The Singularity

Part 2

(Super)Intelligence vs Cognition

• Intelligence:
  - Capacity for learning, reasoning
  - Faculty of understanding

• Cognition:
  - Mental process needed to carry out a task. Process of thought or learning/knowing
  - Mechanism of how to learn (rather than any actual knowledge we have learned).

(Super)Intelligence vs Cognition

• With AI increased (?) cognitive ability, how will humans even be able to comprehend the things AIs do?

What is the Timeline?

• Some of the world smartest people have put a lot of thought into the question of Singularity. Below is a summary of their predictions on when it will occur:

Singularity

• According to world experts, superintelligence will yield tremendous power.
• Who will be in control of that power?
• What will be their motivation?
• How can we (humans) shape the outcome?

The AI Revolution: Our immortality or Extinction

• Where do you stand?

The Singularity: The Optimistic View

• Singularity will be brought about by revolutions in Nanotechnology, Biotechnology and AI.
• Understanding how to move molecules or atoms (nanobots) around means that we can literally make anything
• We can make food, clothing, and variety of bio-related products such as blood cells, tiny virus, cancer-cell destroyers, …

"…Kurweil believes humans will reach a point when they are entirely artificial .."

The Singularity: The Optimistic View

• AI could help us conquer our mortality.
• Wifi-connected nanobots in our bloodstream could repair and replace worn down cells in any part of our blood (age-refresher).
• Nanobots could help enhance brain activities to the point humans can think a million times faster than they do now. 

The Singularity: The Pessimistic View

“…When AI arrives, who and what will be in control of this vast new power, and what will their motivation be?…”

• Existential Risk: Can we stay in control of a technology that is smarter than us?
• Will it be possible to alter the initial goal set for the AI before it becomes “superintelligent”?

“A rational agent will pursue its goal through the most efficient means, unless it has a reason not to…”

The Singularity: What should we do?

• Avoid an unmonitored race toward building the first AI
• Enormous reward for being the first to make the AI: power, money, fame, award.
• Many groups involved in AI research: high-tech companies, sneaky governments, black market, terrorists
• Humans should come up with a fail-safe (AI Safety) way to bring about the first AI: