Scientists Worry Machines May Outsmart Man

Posted by Soulskill on Sunday July 26, 2009 @01:11AM from the forecasting-a-great-toaster-revolt dept.

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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Re:I thought this was the whole point? by Devout_IPUite · 2009-07-26 01:59 · Score: 5, Interesting

Regardless of political orientation, this research WILL get done. If the US doesn't get it done, China will. How does that make you feel?
Re:I thought this was the whole point? by oneirophrenos · 2009-07-26 02:53 · Score: 5, Interesting

1) Let them (the stupid people) starve
They are not going to starve. If there's one thing to learn from poverty, it's that it makes people revolt and rebel. Welfare is a means with which to pacify the poor so you'll have at least some form of social order in a society where unemployment exists.