Future of artificial intelligence

Directed Evolution In Silico

by Christopher Altman

In search of optimality: A systems technologist goes east [from New Zealand!]

by Peter Mellalieu

Mellalieu, P. J. (1983). In search of optimality: A systems technologist goes east. Overseas study report. Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).

In 1983, the author undertook a period of post-doctoral study based in the operations research departments at... more In 1983, the author undertook a period of post-doctoral study based in the operations research departments at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Lancaster University, England. The objectives of the overseas study were to report on practical developments in using systems technologies applied to planning activities. Of special concern was the application of such techniques to strategic planning and R&D planning. The report details the itinerary of the tour, observations, and recommendations.

The important developments observed were:

In business situations there is a strong emphasis in providing computer-based end-user oriented systems often using graphics and microcomputers

Artificial intelligence approaches, especially expert systems have already begun to be used by industrial practitioners.

In the United States, research into the planning and operation of flexible manufacturing systems (such as networks of robots) is a topic of high concern amongst operations researchers.

Strategic management is developing a strong discipline in its own right, with traditional operations research techniques being viewed as one of many available analytical tools.

The availability of both software and hardware computer technologies far exceeds the capacity of even large organisations to identify where the technology could be applied, what benefits might occur and how to adopt the technology.

The report recommends that New Zealand’s principle industrial and scientific organisation (DSIR) should play a major role in encouraging the construction of a ‘knowledge infrastructure’ that facilitates effective communication of technological know-how between national knowledge centers. The first generation of such an infrastructure are now emerging, but in a fragmented fashion. DSIR’s attention should focus on the strategic specification of the knowledge infrastructure needed by New Zealand in 1990. This specification will then identify pilot projects that should be commissioned over the next five years to provide the necessary base of experience for the detailed systems design. The report details specific proposals for achieving the recommendations.

Theories and Paradigms of the Future

by Tom Lombardo

In this paper, I present an overview of the broad range of general theories and paradigms of the future. Theories and... more In this paper, I present an overview of the broad range of general theories and paradigms of the future. Theories and paradigms of the future often begin with the belief that humanity is in the midst of a pervasive world transformation and attempt to explain the transformation and where the big changes may be taking us. There are, though, significant differences among theories on these basic questions. I describe a variety of the debates and conflicts between these different points of view and conclude the chapter with a summary of key themes and issues.

Theories of the future often focus on some particular theme or themes considered of central importance in the nature and organization of future events. I have grouped theories and paradigms according to a set of basic themes. Some theories, because they are broad and comprehensive and integrate several themes, could be listed under different themes. The theories are organized according to the following general themes:

Theories that Highlight Time and Change
Theories that Highlight Science, Technology, and Rationalism
Theories that Highlight Ecology and Nature
Theories that Highlight Psychology and Human Relations
Theories that Highlight Society, Culture, and Morals
Theories that Highlight the Spiritual, Religious, and Mystical
Integrative Theories

The descriptions of theories included provide a general overview of contemporary futurist thought; I have attempted to identify what I think are the most important, influential, and distinctive theories. The list is not intended to be definitive or complete – there are simply too many theories. The list does, however, provide a broad sampling of different approaches and areas of focus.

Look out--and beyond: The Singularity is coming

by Jeffrey Guterman

Guterman, J.T. (2011, October). Look out--and beyond: The Singularity is coming. Counseling Today, pp. 46-48.

Phenomenological Sociography and Time Travel

by Peter Theodoropoulos

Related to questions of Time, structure and aspectual dimensions of relational time. Related theories that I am working on to discuss this are syntactogenerics and syntactogenesis, Syntacto generics and Semanto Generics, Syntactogenesis and Semantogenesis relations, and the nature of time as emminative, immanent and transcendent meaning both virtual and ontological. Please offer your input if you so wish.

What is time? How is time non linear? What are the relational or assemblages of subjective structure, how can we... more What is time? How is time non linear? What are the relational or assemblages of subjective structure, how can we create a taxonomy of types of relational time? By what features does time seem linear, and what is the nature of conditioning, or ritual space that instantiates regularities IN the mind? How is this relation both physical and immaterial? IS there such thing as the immaterial? Can time be said to be Immaterial and materializable? Is time instantiative or phasic, normative and bound to rules or flexible? How do we understand distinctions in subjective and objective time, how can we quantify and compare and contrast variables of each? Is there such thing as a phase shift in which ontological bias may be met with nomological or noumenal objectivity, if so what are the expectations, means of discernment and systems available to explore critique, modify and experiment with time relations? What, finally, are some means to codify and structure simulations of these relations utilizing electromagnetic fields that may interface with the Neural correlates of Consciousness study to explore results? What should our ethical considerations with regards to this sort of study be? How was your day?

Foundations of AI: the big issues

by David Kirsh

Kirsh, D., Foundations of AI: the big issues, Artificial Intelligence 47 (1991) 3-30.

The objective of research in the foundations of Al is to explore such basic questions as: What is a theory in Al? What... more The objective of research in the foundations of Al is to explore such basic questions as: What is a theory in Al? What are the most abstract assumptions underlying the competing visions of intelligence? What are the basic arguments for and against each assumption? In this essay I discuss five foundational issues: (1) Core Al is the study of conceptualization and should begin with knowledge level theories. (2) Cognition can be studied as a disembodied process without solving the symbol grounding problem. (3) Cognition is nicely described in propositional terms. (4) We can study cognition separately from learning. (5) There is a single architecture underlying virtually all cognition. I explain what each of these implies and present arguments from both outside and inside Al why each has been seen as right or wrong.

Quantum Improvisation: The Cybernetic Presence

by Pauline Oliveros

Autonomy and desire in machines and cognitive agent systems

by Kevin Magill

Paper co-authored with Dr Yasemin J. Erden (St Mary's University College) and presented at the 'Third Symposium on Computing and Philosophy' (http://www.doc.gold.ac.uk/seminars/AISB/Philosophy+Computing.html) at the Convention of The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour (AISB), University of York, 4-7 April 2011 (http://www.aisb.org.uk/convention/aisb11/#).

The development of cognitive agent systems relies on theories of agency, within which the concept of desire is key.... more The development of cognitive agent systems relies on theories of agency, within which the concept of desire is key. Indeed, in the quest to develop increasingly autonomous cognitive agent systems desire has had a significant role. Yet we argue that insufficient attention has been given to analysis and clarification of desire as a complex concept. Accordingly, in this paper we discuss some key philosophical accounts of the nature of desire, including what distinguishes it from other mental and motivational states. We then draw on these theories in order to investigate the role, definition and adequacy of concepts of desire within applied theoretical models of agency and agent systems.

Converging Technologies: The Future of the Global Information Society

by Christopher Altman

First Committee chair report to the UN General Assembly, RSA Information Security Award for Outstanding Achievement (2004).

"Christopher Altman, Chairman of the UNISCA First Committee on Disarmament and International Security, was recently selected as recipient of the RSA Information Security Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Policy for his report to the General Assembly, "Converging Technologies: The Future of the Global Information Society."

"The RSA Conference and Awards is the world's most prestigious international information security conference for organizations that deploy, develop or investigate security or cryptography."

"Previous RSA Keynote speakers and Awards Recipients include Bill Gates, Microsoft Corporation, US Congressman Tom Davis, and Richard Clarke, former White House Security Advisor. "

The complex web of the global information grid will undergo explosive changes over coming decades. As advances in... more The complex web of the global information grid will undergo explosive changes over coming decades. As advances in science and technology converge, a myriad array of discoveries in biotechnology, nanotechnology and information technology will produce unpredictable effects that must be accounted for in any estimate of what the world will look like in this future. A strategically important feature of this world will be the emerging trend of information warfare. Though still immature at present day, this trend will become increasingly dominant in the years to come. The information warfare of tomorrow will be radically different from its prototype today. No longer will it be confined to the mainframes of the Internet or to corporate databases: the battleground of the future will draw into its scope the scientific advances being made today in bio and nano technologies. The divisions between man and machine will blur. When networked technologies are ubiquitous, a state-sponsored attack on electronic networks can have far-reaching, and devastating, physical consequences.

Problem Solved: Unfriendly AI

by Monica Anderson

Published in h+ Magazine as the first in a series.

The so-called "Scary Idea" of an Artificial Intelligence improving itself and taking over the world assumes... more The so-called "Scary Idea" of an Artificial Intelligence improving itself and taking over the world assumes the possibility of a logic-based intelligence that can improve without limits. But the limits on intelligence are not technological; rather, the usefulness of logic-based predictions, and hence intelligence, is limited by the unpredictability of the world. The debate about how to guarantee that future AIs will not be "Unfriendly" starts from incorrect premises and should be abandoned.

Efforts to build Logic-based Artificial intelligences are misguided. Instead, we should concentrate our efforts on Abduction based AI/AGI. These will become useful tools within our lifetimes.

PHD SYMPOSIUM “ANDROID AND EVE" - Tra biologia, medicina, tecnologia e… filosofia

by Francesca Ferrando

Published in Babel Rivista di Filosofia, Universita' di Roma Tre 2010

12-13 Novembre 2009. Si tiene a Vienna il Simposio rivolto ai PhD di tutto il mondo che si occupano di tematiche a... more 12-13 Novembre 2009. Si tiene a Vienna il Simposio rivolto ai PhD di tutto il mondo che si occupano di tematiche a cavallo tra biologia, medicina e tecnologia.
Il titolo è “Android & Eve”, un’interessante commistione di futuro interpretato al maschile (il femminile di “android” è “gynoid”), e di passato biblico-mitologico al femminile (Eva, la madre primigenia e curiosa)..