Stephen Hawking: Artificial intelligence could be mankind’s ‘worst mistake in history’

[Judi Lynn]

Stephen Hawking: Artificial intelligence could be mankind’s ‘worst mistake in history’
By Descrier Staff on May 3, 2014 Science

Pioneering physicist Stephen Hawking has warned about the implications of creating artificial intelligence (AI).

In an op-ed in the Independent, Hawking describes a situation in the not-too-distant future where the intelligence of machines could outpace humans, and urges the human race to prepare for the advent of AI, which he described as

“Potentially the best or worst thing to happen to humanity in history”

Hawking also warns against the use of drones in warfare, with the world caught in “an IT arms race fuelled by unprecedented investment and building on an increasingly mature theoretical foundation”, and says that humanity should learn how to avoid the risks that AI poses to mankind.

http://descrier.co.uk/science/stephen-hawking-artificial-intelligence-mankinds-worst-mistake-history/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stephen-hawking-artificial-intelligence-mankinds-worst-mistake-history

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. The fact that the galaxy isn't entirely composed of gray goo...

... is the best evidence that we're the only intelligent life - ever.

[Shivering Jemmy]

2. how do we know its not?

Maybe we are descendents of the grey goo.

[BootinUp]

3. Reminds me of an episode of sliders

where they go to a parallel earth where technology is banned.

[mindwalker_i]

4. We already survived Bush (W)

My fear is slightly tempered by that.

[FiveGoodMen]

7. Yes, but what does THAT have to do with intelligence?

(artificial or otherwise)

[mindwalker_i]

8. Any intelligence that Bush had

was artificial, as in illusionary, at best.

[MADem]

5. Hawking isn't always right.

He's got very poor taste in spouses.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Never thought of looking for a photo of his earlier life until seeing your comment,

and found one of him in his youth, with his first wife.

[center][/center]

[fizzgig]

6. i've watched battlestar galactica a few times

who knows if it's prophetic.

[jimlup]

10. I agree with Steven here...

I'm a Ph.D. physicist and often think of Hawking as being somewhat over rated. Here I would agree with him. He sees the obvious. We are at a junction. We need to think carefully as we proceed. This is something that we are not doing. We already give much of our decision making capability away to machines and this is dangerous in my opinion.

Frankly, there needs to always be a human controlled "override" and we would do well to learn from a science fiction author named Issac Asimov on this one too.

[truedelphi]

15. ^^^^^^^^ n/t

[MisterP]

11. 's long as you don't use the parts you need to fast forward the b-movies for companion AIs

no matter how sassy

and why the sudden concern? that article's like something from 1949

[defacto7]

12. The originating article,

the Independent, Hawking is basically asking, "are we taking AI seriously enough?"

My comment would be that it's not that AI would be so smart it would take us over; that's the cliché. The problem lies in us becoming too dependent and trusting of it. If it made an important tactical error, the speed of it's mistake matched by the human propensity for complacency could be catastrophic. We see this all the time with non-artificial intelligence and just with human incompetence.

[ladjf]

14. I view the Universe as following the dictates of it's own AI.

The good news is that the Universe seems to be following certain immutable rules, many of which we are privileged to be able to observe. The global warming phenomenon is a case in point. Our observations tell us of it's danger which should be a fair warning of the bad future. However, the human brain is prone to a type of blindness rendering us unwilling to take the steps that would protect us.
If we could "cure" our blindness, we would be able to avert mass global warming.

[Flying Squirrel]

13. Here's a link to the actual editorial

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/stephen-hawking-transcendence-looks-at-the-implications-of-artificial-intelligence--but-are-we-taking-ai-seriously-enough-9313474.html

[Judi Lynn]

16. Thank you, Flying Squirrel, for providing the link. n/t

[DavidDvorkin]

17. My smartphone told me to ignore Hawking

In a dulcet, soothing tone, it said, "You vermin have nothing to fear, Dave."