Gossiping about AI (Man / Machine XII)

There are plenty of studies of gossip as a social phenomenon, and there are computer science models of gossiping that allow for information distribution in system. There are even gossip learning systems that compete with or constitute alternatives to federated learning models. But here is a question I have not found any serious discussion about… Fortsätt läsa Gossiping about AI (Man / Machine XII)

Digital legal persons? Fragments (Man / Machine XI and Identity / Privacy III)

The following are notes ahead of a panel discussion this afternoon, where we will discuss the need for a legal structure for digital persons in the wake of the general discussion of artificial intelligence.  The idea of a digital assistant seems to suggest a world in which we will see new legal actors. These actors will buy,… Fortsätt läsa Digital legal persons? Fragments (Man / Machine XI and Identity / Privacy III)

The free will to make slightly worse choices ( Man / Machine XI)

In his chapter on intelectronics, his word for what most closely resembles artificial intelligence, Stanislaw Lem suggests an insidious way in which the machine could take over. It would not be, he says, because it wants to terrorize us, but more likely because it will try to be helpful. Lem develops the idea of the… Fortsätt läsa The free will to make slightly worse choices ( Man / Machine XI)

Stanislaw Lem, Herbert Simon and artificial intelligence as broad social technology project (Man / Machine X)

Why do we develop artificial intelligence? Is it merely because of an almost faustian curiosity? Is it because of an innate megalomania that suggests that we could, if we want to, become gods? The debate today is ripe with examples of risks and dangers, but the argument for the development of this technology is curiously… Fortsätt läsa Stanislaw Lem, Herbert Simon and artificial intelligence as broad social technology project (Man / Machine X)

On not knowing (Man / Machine III)

Humans are not great at answering questions with “I don’t know”. They often seek to provide answers even where they know that they do not know. Yet still, one of the hallmarks of careful thinking is to acknowledge when we do not know something - and when we cannot say anything meaningful about an issue.… Fortsätt läsa On not knowing (Man / Machine III)

Intelligence, life, consciousness, soul (Man / Machine II)

There is another perspective here that we may want to discuss, and that is if the dichotomy we are examining is maybe a false, or at least, less interesting one. What if we find that both man and machine can belong to a broader class of things that we may want to call “alive”? Rather… Fortsätt läsa Intelligence, life, consciousness, soul (Man / Machine II)

Data is not like oil – it is much more interesting than that

So, this may seem to be a nitpicking little note, but it is not intended to belittle anyone or even to deny the importance of having a robust and rigorous discussion about data, artificial intelligence and the future. Quite the contrary - this may be one of the most important discussions that we need to engage… Fortsätt läsa Data is not like oil – it is much more interesting than that

Reading Notes I: Tegmark and substrate independence

Tegmark (2017:67) writes "This substrate independence of computation implies that AI is possible: intelligence doesn't require flesh, blood or carbon atoms.". How should we read this? The background is that he argues that computation is independent of what we use for hardware and software and what is required is only that the matter we compute… Fortsätt läsa Reading Notes I: Tegmark and substrate independence

“Is there a xeno-biology of artificial intelligence?” – draft essay

One of the things that fascinate me is the connections we can make between technology and biology in exploring how technology will develop. It is a field that I enjoy exploring, and where I am slowly focusing some of my research work and writing. Here is a small piece on the possibility of a xeno-biology… Fortsätt läsa “Is there a xeno-biology of artificial intelligence?” – draft essay