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Scientists Worry Machines May Outsmart Man

Strudelkugel writes "The NY Times has an article about a conference during which the potential dangers of machine intelligence were discussed. 'Impressed and alarmed by advances in artificial intelligence, a group of computer scientists is debating whether there should be limits on research that might lead to loss of human control over computer-based systems that carry a growing share of society's workload, from waging war to chatting with customers on the phone. Their concern is that further advances could create profound social disruptions and even have dangerous consequences.' The money quote: 'Something new has taken place in the past five to eight years,' Dr. Horvitz said. 'Technologists are replacing religion, and their ideas are resonating in some ways with the same idea of the Rapture.'"

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  1. Great title... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Scientists Worry Machines May Outsmart Man"

    I have a solution to the problem: Don't let Scientists build Worry Machines.

  2. Re:Outsmart man? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It will also grapple, Dr. Horvitz said, with socioeconomic, legal and ethical issues, as well as probable changes in human-computer relationships. How would it be, for example, to relate to a machine that is as intelligent as your spouse?

    I don't know... let me see a photo of this machine...

  3. Re:Old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oblig. : "My computer beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kickboxing."