Post by Mariana Castro on Jun 2, 2015 21:26:51 GMT
1) Do you think artificial intelligence will be a significant problem in the future?
After learning about Singularity in this week's lesson, I do think that artificial intelligence will be a problem in the future. According to Ray Kurzweil, by 2045 we may have reached singularity (Kurzweil, YouTube). That is, the time robots become more intelligent and independent of humans. If technology continues to exponentially grow as it has, eventually we will create machines that update themselves, create smarter machines and humans will be unable to keep up or control these machines or robots. This is very frightening and problematic because robots can potentially use their intelligence to enslave humans or maybe even exterminate humans since we are such a nuisance to this planet. Although Ray Kurzweil is optimistic and does not think that singularity will lead to disaster, it is difficult to ignore the possibility. He does rightfully argue however that despite the problems that technology may bring, it can also bring great solutions. It seems that with every advancement in technology whether it is for good or bad, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that if robots do become evil and attempt to enslave humans, other intelligent robots will work to counteract their evil.
If this apocalyptic scenario doesn't play out, humans may still have a problem with artificial intelligence in a different way. AI can lead to people not being able to distinguish reality or real humans from robots. Although no one has been able to pass the Turing Test of fooling a nigh number of people into thinking a robot is a human, we are coming close. If any robot or machine ever does achieve true artificial intelligence, it may lead to the end of man and it will definitely lead to the end of a lot of jobs.
On a more positive note, artificial intelligence can greatly benefit humans by teaching us things we could never discover or learn on our own. It can speed up the process by which we acquire scientific knowledge and perhaps cure diseases, solve world hunger, and achieve world peace.
2) How has technology impacted your life?
Technology has impacted my life in a major way. Although I try to not be dependent on technology, it is difficult to avoid it. Although I am not one of those people who will turn their cars around to retrieve a forgotten smart phone at home, I do spend a lot of time on online researching all sorts of useless things. I am obsessed with mining information. This has greatly affected by ability to focus. As stated in "Digital Philosophy" my "attention span has been warped by multi-tasking" and I am definitely "entertaining myself to death" (Lane, 2). I spend less time outdoors enjoying the healthy sun and exercise I much need. I feel my brain overwhelmed by "digital overload", yet I can't disconnect. I reject and embrace this dependence because on one hand I am taking advantage of the free unlimited information out there but I am also forgetting to be human. It seems that the more intelligent we become, the more information we receive the less we feel. We sort of become like robots. Perhaps singularity will be both a time when machines become as intelligent as humans and a time when humans become as emotionless as machines.
In order to avoid this I try to read Google map's directions and memorize them rather than follow every direction in real time. I use social media to physically connect with friends by setting up dates or events to interact rather than just chatting online in the virtual world. Rather than texting and being glued to my phone at social gatherings I keep it in my car or pocket and make a conscious attempt to avoid using it. But having all of the world's information at your fingertips is very tempting and difficult to ignore.
After learning about Singularity in this week's lesson, I do think that artificial intelligence will be a problem in the future. According to Ray Kurzweil, by 2045 we may have reached singularity (Kurzweil, YouTube). That is, the time robots become more intelligent and independent of humans. If technology continues to exponentially grow as it has, eventually we will create machines that update themselves, create smarter machines and humans will be unable to keep up or control these machines or robots. This is very frightening and problematic because robots can potentially use their intelligence to enslave humans or maybe even exterminate humans since we are such a nuisance to this planet. Although Ray Kurzweil is optimistic and does not think that singularity will lead to disaster, it is difficult to ignore the possibility. He does rightfully argue however that despite the problems that technology may bring, it can also bring great solutions. It seems that with every advancement in technology whether it is for good or bad, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that if robots do become evil and attempt to enslave humans, other intelligent robots will work to counteract their evil.
If this apocalyptic scenario doesn't play out, humans may still have a problem with artificial intelligence in a different way. AI can lead to people not being able to distinguish reality or real humans from robots. Although no one has been able to pass the Turing Test of fooling a nigh number of people into thinking a robot is a human, we are coming close. If any robot or machine ever does achieve true artificial intelligence, it may lead to the end of man and it will definitely lead to the end of a lot of jobs.
On a more positive note, artificial intelligence can greatly benefit humans by teaching us things we could never discover or learn on our own. It can speed up the process by which we acquire scientific knowledge and perhaps cure diseases, solve world hunger, and achieve world peace.
2) How has technology impacted your life?
Technology has impacted my life in a major way. Although I try to not be dependent on technology, it is difficult to avoid it. Although I am not one of those people who will turn their cars around to retrieve a forgotten smart phone at home, I do spend a lot of time on online researching all sorts of useless things. I am obsessed with mining information. This has greatly affected by ability to focus. As stated in "Digital Philosophy" my "attention span has been warped by multi-tasking" and I am definitely "entertaining myself to death" (Lane, 2). I spend less time outdoors enjoying the healthy sun and exercise I much need. I feel my brain overwhelmed by "digital overload", yet I can't disconnect. I reject and embrace this dependence because on one hand I am taking advantage of the free unlimited information out there but I am also forgetting to be human. It seems that the more intelligent we become, the more information we receive the less we feel. We sort of become like robots. Perhaps singularity will be both a time when machines become as intelligent as humans and a time when humans become as emotionless as machines.
In order to avoid this I try to read Google map's directions and memorize them rather than follow every direction in real time. I use social media to physically connect with friends by setting up dates or events to interact rather than just chatting online in the virtual world. Rather than texting and being glued to my phone at social gatherings I keep it in my car or pocket and make a conscious attempt to avoid using it. But having all of the world's information at your fingertips is very tempting and difficult to ignore.