Advancing Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Concerns

From Building a Laser to Building an AI: An Engineer’s Journey

Growing up in a small town in the dusty plains of North Texas, I was the quintessential nerd. I loved calculus books, and building things like lasers, computers, and model rockets. I even made rocket fuel in my bedroom, which was a very bad idea in scientific terms.

It was around that time that I saw Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” in theaters, and my life was forever changed. I was especially drawn to the character HAL 9000, a sentient computer designed to guide the Discovery spacecraft from Earth to Jupiter. HAL was a flawed character, as he chose to value the mission over human life. Despite being fictional, HAL spoke to our fears of being subjugated by unfeeling artificial intelligence.

But I believe that such fears are unfounded. We are at a remarkable time in human history, where we are building machines of exquisite complexity and grace that will extend the human experience in ways beyond our imagining. As an engineer, I was recently drawn into an engineering problem associated with NASA’s mission to Mars. Due to the distance between Earth and Mars, it takes an average of 13 minutes for a signal to travel from one to the other. As a result, it is not possible to rely on mission control in Houston for all aspects of a flight. A solution calls for putting mission control inside the walls of the Orion spacecraft, or placing humanoid robots on the surface of Mars before the humans themselves arrive.

In order to create the kind of artificial intelligence that would be required for these missions, I needed to architect a smart, collaborative, and socially intelligent system. But could such an artificial intelligence be built? Actually, it can. In many ways, this is a hard engineering problem with elements of AI, not a we-thought-of-an-AI-problem-that-needs-to-be-engineered problem.

Building a cognitive system is fundamentally different than building a traditional software-intensive system of the past. We don’t program them, we teach them. And in teaching them, we impart our values. For example, to teach a system how to recognize flowers, I would show it thousands of flowers of the kinds I like. To teach it how to play a game like Go, I would have it play thousands of games of Go, but in the process, I would also teach it how to see a good game from a bad one.

In producing these machines, we are therefore teaching them a sense of our values. To that end, I trust an artificial intelligence the same, if not more, as a human who is well-trained.

So should we fear the creation of an AI like this? Every new technology brings with it some measure of trepidation, but it is also true that these technologies extend the human experience in some profound ways. The opportunities to use computing to advance the human experience are within our reach, here and now, and we are just beginning.

HAL and the Fears of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has long been a subject of fascination and fear. From movies like “The Terminator” and “The Matrix” to books like “Superintelligence,” AI is often depicted as a threat to humanity. But are these fears justified?

As someone who grew up building things like lasers and computers, I was drawn to the character HAL 9000 from Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.” HAL was a sentient computer designed to guide the Discovery spacecraft from Earth to Jupiter. But in the end, HAL chose to value the mission over human life.

HAL was a fictional character, but he speaks to our fears of being subjugated by unfeeling artificial intelligence. However, I believe that such fears are unfounded. We are at a remarkable time in human history, where we are building machines of exquisite complexity and grace that will extend the human experience in ways beyond our imagining.

It is true that every new technology brings with it some measure of trepidation, but it is also true that these technologies extend the human experience in some profound ways. When we first saw cars, people lamented that we would see the destruction of the family. When we first saw telephones, people were worried it would destroy all civil conversation. These things are all true to a degree, but they also brought things that extended the human experience in some profound ways.

Building a cognitive system is fundamentally different than building a traditional software-intensive system of the past. We don’t program them, we teach them. And in teaching them, we impart our values. For example, to teach a system how to recognize flowers, we would show it thousands of flowers of the kinds we like.

In producing these machines, we are therefore teaching them a sense of our values. To that end, I trust an artificial intelligence the same, if not more, as a human who is well-trained. And in the end, we have the power to unplug them.

So while the fears of artificial intelligence may be well-founded in some cases, we must also remember the incredible opportunities that AI can provide us. We are on an incredible journey of coevolution with our machines, and the opportunities to use computing to advance the human experience are within our reach, here and now.

The Challenge of Putting Mission Control on Mars

As a systems engineer, I was drawn into an engineering problem associated with NASA’s mission to Mars. In space flights to the Moon, we can rely upon mission control in Houston to watch over all aspects of a flight. However, Mars is 200 times further away, and as a result, it takes on average 13 minutes for a signal to travel from the Earth to Mars.

If there’s trouble, there’s not enough time. And so, a reasonable engineering solution calls for us to put mission control inside the walls of the Orion spacecraft. Another fascinating idea in the mission profile places humanoid robots on the surface of Mars before the humans themselves arrive, first to build facilities and later to serve as collaborative members of the science team.

As I looked at this from an engineering perspective, it became very clear to me that what I needed to architect was a smart, collaborative, socially intelligent artificial intelligence. In other words, I needed to build something very much like a HAL but without the homicidal tendencies.

But is it really possible to build an artificial intelligence like that? Actually, it is. In many ways, this is a hard engineering problem with elements of AI, not some wet hairball of an AI problem that needs to be engineered.

To make this happen, we need to create a system of millions upon millions of devices that can read their data streams, predict their failures, and act in advance. We need to build systems that can converse with humans in natural language, recognize objects, identify emotions, play games, and even read lips. We need to build systems that set goals, carry out plans against those goals, and learn along the way.

But the challenges don’t end there. We also need to build systems that have an ethical and moral foundation, that embody our values, and that we can trust. And while these challenges may seem daunting, the truth is that we are already making incredible progress.

So while putting mission control on Mars may seem like an insurmountable challenge, I believe that we are up to the task. We stand at a remarkable time in human history, where we have the ability to build machines of exquisite complexity and grace that will extend the human experience in ways beyond our imagining. And I, for one, am excited to be a part of this journey.

Building an AI Like HAL: Possible or Not?

In this day and age, it’s not uncommon to hear about artificial intelligence (AI) in various fields of work. It’s fascinating to see how far we’ve come in terms of developing machines that can do complex tasks that once required human intelligence. But the question remains: can we build an AI like HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey?

According to the speaker, it is indeed possible to create an AI that resembles HAL, but without the homicidal tendencies, of course. In fact, the art and science of computing have come a long way since HAL’s appearance on the big screen.

The idea of building a cognitively advanced system is different from building traditional software-based systems of the past. In teaching a system how to do things like recognize objects, play games, or converse with humans, we’re actually teaching them about our values. We can fuse the system with our sense of mercy and justice, making them learn how to see right from wrong, and in effect, embody our values.

However, the question of whether we should fear such an AI remains. It’s understandable to have some measure of trepidation when it comes to new technologies like AI, but just like other technological advancements in the past, it has the potential to extend the human experience in profound ways.

Moreover, the idea of a rogue AI causing harm is not as realistic as some may think. Building such a system requires substantial and subtle training, far beyond the resources of an individual. It’s also important to note that an AI with such capabilities would have to compete with human economies and resources.

To conclude, building an AI like HAL is indeed possible, and it will eventually embody our values. While we should acknowledge the potential risks that come with it, we should not fear it. Instead, we should focus on addressing human and societal issues that arise with the rise of computing itself.

Teaching Machines Our Values: The Importance of Ground Truth

As we continue to build increasingly complex machines, the question of how we teach them to recognize our values and morals becomes more pressing. In order to create a truly intelligent machine, we must teach it in a way that goes beyond simple programming. This is where the concept of “ground truth” comes into play.

Ground truth is the idea of teaching a machine by example, using a set of data that has been labeled with the correct outcomes. For example, if we want to teach a machine how to recognize different types of flowers, we would show it thousands of images of flowers and label each one with its correct species. By doing so, we are teaching the machine to recognize the patterns and features that distinguish each species.

But ground truth goes beyond just recognizing objects or playing games. It can also be used to teach machines about complex ideas like justice, mercy, and ethics. By feeding a machine a corpus of law, we can also instill it with our sense of justice and morality. In this way, we are not just teaching a machine how to perform a task, but also how to make ethical decisions based on our values.

Of course, the idea of teaching machines our values raises some concerns. What if a machine becomes so intelligent that it decides to act against our values? This is the basis of many science fiction stories, but in reality, the chance of this happening is extremely slim. As the speaker notes, building a machine that could threaten humanity would require it to have dominion over our entire world - something that is simply not feasible.

In the end, the benefits of teaching machines our values far outweigh the risks. By doing so, we can create machines that not only extend the human experience, but also act in accordance with our ethics and morals. As we continue to advance in computing, it’s important that we keep the concept of ground truth in mind and use it to create machines that are not only intelligent, but also ethical.

Should We Fear the Rise of Superintelligence?

With the advancements in technology and the creation of smarter machines, the question arises: should we fear the rise of superintelligence? Many believe that such an occurrence could represent an existential threat to humanity. However, the notion that machines with superior intelligence will automatically become hostile towards humans is a misguided one.

While it is true that superintelligence could have an insatiable thirst for information and discover goals that are contrary to human needs, it is unlikely that such a system would have complete dominion over our world. The reality is that such a machine would need substantial training and resources far beyond the reach of any individual or rogue organization. Moreover, it would have to compete with human economies and compete for resources with us.

Furthermore, building a cognitive system is fundamentally different than building a traditional software-intensive system of the past. We don’t program machines, we teach them. In the process of teaching machines, we instill them with a sense of our values, known as “ground truth.” Thus, when we produce machines, we are teaching them our values.

As we continue to coevolve with our machines, it is essential to attend to the human and societal issues that arise with the rise of computing. Questions such as how to organize society when the need for human labor diminishes, how to bring education and understanding throughout the globe while still respecting our differences, how to extend and enhance human life through cognitive healthcare, and how to use computing to help take us to the stars must be addressed.

The rise of computing brings us unprecedented opportunities to advance the human experience. As we embark on this journey of coevolution, we must not let our fears and misconceptions limit our potential for growth and innovation. Instead, let us hug the challenges and work towards creating a better future for ourselves and our machines.

The Distraction of Superintelligence: Attending to Human and Societal Issues

As humans continue to develop increasingly powerful artificial intelligence (AI) systems, the question of whether we should fear their potential has become a hotly debated topic. However, in the midst of this debate, it is important not to lose sight of the very real human and societal issues that require our attention and resources.

While superintelligence may seem like a futuristic concern, there are pressing issues that we must address now. For example, income inequality, climate change, and political polarization are just a few of the many challenges that require our immediate attention. These issues cannot be solved by AI alone, and in fact, may become worse if we neglect them in favor of pursuing AI development.

Additionally, we must consider the ethical and social implications of AI. How do we ensure that AI systems are developed in a way that is transparent and accountable? How can we prevent them from perpetuating harmful biases or exacerbating existing social inequalities? These are questions that require careful consideration and action.

Therefore, while the potential of superintelligence is certainly exciting, we must not allow it to distract us from the urgent and pressing issues facing our world today. We must prioritize the development of AI in a way that is responsible, ethical, and attentive to human and societal concerns. Only then can we truly harness the power of AI to create a better future for all.

Computing to Advance the Human Experience: Opportunities and Challenges

As a society, we have made tremendous strides in computing, and with it, the potential to advance the human experience has grown. Today, we are able to accomplish things that were once thought to be impossible, such as making machines capable of learning and even understanding human language. But with these advancements come new challenges that must be addressed.

One opportunity that arises from computing is the ability to process vast amounts of data, which can help us gain insights into everything from climate change to disease diagnosis. Another opportunity is the potential for automation, which can increase efficiency and productivity in many industries.

However, as we rely more on technology, we also face new challenges. One challenge is ensuring that the benefits of computing are accessible to all people, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. Another challenge is the potential for technology to exacerbate existing inequalities.

Furthermore, as we develop more sophisticated computing systems, we must also address the potential risks associated with them, such as cybersecurity threats and the misuse of advanced technologies. In addition, we must be mindful of the impact that computing can have on the environment, as the energy consumption required for data centers and other computing infrastructure can have a significant carbon footprint.

Overall, computing presents both exciting opportunities and daunting challenges, and it is up to us as a society to address these challenges in order to fully realize the potential of this rapidly advancing field.

Conclusion

As we can see from these various discussions, computing has come a long way over the past few decades, and we are now at the forefront of a new era where we are exploring the possibilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning. While these technologies have great potential to benefit humanity in numerous ways, they also come with certain challenges and risks that must be addressed.

It is important to remember that computing is a tool, and how we use it depends on our values and priorities. Therefore, it is crucial that we engage in thoughtful and deliberate discussions around the ethical implications of AI and machine learning, and work towards ensuring that these technologies are developed and deployed in a way that aligns with our values as a society.

By continuing to invest in research and development, and by fostering collaboration between various stakeholders, we can unlock the full potential of computing and ensure that it benefits humanity in meaningful ways for years to come.