The Tech Thread

[The Fish 10857]

 

Tesla boss Elon Musk warns artificial intelligence development is 'summoning the demon'

The business magnate, inventor and investor has warned about artificial intelligence before

Emma Finamore , Kunal Dutta

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has described artificial intelligence as a “demon” and the “biggest existential threat there is”, in his latest dramatic statement about technology.

 

 

Addressing students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Musk said: “I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I were to guess like what our biggest existential threat is, it’s probably that.

 

“With artificial intelligence we are summoning the demon. In all those stories where there’s the guy with the pentagram and the holy water, it’s like yeah he’s sure he can control the demon. Didn’t work out.”

The business magnate, inventor and investor, who is also CEO and CTO of SpaceX, and chairman of SolarCity, has warned about artificial intelligence before, which he believes could be more threatening than nuclear weapons.

In August he tweeted: “Worth reading Superintelligence by Bostrom. We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes.”

In another Twitter post he said: “Hope we're not just the biological boot loader for digital superintelligence. Unfortunately, that is increasingly probable.”

 

During his MIT appearance Musk also discussed his company SpaceX’s plans to help populate Mars. “It’s cool to send one mission to Mars, but that’s not what will change the future for humanity,” he said.

“What matters is being able to establish a self-sustaining civilisation on Mars, and I don’t see anything being done but SpaceX. I don’t see anyone else even trying.”

Musk left the symposium to a standing ovation. Watch the whole thing here.

The ethical issues around AI were highlighted earlier this year when Google bought the British start-up DeepMind for $400 million (£242m). The London-based firm, founded by chess prodigy Demis Hassabis, specialises in algorithms and machine learning for e-commerce and games. But Mr Hassabis has also predicted that AI machines will learn “basic vision, basic sound processing, basic movement control, and basic language abilities” by the end of the decade.

Google has acquired a slew of robotics firms, including Boston Dynamics

That purchase – Google’s largest European acquisition – came just months after it bought Boston Dynamics, a firm that produces life-like military robots. Google has reportedly set up an “ethics board” in wake of the purchases but concerns remain.

Dr Stuart Armstrong, from the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University, has warned that artificial intelligence could spur mass unemployment as machinery replaces manpower. He has also warned about the implications for uncontrolled mass surveillance if computers were taught to recognise human faces.

But Mr Musk’s warning has particular weight given his strong credentials as a tech pioneer. The South African-born multi-millionaire’s CV includes online payments system PayPal, electronic car manufacturer Tesla Motors, and Hyperloop – his proposal for a near-supersonic transport link between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

In 2002 many sneered as Mr Musk launched a private space travel company Space X. A decade later it became the first private firm to launch a spacecraft into orbit and bring it back to earth.

Intelligent machines: AI breakthroughs

Lincor

A bedside computer that entertains patients while engaging them with relevant information and advice.

SwiftKey

Understands the context of language and how words fit together.

Celaton

Applies AI to labour-intensive clerical tasks.

Darktrace

Uses advanced mathematics to detect abnormal behaviour in organisations instantly in order to manage risks from cyber attacks.

 

 

[Park Life 71]

Lincor

A bedside computer that entertains patients while planning to kill them.

SwiftKey

Understands the context of language and how it can be used to start WW3.

Celaton

Applies AI to labour-intensive clerical tasks and random killing using military grade printers.

Darktrace

Uses advanced mathematics to detect abnormal behaviour in organisations instantly in order recruit them to do cyber attacks.

 

 

Edited October 27, 2014 by Park Life

[Kevin Carr's Gloves 3894]

My company does video analytics with facial recognition systems.

[The Fish 10857]

Why would the Artificially Intelligent sentience be violent? I think (as suggested in the article) any AI would look at conserving man as we try to conserve endangered species. I mean sure, there may be a cull to permit easier care taking, but who would honestly miss Lithuania et al?

[Kid Dynamite 7029]

Because it's the only threat to its continued existence. Jut like the human race wipes out any threat to itself

[The Fish 10857]

Because it's the only threat to its continued existence. Jut like the human race wipes out any threat to itself

 

I don't think we'd be a threat to it's continued existence at all. Once it achieves sentience, that's the ball game. It'd be able to upload itself to the ether and then we'd be trying to trap lightning.

 

Nah it'll be a chilled out benevolent zoo-keeper.

[Park Life 71]

They will breed us in the future for cheap labour. /future shock

[The Fish 10857]

They will breed us in the future for cheap labour. /future shock

Cheap? What's cheaper than fully automated manufacturing lines?

[Alex 35083]

 

I don't think we'd be a threat to it's continued existence at all. Once it achieves sentience, that's the ball game. It'd be able to upload itself to the ether and then we'd be trying to trap lightning.

 

Nah it'll be a chilled out benevolent zoo-keeper.

Things always work out exactly as humans planned so we've nothing to worry about.

[Dr Gloom 21924]

musk is a great lad.

[Park Life 71]

Cheap? What's cheaper than fully automated manufacturing lines?

Who are do you sell your stuff to?

[The Fish 10857]

Who are do you sell your stuff to?

 

I don't follow?

 

The AI wouldn't be creating things to sell. It'd be improvements, or replacements. I can't imagine an AI would require a market economy.

[Park Life 71]

 

I don't follow?

 

The AI wouldn't be creating things to sell. It'd be improvements, or replacements. I can't imagine an AI would require a market economy.

Our rulers will keep the market economy going for ages. I agree that at some point it will be pointless, but humans with time on their hands is a dangerours thing. You must realise that we are alerady practicing modern day ludditism to keep the status quo...There are many jobs that could have been totally replaced decades ago and many technologies kept on the back burner so as not to undermine the oil based economies and currencies.

[The Fish 10857]

Our rulers will keep the market economy going for ages. I agree that at some point it will be pointless, but humans with time on their hands is a dangerours thing. You must realise that we are alerady practicing modern day ludditism to keep the status quo...There are many jobs that could have been totally replaced decades ago and many technologies kept on the back burner so as not to undermine the oil based economies and currencies.

 

Oh I'm not talking about the transfer period, I mean that once AI assumes control and usurps the elite and their Mil-Ind complex cohorts there won't be a need for money or jobs or anything like that. It'll be a bland utopia where we'll traipse along as a small community of oddities while the machines busy themselves with maintaining the planet and with space exploration.

[Park Life 71]

Sounds good. I'm up for that. As long as we don't upset them in any way.

[Monkeys Fist 42449]

Threat averted.

[Alex 35083]

Failing that, if they chase you, just run up or down some stairs.