The Future of Machine Intelligence

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In principle, there are more than two ways one can in principle get to at least a weak form of superintelligence. I think that initially might happen through genetic selection and genetic engineering. The limiting variation of that would be where you would literally try to copy biology through the process known as whole brain emulation. At the other end of the extreme, you have these purely synthetic approaches where you pay no heed to how biology achieves intelligence.

Nick Bostrom of the University of Oxford talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book, Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. Bostrom argues that when machines exist which dwarf human intelligence they will threaten human existence unless steps are taken now to reduce the risk. The conversation covers the likelihood of the worst scenarios, strategies that might be used to reduce the risk and the implications for labor markets, and human flourishing in a world of superintelligent machines.