AI Global Odyssey: REAL Situational Awareness — #63
Jul 4, 2024
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Discussion on AI in various tech hubs, challenges in scaling AI models, global perspectives on AI in Singapore and Manila, development of advanced AI for smart TVs, impact of AI on human jobs, debates on AI safety at Manifest festival, parallels between AGI development and critical historical events, future predictions of AI surpassing human capabilities in the next few decades
Silicon Valley hosts an AI bubble discussing AGI, while the Philippines tests AI call center applications.
Debate on AGI's trajectory emphasizes transformer model limitations and the China-US AI competitive landscape.
Deep dives
Current Status of AI and Emerging Trends
Silicon Valley, Singapore, and the Philippines play crucial roles in the ongoing narratives and developments in AI. The podcast delves into the large AI bubble observed in the Bay Area, fueled by extensive discussions among major AI companies like Google, Meta, OpenAI, and Propic. The discourse centers on the race for AGI and the potential of next-generation models. The scalability of models based on factors such as training data, model size, and compute usage is a key focus, with industry experts debating the trajectory of AI advancement.
Real-World AI Deployments and Impact on the Economy
Despite the advancements in AI models such as language models, the podcast emphasizes the limited real-world deployment and economic impact as of now. Companies like Super Focus are pioneering AI applications in customer support, showcasing AI capabilities that outperform humans in specific tasks. The discussion extends to the implications of AI on industries like call centers in countries like the Philippines, highlighting the potential economic repercussions of AI adoption.
Contemplations on AGI and Architectural Innovations
The podcast explores diverse viewpoints on the path towards AGI, with experts sharing contrasting scenarios of AI progression. Discussions revolve around the need for architectural innovations beyond existing transformer models to achieve full AGI capabilities. Jan Lekun's skepticism towards transformer architectures solely driving AGI underlines the necessity for creative breakthroughs in neural net structures.
Geopolitical Dynamics in AI Development
An analysis of the competitive landscape between China and the US in AI innovation sheds light on hardware capabilities and model advancements. Noting the parity in neural net architecture innovations and training between both nations, the podcast predicts a close technological race. Speculations on potential government interventions akin to the Manhattan Project for AI development arise, highlighting the evolving dynamics within the global AI ecosystem.
Music used with permission from Blade Runner Blues Livestream improvisation by State Azure.
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Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon. Hsu is a startup founder (SuperFocus.ai, SafeWeb, Genomic Prediction, Othram) and advisor to venture capital and other investment firms. He was educated at Caltech and Berkeley, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has held faculty positions at Yale, the University of Oregon, and MSU. Please send any questions or suggestions to manifold1podcast@gmail.com or Steve on Twitter @hsu_steve.
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