Re: Hawking misquoted on computers taking over

From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Fri Sep 14 2001 - 13:16:59 MDT


"J. R. Molloy" wrote:
>
> > "There is a real danger that computers will develop intelligence,
> > and take over. We urgently need to develop direct connections to the brain,
> > so that computers can add to human intelligence, rather than be in
> > opposition."
> --S. Hawking
>
> Adding to "human" intelligence will further enable the kind of intelligence
> which resulted in the religious fanatic attack on the WTC and the Pentagon on
> September 11, 2001. Extropy needs a new kind of intelligence, a pure
> intelligence with transhuman rather than human values. The intelligence that
> computers develop opposes human intelligence for good reason, viz., human
> intelligence is infected with memes of religiosity. Intelligent life will
> either take the quantum leap to a higher form of intelligence, moving from
> biology to vitology, or intelligent life (on this planet) will end.
>

Uh, J.R., this is a faith-based claim if ever I saw one. We
have no idea what kind of intelligence computer minds will
develop nor what the relative level of benevolence/malevolence
will be.

> Useless hypotheses, etc.:
> consciousness, phlogiston, philosophy, vitalism, mind, free will, qualia,
> analog computing, cultural relativism, GAC, Cyc, Eliza, cryonics, individual
> uniqueness, ego, human values
>

Useless hypothesis: The computers will be much better than we
and are much to be preffered
 

- samantha



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