a16z Podcast: Artificial Intelligence and the 'Space of Possible Minds'
Nov 15, 2015
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Murray Shanahan, a Professor of Cognitive Robotics at Imperial College London and consultant for Ex Machina, joins journalist Azeem Azhar and The Economist's Tom Standage. They delve into the fascinating idea of AI as the 'space of possible minds.' The discussion covers the ethical complexities of AI, the differences between AI and machine learning, and the societal impacts of automation. Shanahan also shares an intriguing easter egg from Ex Machina, leaving listeners reflecting on their responsibilities towards intelligent technologies.
The podcast emphasizes the broad concept of intelligence, suggesting future AI might not just be humanoid but exist in various forms and networks.
It highlights the ethical challenges of automated decision-making in AI, particularly regarding transparency and the need for understanding the reasoning behind AI decisions.
Deep dives
The Nature of Intelligence and Consciousness
The discussion highlights the expansive concept of intelligence, particularly focusing on the hypothesis that intelligence may not be confined to human or animal forms. It emphasizes the possibility of varied embodiments of artificial intelligence (AI), suggesting that future AI might manifest as not just humanoid robots but also distributed networks connected through the internet. This concept of 'vicarious embodiment' suggests that AI could utilize the data from vast amounts of online content, such as videos, to learn about the world indirectly. Such a broad understanding of intelligence opens up questions about the nature and design of future AI systems.
The Role of Inner Rehearsal in AI Learning
The podcast addresses the importance of 'inner rehearsal' in understanding both human and AI cognition, where individuals mentally simulate scenarios to inform decision-making. This process mimics certain AI learning approaches, which focus on reinforcement learning but often lack the nuanced predictive aspects of human thinking. The argument posits that integrating inner rehearsal mechanisms into AI could enhance its ability to learn from experiences and generate imaginative scenarios. This suggests a gap in current AI systems that could be bridged by exploring how such mechanisms contribute to intelligence.
Implications of AI in Decision-Making
The conversation touches on the ethical complexities surrounding AI systems that automate decision-making processes, underscoring the challenges of transparency and accountability in their operations. This includes the concern that, unlike expert systems that can explain their reasoning, complex AI systems may leave end-users without clear understanding of their decision-making logic. The potential for AI to influence significant societal and governmental decisions raises questions about the ethical repercussions of depending on mechanisms that lack discernible reasoning. As AI systems become more integrated into daily life, establishing frameworks for understanding their decisions will be crucial.
Future Outlook and the Nature of AI
The discussion explores the differing perspectives on the evolution and future of AI, emphasizing the distinction between specialized artificial intelligence and more generalized human-level AI. It reflects on the skepticism surrounding the idea of a rapid 'takeoff' scenario in AI development while acknowledging the current excitement driven by advancements in technology, data availability, and algorithms. The conversation recognizes the role of major corporations in shaping this landscape due to their vast data resources and research capabilities, raising questions about the implications for startups and academia. Ultimately, it suggests that understanding AI’s potential requires openness to various possibilities regarding its future evolution.
What is A.I. or artificial intelligence but the 'space of possible minds', argues Murray Shanahan, scientific advisor on the movie Ex Machina and Professor of Cognitive Robotics at Imperial College London.
In this special episode of the a16z Podcast brought to you on the ground from London, Shanahan -- along with journalist-turned-entrepreneur Azeem Azhar (who also curates The Exponential View newsletter on AI and more) and The Economist Deputy Editor Tom Standage (the author of several tech history books) -- we discuss the past, present, and future of A.I. ... as well as how it fits (or doesn't fit) with machine learning and deep learning.
But where are we now in the A.I. evolution? What players do we think will lead, if not win, the current race? And how should we think about issues such as ethics and automation of jobs without descending into obvious extremes? All this and more, including a surprise easter egg in Ex Machina shared by Shanahan, whose work influenced the movie.
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