Impediments to Artificial General Intelligence
How realistic is machine superintelligence or AGI? Also, a book update.
In my last post I talked about wanting to shine more light on the transhumanist and cyborgian ideologies driving AI innovation in Silicon Valley, including writing a book about it. And I included a survey to gauge interest. A whopping 90% of those who responded said they were interested in hearing more about these ideologies, which is encouraging. And 64% were concerned about the rapid acceleration of AI and the predictions around creating superintelligence, while 36% were excited. Others were cautiously optimistic or seeking to help shape the direction of innovation. So I'm continuing to talk about this stuff, with lots more content planned.
I invite you to send me your questions and ideas to help shape my writing, future podcast episodes, and YouTube videos.
And, as I explore these questions, I will also continue to offer philosophical counseling and embodiment practices (beyond just yoga), as always. More on that coming soon.
Impediments to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
As I develop my ideas for the book, I will occasionally be putting out YouTube videos and podcast episodes about different pieces of it, to think through it in public. Last week I published a video explaining why I think artificial general intelligence (AGI) or superintelligence is not around the corner as many companies (like OpenAI and Google) are promising. This video simply lays the groundwork for the videos and podcast episodes I have planned diving more deeply into the ideologies driving AI development and hype. It's a bit long and somewhat technical but worth at least skimming.
In fact, a few thousand people watched the video in the first week, and the comments further demonstrate an ongoing interest in these philosophical questions that have the potential to shape the future, and our ideas of what it is to be human.
Again, my next few videos will explore those transhumanist and cyborgian ideologies driving AI development in greater depth, as well as their relationship to scientific materialism and other worldviews.
The Book and the Course
In terms of the book about contrasting these transhumanist ideologies with alternatives that celebrate what it means to be human alongside responsible technological innovation, I am putting the finishing touches on a book proposal and corresponding pitch to shop it around with publishers. If you join my Patreon, you can receive access to early drafts of specific sections.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I see this as a collaboration with all of you. Remember, the future will be very human, if we decide it will be!
Warmly,
Chad