From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Mon Dec 31 2001 - 07:27:02 MST
From: "Adrian Tymes" <wingcat@pacbell.net>
> As someone who works for them, I most emphatically disagree that WLG as
> it stands today is any closer than we are to "owning" the Singularity.
> They have zero concept of AI
I think that what brings a monopolistic corporation close to owning the
technological singularity involves the alliances the corporation has. So,
whether it's WLG or Microsoft that ends up with the patents to IT which
accompany the rights to human-competitive AI expert systems, GP, etc., depends
on which AI companies they own rather than on their ability to conceptualize
AI. It's not necessary to have a concept of internal combustion engines in
order to own a fleet of Rolls Royce automobiles. All it takes is money.
"When you can buy intelligence, alliances are more important than ability."
--Kim Cosmos
> You forget: they think they own the law.
But of course they are wrong.
Everyone knows that Microsoft owns the law.
©¿©¬
> The only defense they believe
> they need is the legal system itself, and they believe they are
> sufficiently defended by it against all comers, now and forever. (No
> matter how good a lawyer is, when the law is clear and explicit on a
> certain matter and the facts are known well enough, the outcome tends to
> be predetermined. Which is kind of the point of laws.)
Well and accurately said, and because the law works that way, nothing (not
even a technological singularity) can evade the law. As Peter Voss has pointed
out, there are several reasons why so few researchers are pursuing real AI.
(See the thread: Artificial General Intelligence Workshops) Add to his list of
reasons that AI research could become illegal.
Then only outlaws will pursue real AI.
--- --- --- --- ---
Useless hypotheses, etc.:
consciousness, phlogiston, philosophy, vitalism, mind, free will, qualia,
analog computing, cultural relativism, GAC, Cyc, Eliza, cryonics, individual
uniqueness, ego, human values, scientific relinquishment, malevolent AI,
non-sensory experience, SETI
We move into a better future in proportion as science displaces superstition.
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