The possibility of a generalized artificial intelligence becoming so dominant that it marginalizes humanity is a significant concern, echoed by notable figures like Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking. The threat lies in creating successors smarter than humans, potentially leading to job displacement within 10 years for repetitive tasks and eventually impacting creative roles. Speculations range from machines taking over or turning humans into pets. Contemplation arises on what information to share with advanced artificial intelligence, with debates on whether to reveal only positive aspects or to conceal negative aspects like war and cruelty. The historical analogy with the Romans highlights the longstanding dilemma of disclosing less favorable aspects of humanity when interacting with external entities.
From our narrow vantage point on Earth, how can we see what's out there, beyond our skies? We look to how scientists and scholars have studied eclipses, dark matter, deep-space transmissions from intelligent life and more, all in the hopes of painting a clearer picture of a vast and invisible universe.
Original Air Date: August 19, 2017
Interviews In This Hour:
How Eclipse Chasing Inspires Generations of Scientists — How Do We Investigate The Invisible Parts of the Universe? — Search For Life In All The Wrong Places — What Can You Hear In Space? — The Universe Is Under No Obligation To Make Sense To Us
Guests:
David Baron, Priya Natarajan, Seth Shostak, Don Gurnett, Neil deGrasse Tyson
Further Reading:
NASA: 2024 Eclipse Explorer
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