Note: I use AGI and Strong AI interchangeably, both stand for human-level artificial intelligence It seems almost safe to say that the A.I. hype around deep learning is a sure sign that we're out of the A.I. winter. Almost. I think the current hype is based on effective, but ultimately narrow A.I. paradigms. Narrow or weak A.I. is brittle. This … Continue reading The pitfall of avoiding narrow AI pitfalls in AGI development
Caricaturing free will
In March 2012 Sam Harris released a short book on free will. The reception was mixed. Especially philosophers dismissed the book as shallow and misguided. Daniel Dennett published a derisive response to it, which Harris posted and replied to on his blog. Meanwhile, there are still those who think the book is a valuable contribution to the debate … Continue reading Caricaturing free will
To suffer or not to suffer?
George Dvorsky published an interview with David Pearce on io9. I have been familiar with Pearce's ideas for a few years and I think he is an exceptionally smart thinker with whom I agree on some issues and disagree on others. Pearce believes that we should eliminate all suffering of humans and animals through technology. … Continue reading To suffer or not to suffer?
Existential Astonishment
On some mornings I open my eyes to a disbelief that hits me like a gust of brisk wind. How is it that I have thoughts or feelings at all? The question is so baffling that it arrests my mind. Ripples of goosebumps unfold over my arms and two tingling waves speed past each other … Continue reading Existential Astonishment
Mental Contractions 