Beyond Humans!

When a new year begins people like to look ahead and predict what’s coming next or on a personal level commit to doing things differently.  That’s all nice, but it’s also a waste of time.  For me, I’m happy to see what 2016 will bring as it unfolds, day by day.

Having said that, I invite you to consider the following: In the area of Artificial Intelligence the future is already here.  We have created machines that have the ability to outthink our human brains.  They are faster than we are.  They are more precise than we are.  Once they learn something or make a mistake, they can correct and improve themselves order of magnitude better than we can.

They are still behind when it comes to emotions.  But here too, they are catching up.  To assume that we have a unique capacity to outstrip them in this arena is wishful thinking.  

Some very smart people have their heads in the sand.  They think this challenge to our supremacy is not a danger because we can build in safeguards.  Not so.  We have lost/are losing the control that we have assumed is ours in perpetuity.  So a new paradigm, if there is to be one in which humans are relevant, is unthinkable at the moment, i.e., it is beyond our ability to conceive.  

There is no point in being pessimistic or cynical or resigned.  This is happening whether we like it – or not.  We might as well sit back and enjoy the ride - or not.

Happy New Year!