June 2010

Michael Anissimov’s Podcast: Singularity Without Compromise

by Socrates
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This is the second singularity podcast. Given my experience with James Harvey I already knew that interviewing people is an acquired skill that I really need to work on. This interview is another indicator that I have a long way to go before I get to be good at it. Luckily my guest Michael Anissimov is eloquent and knowledgeable for the both of us. Thus, despite Socrates‘ failure to live up fully to his name, Michael’s passion for and knowledge of the technological singularity made this podcast interesting, engaging, informative and very worthwhile. Michael Anissimov is Media Director for the Singularity Institute and Fundraising Director, North America for the Lifeboat Foundation. He is a science and technology writer and futurist. In 2006 Michael started the Accelerating Future blog. Since its founding, the blog has received over six million visits and [...]

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Latest Singularity University Video Remix

by Socrates
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This is a brand new 3 min video of some highlights of the Singularity University Graduate Studies Program opening ceremony. It features people such as Larry Page, Larry Brilliant, Peter Diamandis, Ray Kurzweil and NASA Astronaut Dan Barry. Singularity University is an interdisciplinary university preparing humanity for accelerating technological change and aiming to study and use technology growth to address the greatest challenges facing mankind. As Larry Page says: “If I were a student, this is where I’d want to be.” Related articles by Zemanta Peter Diamandis on the Best Way to Predict the Future (singularityblog.singularitysymposium.com)

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James Harvey’s Singularity Podcast: We are Singularia

by Socrates
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This is my first singularity podcast. I intend to do many more interviews like that so that we can spark the discussion about the singularity with the help of some of the best and brightest people that I can get to do a podcast for the benefit of us all.  My guest today is Australian James Harvey. James Harvey is the author of the thought provoking book Singularia: Being at the Edge of Time. *** I have to admit that I have often been called a very logical person. Most of the time I agree with the above characterization but, occasionally, there are exceptions. I feel that my interview with James was a good example of the alternative, emotional me. The result was that even if logically I didn’t agree with all of James’ arguments, I dare say that I [...]

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What’s on Your Mind? Now Machines Know Better Than You Do

by Socrates
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Not long ago I wrote on mind reading, thought control and neuro marketing in an article called Is the Lord of the World Still Science Fiction? One of the videos that I have embedded on that post was an incredible short documentary on the present and future of mind reading technology that I highly recommend. (In case you missed the video you can watch it towards the end of the post here) Just a couple of days ago Reuters News published another article on the same topic titled Now Scientists Read Your Mind Better Than You Can. There you can discover that brain scans may be able to predict what you will do better than you can yourself, and might offer a powerful tool for advertisers or health officials seeking to motivate consumers. In other words, now scientists with fMRI [...]

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Us and Them: Robots Imitating Humans Imitating Robots

by Socrates

Last night I was watching the following 2 YouTube videos together with my wife and it got us talking along the following lines: Robots imitating humans Humans imitating Robots Isn’t it ironic how we try to be more like them and they try to be more like us? What happens if or when both us and them get what we want? Is the grass truly greener on the other side?

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The Future is Smart, But What About Us?

by Socrates

The future is smart. We are pretty smart already. We have smart phones and smart watches and some of us drive smart cars. Occasionally, we even kill each other with smart bombs. (Hey wait a second, if we are so smart, why are we so stupid?!…) We are currently developing smart AI, smart machines, smart contact lenses, smart clothes, smart organs, smart appliances, smart software, smart computers, smart mouse, smart paint, smart weapons, smart exercise machines and even smart underwear. Eventually everything will be smart. Thus we may indeed end up having smart dust in a universe that “wakes up” as a smart, giant Computronium… The only thing that worries me a bit is what happens with our human, oh so human species in the age of smart? What happens to us when my toothbrush gets smarter than the whole [...]

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The Holodeck is Near: Immersive Media and the Singularity

by James Harvey
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In the predicted coming of a technology assisted Singularity could there be an alternative to an AI, Cyborg or Agent Smith mutation where we evolve into post-human replicants? Is the transformation of biology, at an atomic level, encoded as 0′s and 1’s the only solution, or inevitable consequence, to harnessing some assumed uber-processing power in the manipulation of biological processes, DNA and nano technology as binary code? Could there be an alternative, to temper the impact, of the “unknown unknowns” of rashly attempting to supplant the evolution of life and consciousness on this planet? Yes, there is and they are literally awe producing technologies. They are also being created and assembled right before your very eyes. The answers lie in the developing immersive multi-media that will be leading us into virtual worlds of simulation, fantasy and adventure. Synesthetic experiences that [...]

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Singularity Goes Mainstream: NY Times Says Humans Are “So Yesterday”

by Socrates
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Last Friday the New York Times published a long and well researched article on the technological singularity called: Merely Human? That’s So Yesterday by Ashlee Vance The article makes a genuine effort to cover all the basics, the pros and the cons of the singularitarian movement and, overall, in my opinion is pretty successful at it. Thus it is well worth reading and I recommend it as a good starting point on the topics of the technological singularity, accelerating change (or exponential growth), Artificial Intelligence and their potential impact on our civilization. Here is a link to the slide show accompanying the article with some relevant pictures of Ray Kurzweil titled the Futurist and his Followers. The only question is: Are we really all “so yesterday” or is there still hope for the human race? Will technology replace biology? Related [...]

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