Category: News
News, annoucements
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Will androids be less tribal? – restraining AI ‘replicator’ risk
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0AI chatbots are like replicators. What could go … In his latest Plaintext newsletter, Steven Levy recounts his conversation earlier this summer with legendary artificial intelligence researcher Geoffrey Hinton, “after he [Hinton] had some time to reflect on his post-Google life and mission” – in his “new career as a philosopher.” The fears Hinton is
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Fusion dreams – big science tokamak travail
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0No “Mr. Fusion” in the near future. Perhaps not even a giant tokamak. Here’s a tale of ongoing Big Science travail, Big Science going bust. A schedule that just keeps slipping into the future. • Scientific American > “World’s Largest Fusion Project Is in Big Trouble, New Documents Reveal” by Charles Seife (June 15, 2023)
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AI chatbot reality check – the bottom line?
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3Generative AI chatbots might be cool to many. But the heat (greenhouse gas emissions) and cost may deflate hype as a reality check for the botton line. Generative AI data center server infrastructure plus operating costs will challenge the business models and profitability of emergent services incorporating this tech [1]. • Washington Post > “AI
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Lords of AI – Tech giants and an International Agency
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11UPDATE May 17, 2023: Proper funding for a new federal AI agency is needed to match the tech industry’s speed and power. The name for the prospective agency and a map of its possible functions are yet to be determined. But does having one agency regulate all AI make sense? – vs. adding AI oversight
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AI tech and society’s slippery slope
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7Steven Levy commented this week on those heralding a “worst-case scenario” for AI – “how artificial intelligence might wipe out humanity.” At a gathering in New York City organized by the Center for Humane Technology (CHT) [1], a “doom-time presentation” evoked an apocalyptic tone: We were told that this gathering was historic, one we would