[Trar]

I'm not sure about a non-work society, honestly. Besides, someone has to maintain and manufacture the robots. And I'd rather not live in a singularity to achieve either of those two ends. Not even if it were ponies.

(That's another great story by the way.)

[brainiac3397]

I didn't mean not everyone work.

I only meant those plebians that got their menial labor jobs taken over by robots.

[Trar]

Yeah, see, we could let the robots augment menial-level work instead of replacing the human element entirely.

[Trar]

Did a bit more reading. Depending on how things turn out (we've already permanently lost jobs from the recession that were automated), we could end up with a mostly work-free society. Which doesn't sound terrible.

And I still think that at least the technology that could go towards a singularity is fast-approaching, within a number of decades or so.

[brainiac3397]

Fat and lazy?

HALLELUJAH!

[Trar]

(03-14-2014 09:35 AM)brainiac3397 Wrote:  Fat and lazy?

HALLELUJAH!

Eh.

I'm thinking that in an ideal no-work society people would pursue their interests. Maybe there would still be voluntary work. I don't entirely support a work-free society, but I do think with increasing automation and the value of time itself, we could do with a re-evaluation of work's place in society. Maybe simply less work would be better overall.

[brainiac3397]

Too many people these days are incapable of healthy existence without the monotonous tasks of life, pressed upon them by society.

It'd take a while and good deal of "re-education" to get a proper society for such a period.

Basically a social evolution.

[Trar]

(03-15-2014 09:51 AM)brainiac3397 Wrote:  Too many people these days are incapable of healthy existence without the monotonous tasks of life, pressed upon them by society.

It'd take a while and good deal of "re-education" to get a proper society for such a period.

Basically a social evolution.

I can agree with that. Part of the effort would involve changing views. Again, I don't exactly support an effort-free society, but it's a definite possibility in the far future. And that's not to say it would eliminate all problems.

[KFC Nyan Cat]

Effortless society.... I hate smartphones because they are the first step in that direction.

[Gwedin]

Effortless = good, as far as I'm concerned.

[Potato]

I hate effortless, I prefer stress

[KFC Nyan Cat]

I actually think that anything good takes effort. Work is good because it's what makes life......life.

School is terrible because it's UNREWARDED work.

[brainiac3397]

Work can be hobby work, or luxury work. Not just work work.

[Potato]

Some people just can't think properly

[Gwedin]

e.g. Potato.

[Potato]

No, I'm right about things way more often than some of the other people here

[Gwedin]

Maybe. But that would just imply that they're even worse at thinking. :|

[Potato]

Obviously

[sswbm]

Stupid anthropism. Say hello to the new kinds of creatures!

[Dikont5]

In my opinion, a technological singularity would easily come and take over the majority of the human race. Why? Because all I see people doing now is spending 10+ hours on their five hundred dollar smartphone from Apple or a one thousand dollar computer from Microsoft. We'll be enslaved unless we stop technology from taking over everyone at the basic level. I basically mean that we need to stop being dependent on our electronic devices. Moderation is key if we are to prevent the technological singularity.

[brainiac3397]

Technological addiction isnt a sign of singularity. Singularity forms when the human becomes outdated by the machine.