I have argued above that we cannot prevent the Singularity that its coming is an inevitable consequence of the humans natural competitiveness and the possibilities inherent in technology.
I argue in this paper that we are on the edge of change comparable to the rise of human life on Earth.
Even the largest avalanche is triggered by small things.
Effective translation of natural languages comes awfully close to requiring a sentient translator program.
The illusion of self-awareness. Happy automatons running on trivial programs. I'll bet you never guess. From the inside how can you?
I am suggesting that we recognize that in network and interface research there is something as profound (and potential wild) as Artificial Intelligence.
One of his greatest talents was empathy; no sadist can aspire to perfection without that diagnostic ability.
But every time our ability to access information and to communicate it to others is improved in some sense we have achieved an increase over natural intelligence.
How will the approach of the Singularity spread across the human world view?
Animals can adapt to problems and make inventions but often no faster than natural selection can do its work - the world acts as its own simulator in the case of natural selection.
Peregrine Wickwrackrum was of two minds about evil: when enough rules get broken sometimes there is good amid the carnage.
In fact there was general agreement that minds can exist on nonbiological substrates and that algorithms are of central importance to the existence of minds.
He claimed that nearby gun thunder cleared the mind - but most everybody else agreed it made you daft.
Sometimes the biggest disasters aren't noticed at all - no one's around to write horror stories.
We humans have millions of years of evolutionary baggage that makes us regard competition in a deadly light.
Well what do you know " Pham said. "Butterflies in jackboots.
Note that I am not proposing that AI research be ignored or less funded.
The work that is truly productive is the domain of a steadily smaller and more elite fraction of humanity.
When people speak of creating superhumanly intelligent beings they are usually imagining an AI project.
Ravna became a librarian. "The ultimate dilettante!" Lynne had teased.
The problem is not simply that the Singularity represents the passing of humankind from center stage but that it contradicts our most deeply held notions of being.
IA is something that is proceeding very naturally in most cases not even recognized by its developers for what it is.
It was not called the Net of a Million Lies for nothing.
Politics may come and go but Greed goes on forever.
Peregrine Wickwrackscar was flying. A pilgrim with legends that went back almost a thousand years-and not one of them could come near to this!
Another symptom of progress toward the Singularity: ideas themselves should spread ever faster and even the most radical will quickly become commonplace.
Technical people don't make good slaves. Without their wholehearted cooperation things fall apart.
I never guessed I could cry so hard my face hurt.
It is a point where our old models must be discarded and a new reality rules.
What we have is a data glut.
How to explain? How to describe? Even the omniscient viewpoint quails.
Sometimes terror and pain are not the best levers; deception when it works is the most elegant and the least expensive manipulation of all.
The dilemma felt by science fiction writers will be perceived in other creative endeavors.
The physical extinction of the human race is one possibility.
The heart of manipulation is to empathize without being touched.
We're endangered by our own success.
Within thirty years we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after the human era will be ended.
Once upon a time I was such a good liar; I could talk the fish right into my mouths.
Intelligence is the handmaiden of flexibility and change.
He was guided by what he saw rather than by what he wanted to believe.
The voice was gentle like a scalpel petting the short hairs of your throat.
Life is a green madness just now trying to squeeze the last bit of warmth from the season.
Little fish risking everything for a piece of godhood...and not knowing heaven from hell even when they find it.
If there be only hours at least learn what there is time to learn.
But if the technological Singularity can happen it will.
Poor humans; they will all die.""Poor us; we will not.
I have come to kill you."The death's heads shrugged. "You have come to try.
Pham Nuwen plunked himself down stretching indolently.
I say let's learn more and then speculate.
So much technology so little talent.
And for all my rampant technological optimism sometimes I think I'd be more comfortable if I were regarding these transcendental events from one thousand years remove... instead of twenty.
We're long on high principles and short on simple human understanding.
All evil and good is petty before Nature. Personally we take comfort from this that there is a universe to admire that cannot be twisted to villainy or good but which simply is.
Within thirty years we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence.