Ben Goertzel, CEO of SingularityNet and a pioneering AI researcher since the 1970s, shares insights on the unique characteristics of today's AI boom. They discuss the importance of revisiting overlooked AI research and debate whether the first AGI will be simple or complex. Goertzel explores the challenging feasibility of aligning AGI with human values and the economic implications of this technology. He also identifies potential bottlenecks to achieving superintelligence and advocates for proactive measures humanity should take moving forward.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Early AGI Inspiration
Ben Goertzel was inspired by Gerald Feinberg's 1973 book "The Prometheus Project" predicting superintelligent machines and nanotech.
This early exposure framed his belief in AGI happening within decades.
insights INSIGHT
Scale and Culture Drive AI
AI progress is driven mainly by scale of compute and data, enabling ideas from decades ago to finally work.
Cultural acceptance now lets more researchers pursue AGI without career risk, accelerating development.
insights INSIGHT
Scaling Historic AI Paradigms
Many historic AI methods likely work better at larger scales, not yet possible until recently.
Combining scaled-up approaches like logic, evolutionary learning, and neural nets may form the path to AGI.
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In 'The Singularity Is Near', Ray Kurzweil discusses the concept of the technological singularity, where technological change becomes so rapid and profound that it transforms human civilization. He predicts that by 2045, machine intelligence will exceed human intelligence, leading to a human-machine civilization where experiences shift from real to virtual reality. Kurzweil envisions significant advancements in fields like nanotechnology, genetics, and robotics, which will solve issues such as human aging, pollution, world hunger, and poverty. The book also considers the social and philosophical ramifications of these changes, maintaining a radically optimistic view of the future course of human development.
The Design of Innovation
The Design of Innovation
David Goldberg
The Phenomenon of Science
A cybernetic approach to human evolution
Valentin Fyodorovich Turchin
In 'The Phenomenon of Science', Valentin Turchin presents a comprehensive evolutionary scheme of the universe, integrating cybernetic principles to explain the emergence of complex systems. The book explores how higher levels of control evolve, leading to the development of life, human self-consciousness, and scientific knowledge. Turchin's approach emphasizes the role of random variations and environmental interactions in evolution, rejecting purposeful or preordained development.
The Prometheus Project
Gerald Feinberg
In 'The Prometheus Project', Gerald Feinberg discusses the potential impact of technologies like AI and genetic engineering on human society. He proposes a global democratic process to set long-term goals for humanity, suggesting that the United Nations could facilitate a worldwide discussion on how to use these technologies for the betterment of human consciousness or to avoid consumerism. The book is a pioneering work in examining the intersection of technology and societal goals.
On this episode, Ben Goertzel joins me to discuss what distinguishes the current AI boom from previous ones, important but overlooked AI research, simplicity versus complexity in the first AGI, the feasibility of alignment, benchmarks and economic impact, potential bottlenecks to superintelligence, and what humanity should do moving forward.
Future of Life Institute Podcast 
