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> “Whether we consider it a tool, a partner, or a rival, [ai] will alter our experience as reasoning beings and permanently change our relationship with reality

> “Whether we consider it a tool, a partner, or a rival, [ai] will alter our experience as reasoning beings and permanently change our relationship with reality,” the authors write. “The result will be a new epoch.” If uttered by a Soylent-quaffing coder, that sentiment might be dismissed as hyperbole. Coming from authors of this pedigree, it ought to be taken seriously. Predicting how AI will affect society’s sense of reality is best left to politicians and CEOs (or CS department heads)? They’re making a psychological/sociological claim here, not a business, political, or technical one. Are they qualified to predict what society will use as a basis for reality? Also they have plenty to gain by this agenda being believed (maybe not Henry I dunno).

cyberlurker 5y ago
I don’t think they wrote this book to push an agenda for personal gain. It seems like a standard, reasonable caution of what could come to pass from irresponsible use of AI. And they are actually more qualified than the usual crowd warning of these risks.
- randcraw 5y ago
  I would agree that these authors are speaking to a different audience and a different purpose than most authors of pop sci books. I think they want to reach political leaders, businessmen, and regulators to forewarn of the many impacts of adopting deep learning-based “AI” in mainstream commercial, government, and military services. And likely, disruptive impacts, due to the sudden and deep shifts in the status quo that will surely result. Unlike most books to date, this book about AI is not intended for technologists or tech fanboys. When the three authors are the CEO that oversaw the growth of a now-trillion dollar behemoth high tech corporation, and the singly most experienced political counselor of hundreds of world leaders and staffs for the past 50 years, and the Dean of MIT's school of computing — they hope their collective gravitas will speak to a more sober and authoritative audience than prior books on AI.
mdp2021 5y ago
> how AI will affect society’s sense of reality Following the article, the scope is probably specific: they raise the problem of "transparency" ("how and why does the black box indicate this solution") as primary, especially in the context of policies and reaction. Decisions (long and short term) have been up to now taken as the result of a discussion between human minds. What happens if black boxes are now entrusted? Results of the application of AI in the medical field suggest its increased adoption in other sectors, but the special quality of these outputs are in that they are surprising and obscure (as opposed to, notably, teaching new abilities). The possibility of application of these technologies - possibility called a certainty by the author, authoritative in his field - to matters of national security, defence, strategy and tactics, is surely a problem. What is proposed and encouraged is that countries with values consistent with those of the authors gain an advantage (to counter automated "psychopath" decisions). -- From the interview documentary The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara: McNamara met Fidel Castro years after the crisis, and Castro declared never having had issues with taking actions which could have caused the utter annihilation of Cuba. To the utter bewilderment of McNamara. This could represent an example of «values consistent with those of the authors».

cyberlurker 5y ago

I don’t think they wrote this book to push an agenda for personal gain. It seems like a standard, reasonable caution of what could come to pass from irresponsible use of AI. And they are actually more qualified than the usual crowd warning of these risks.

randcraw 5y ago
I would agree that these authors are speaking to a different audience and a different purpose than most authors of pop sci books. I think they want to reach political leaders, businessmen, and regulators to forewarn of the many impacts of adopting deep learning-based “AI” in mainstream commercial, government, and military services. And likely, disruptive impacts, due to the sudden and deep shifts in the status quo that will surely result. Unlike most books to date, this book about AI is not intended for technologists or tech fanboys. When the three authors are the CEO that oversaw the growth of a now-trillion dollar behemoth high tech corporation, and the singly most experienced political counselor of hundreds of world leaders and staffs for the past 50 years, and the Dean of MIT's school of computing — they hope their collective gravitas will speak to a more sober and authoritative audience than prior books on AI.

mdp2021 5y ago

> how AI will affect society’s sense of reality Following the article, the scope is probably specific: they raise the problem of "transparency" ("how and why does the black box indicate this solution") as primary, especially in the context of policies and reaction. Decisions (long and short term) have been up to now taken as the result of a discussion between human minds. What happens if black boxes are now entrusted? Results of the application of AI in the medical field suggest its increased adoption in other sectors, but the special quality of these outputs are in that they are surprising and obscure (as opposed to, notably, teaching new abilities). The possibility of application of these technologies - possibility called a certainty by the author, authoritative in his field - to matters of national security, defence, strategy and tactics, is surely a problem. What is proposed and encouraged is that countries with values consistent with those of the authors gain an advantage (to counter automated "psychopath" decisions). -- From the interview documentary The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara: McNamara met Fidel Castro years after the crisis, and Castro declared never having had issues with taking actions which could have caused the utter annihilation of Cuba. To the utter bewilderment of McNamara. This could represent an example of «values consistent with those of the authors».