Fire good. AI better:
Google CEO Sundar Pichai says artificial intelligence is going to have a bigger impact on the world than some of the most ubiquitous innovations in history. "AI is one of the most important things humanity is working on. It is more profound than, I dunno, electricity or fire," says Pichai, speaking at a town hall event in San Francisco in January.
A number of very notable tech leaders have made bold statements about the potential of artificial intelligence. Tesla boss Elon Musks says AI is more dangerous than North Korea. Famous physicist Stephen Hawking says AI could be the "worst event in the history of our civilization." And Y Combinator President Sam Altman likens AI to nuclear fission.
Even in such company, Pichai's comment seems remarkable. Interviewer and Recode executive editor Kara Swisher stopped Pichai when he made the comment. "Fire? Fire is pretty good," she retorts. Pichai sticks by his assertion. "Well, it kills people, too," Pichai says of fire. "We have learned to harness fire for the benefits of humanity but we had to overcome its downsides too. So my point is, AI is really important, but we have to be concerned about it."
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Sunday February 04 2018, @04:55PM (1 child)
Even lower animals are more "intelligent"
Lots of animals (dogs, cats, etc.) are not only quite intelligent, but have definite personalities, and do lots of things besides the necessities of survival, which don't really benefit their survival, and just because they want to and it amuses them, just like we do.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday February 04 2018, @06:28PM
Well, yeah - but we haven't nearly reached that level with AI yet. I was thinking more about lower animals. Paramecium and such, except most of those reproduce asexually, so they have no need of copulation. Hmmmmm - do asexual creatures indulge in sexual conduct? Poking a little fun, knowing that they'll never be taken seriously?
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