a16z Podcast
a16z Podcast: Artificial Intelligence and the 'Space of Possible Minds'
Nov 15, 2015
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.
41:41
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Quick takeaways
- 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.
