AI chatbots are like replicators. What could go … In his latest Plaintext newsletter, Steven Levy recounts his conversation earlier this summer with legendary artificial intelligence researcher Geoffrey Hinton, “after he [Hinton] had some time to reflect on his post-Google life and mission” – in his “new career as a philosopher.” The fears Hinton is… Continue reading Will androids be less tribal? – restraining AI ‘replicator’ risk
Fusion dreams – big science tokamak travail
No “Mr. Fusion” in the near future. Perhaps not even a giant tokamak. Here’s a tale of ongoing Big Science travail, Big Science going bust. A schedule that just keeps slipping into the future. • Scientific American > “World’s Largest Fusion Project Is in Big Trouble, New Documents Reveal” by Charles Seife (June 15, 2023)… Continue reading Fusion dreams – big science tokamak travail
AI chatbot reality check – the bottom line?
Generative AI chatbots might be cool to many. But the heat (greenhouse gas emissions) and cost may deflate hype as a reality check for the botton line. Generative AI data center server infrastructure plus operating costs will challenge the business models and profitability of emergent services incorporating this tech [1]. • Washington Post > “AI… Continue reading AI chatbot reality check – the bottom line?
Lords of AI – Tech giants and an International Agency
UPDATE May 17, 2023: Proper funding for a new federal AI agency is needed to match the tech industry’s speed and power. The name for the prospective agency and a map of its possible functions are yet to be determined. But does having one agency regulate all AI make sense? – vs. adding AI oversight… Continue reading Lords of AI – Tech giants and an International Agency
Meet Bard – an early experiment by Google
Today, via email, I received an invitation to try Google’s new Bard Chatbot. After a limited, cautious demonstration in 2020, there’s now a limited public beta test. Because that protocol is the way to collect “valuable data” – at public scale. Sort of like a large clinical trial of a new medicine, eh [1]. Meet… Continue reading Meet Bard – an early experiment by Google