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Max Spindle @compdealernews <\/p>\n
I love good science fiction because there is always a glimpse of a thought, an idea that ultimately becomes something tangible in our world.<\/p>\n
But Elon Musk\u2019s (Tesla, SpaceX) and Stephen Hawking\u2019s warning about perfecting AI (artificial intelligence) could lead us to create a demon we can\u2019t control made me wonder if it isn\u2019t already too late.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re already struggling to understand and manage AI<\/p>\n
AI is only one of our technological advances that will lead to Google\u2019s Raymond Kurzweil\u2019s favorite subject, Singularity.<\/p>\n
Kurzweil is also one of the founders of six-year-old Singularity University and his goal is to live 700 years +\/-.<\/p>\n
Actually, the way technology is rushing, he could live a helluva\u2019 lot longer \u2026 just not in his present form.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Computer Rush<\/p>\n
The basic building blocks for all of this are computer power and its application.<\/p>\n
Dynamic Power \u2013 Even though it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure Gordon Moore\u2019s Law keeps up with demand, industries keep looking for new ways to put computer power to work for us.<\/p>\n
There are those who say Moore\u2019s Law (the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years) has hit a brick wall but that hasn\u2019t slowed engineers from packing more and more power in smaller and smaller spaces at a lower and lower cost.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s great for our toys \u2013 computers, tablets, smartphones, wearables, game systems, cars. But engineers and scientists around the world see even greater potential and opportunities.<\/p>\n
The technology is moving forward so fast and processing so much, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the human mind to comprehend.<\/p>\n
Viewed separately, every one of the advances improves things for people around the globe.<\/p>\n
Put them together and jeez, humankind could quickly become as extinct as Neanderthals and dinosaurs. <\/p>\n
New Exhibit \u2013 Everything has its time in the spotlight and maybe the time when humankind will have outlived its usefulness on the globe is rapidly approaching.<\/p>\n
Since early Rome and Greece, we have had a fixation to improve humankind; make it better, stronger, last longer.<\/p>\n
Still, men and women grow old; develop rounded bellies; lose their hair and experience damaged and\/or worn out parts that are simply replaced.<\/p>\n
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Published on: August 14th, 2015 Max Spindle @compdealernews
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Published on: July 27th, 2015 Max Spindle @compdealernews
\nCrossing the Line<\/p>\n
But we\u2019re rapidly approaching the tipping point.<\/p>\n
The old rules, old guidelines of human survival could (will?) outlive their usefulness.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re reaching the point where good science\/technology will be put to use in ways the pioneering developers never intended.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with the basics \u2013 DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) the basic genetic instructions in your chromosomes that make up all known living organisms, viruses and diseases.<\/p>\n
Small Changes \u2013 Today, scientists are able to go into individual chromosomes and correct DNA to wipe out hereditary diseases and make \u201cother\u201d modifications\/improvements.<\/p>\n
DNA is basically biological information storage that determines the color of your skin, hair, eyes. It also determines your height and other physical\/mental characteristics.<\/p>\n
Along the way, and every so often, it gets screwed up and people are stricken with cancer, dementia, physical\/mental deformity and other bad things.<\/p>\n
Today, researchers are able to identify some of the DNA building blocks that can get out of whack and can eliminate or correct them so future humans won\u2019t experience cancer or be robbed of their mental capacities.<\/p>\n
Great, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n
But what if parents only want blond, blue-eyed boys or girls?<\/p>\n
What about physical or mental prowess?<\/p>\n
Done \u2026 done \u2026 and done!<\/p>\n
So much for surprise!<\/p>\n
Replacement Limbs<\/p>\n
Mankind isn\u2019t perfect.<\/p>\n
People have been born with deformed limbs from the time we first stood upright and walked on two appendages.<\/p>\n
The insanity of conflict has produced a terrible cost on our youngest, finest, best.<\/p>\n
Dedicated researchers have worked to make life better for these people with peg legs, hooks, claws and artificial limbs.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re good and getting better.<\/p>\n
Replacements \u2013 Scientists and engineers have made tremendous strides in helping people who have had deformed or lost limbs to enjoy life on their own terms. Work is being done to duplicate what nature provided.<\/p>\n
In addition to giving individuals the ability to pursue activities they want, really smart people are working on developing replacement limbs that work and look as the natural parts they replaced.<\/p>\n
Tens of thousands of people are returning from global conflicts and are finding that losing an arm or leg doesn\u2019t define them or limit them.<\/p>\n
Moving inside the body, we\u2019ve historically replaced individuals\u2019 diseased or worn out parts \u2013 hearts, livers, kidneys, blood vessels with matching parts from someone who has died.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a given the recipients\u2019 gain a new lease on life; but let\u2019s face it; it\u2019s rather a gruesome undertaking, isn\u2019t always available and doesn\u2019t always work.<\/p>\n
Moving Inside<\/p>\n
But even as we replicate the parts that are visible from the outside, interests are working to replace internal parts that have problems or have simply worn out.<\/p>\n
Upgrades \u2013 Instead of waiting for people to die to save the lives of others with new parts, 3D printing is being used to \u201cmanufacture\u201d new organs. There are still years of work to be done to perfect the process but medical researchers\/scientists have been making excellent progress.<\/p>\n
In 2011, a model of a 3D-printed kidney was heralded at a TED conference and paved the way for bioprinting \u2013 building organs that can be transplanted<\/p>\n
Succeeding in perfecting kidney \u201cproduction\u201d is important because this organ is in the highest demand with more than 120,000 U.S. patients awaiting transplants. Who knows how many around the globe die every year because transplant technology and parts aren\u2019t available.<\/p>\n
Researchers are making tremendous strides in using the 3D printing technology to use living human cells to build replacement organs.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a challenging task because kidneys and other organs have tens of thousands of cells per centimeter, but the goal is achievable.<\/p>\n
Speaking of cells, micro scientists are working to develop nanobots that can zero-in on specific problems to cure patients as well.<\/p>\n
Hunters, Fixers \u2013 A whole thriving industry is working around the world to perfect single-purpose and general-purpose nanobots that can be introduced into the body to seek out and neutralize problems as well as replace or augment cells.<\/p>\n
The industry is compressing computing technology (putting more and more circuits in smaller and smaller spaces) so the ultra-, ultra-miniature robots can seek out and neutralize diseased cells.<\/p>\n
These scientists are also working to develop\/program nanobots that can replace the bad cells and even augment, replace organs without invasive surgery.<\/p>\n
And that includes brain cells that are screwed up.<\/p>\n
Of course Google\u2019s Kurzweil sees the time when the brain nanobots will be connected to the cloud; which frankly, scares the hell outta\u2019 me!<\/p>\n
The Wrapper<\/p>\n
Moving back outside of humans, you have to agree that our covering is pretty impractical.<\/p>\n
As good as it looks on some folks; it\u2019s susceptible to heat\/cold, damage.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s really a poor covering for an amazing machine.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry \u2026 folks are working to remedy the situation.<\/p>\n
BAE Systems has already developed a \u201csmart skin\u201d for aircraft.<\/p>\n
Made up of millions of networked microsensors, it can monitor all kinds of things going on and deliver detailed information in real time to a central processor.<\/p>\n
In labs around the world, really smart people are working to apply the technology to benefit humans.<\/p>\n
\u201cBulky\u201d patches have been produced\/tested that help burn victims or simply monitor what\u2019s going on inside\/outside the body.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no simple task, but a finely tuned layer is being developed that will look like the human body that will renew itself, be able to gather energy from the sun, be able to monitor everything around you and still be shaped into the color, texture, image you\u2019ve come to expect.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all part of a larger plan some scientists envision called Primo Posthuman.<\/p>\n
Wrapper and All \u2013 Engineers are working to develop \u201csmart skin\u201d for a wide range of applications and it is only a matter of time until we put it to use to assist humans and our replacements. <\/p>\n
Don\u2019t get your knickers in a bind; it won\u2019t happen all at once.<\/p>\n
You know, it will sorta\u2019 happen bit by bit until BAM!!!<\/p>\n
Trust me, there are a helluva\u2019 lot of people who think this is a great idea.<\/p>\n
Kurzweil and a lot of Singularity graduates and believers like to point out the benefits:<\/p>\n
Ageless
\nReplaceable genes
\nUpgrades
\nError correction devices
\nEnlightened transhumanity
\nIntelligence 100 quadrillion synapses
\nMultiple viewpoints running in parallel
\nGender changeability
\nImpervious to environmental damage
\nTurbocharged optimism
\nWhy should all that computer power go to waste when it can be put to good use providing you with immortality?
\nIt may sound like a great idea to you, but I\u2019m more in agreement with British mathematician I.J. Good:<\/p>\n
\u201cLet an ultraintelligent machine be defined as a machine that can far surpass all the intellectual activities of any man however clever. Since the design of machines is one of these intellectual activities, an ultraintelligent machine could design even better machines; there would then unquestionably be an \u201cintelligence explosion,\u201d and the intelligence of man would be left far behind. Thus, the first ultraintelligent machine is the last invention that man need ever make.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite his warning, it\u2019ll happen.<\/p>\n
We already have smart bombs that will seek out and destroy targets deemed dangerous that governments are trying to control and limit.<\/p>\n
You know damn well that isn\u2019t going to happen.<\/p>\n
Maybe it\u2019s time to let AI and machines have their turn.<\/p>\n
Face it. Humankind has had a pretty good run with a somewhat spotty track record.<\/p>\n
The target date for completing \u201cthe project\u201d is between 2020 and 2045 which sorta\u2019, kinda\u2019 sounds reasonable.<\/p>\n
\u201dThis thing is like any intelligence. It needs to grow, to advance. Right now, it\u2019s settling somewhere it thinks it\u2019s safe from outside threats. Somewhere its massive appetite for power can be met. But it will want more than that. After a while, survival won\u2019t be enough. It will expand, evolve, influence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The good thing?<\/p>\n
I probably will have worn out and beat the crap out of what I had to work with by then.<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.computerdealernews.com\/news\/the-next-phase-in-artificial-intelligence-singularity\/44077<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Max Spindle @compdealernews I love good science fiction because there is always a glimpse of a thought, an idea that ultimately becomes something tangible in our world. But Elon Musk\u2019s (Tesla, SpaceX) and Stephen Hawking\u2019s warning about perfecting AI (artificial intelligence) could lead us to create a demon we can\u2019t control made me wonder if … Continue reading The next phase in Artificial Intelligence: Singularity<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aireligion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aireligion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aireligion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aireligion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aireligion.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/aireligion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48,"href":"https:\/\/aireligion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47\/revisions\/48"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aireligion.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aireligion.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=47"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aireligion.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=47"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}