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Ray Kurzweil Does Not Understand the Brain

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i-want-futurist-business-cards dept.

jamie writes "There he goes again, making up nonsense and making ridiculous claims that have no relationship to reality. Ray Kurzweil must be able to spin out a good line of bafflegab, because he seems to have the tech media convinced..."

4 of 830 comments (clear)

  1. IT press gasbags by benjfowler · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Kurtzweil is just the latest in a long line. How do you think publications like Fast Company and Wired get written?

    And does anybody remember JonKatz?

  2. PZ Myers does not understand computers ... by Lazy+Jones · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Kurzweil seems to understand the basics of Algorithmic Information Theory, whether by intuition or study, I can't tell. What I can tell is that PZ Myers has problems comprehending the interaction of code and data (hint: the history of billions of cells is data) and the fact that seen from outside the field of highly specialized machines for processing of digital information, 8 bytes of code can seem to do an extremely complex piece of work to their environment, just like small proteins observed from outside their "working environment". When we model the brain successfully, we will probably not do it by simulating proteins and their environment, we will simply simulate the input/output, i.e. on a higher level than what gets PZ, who wants to plug proteins into computers, so aroused.

    To simplify it so a computer science ignorant biologist with a tendency to inane rants can possibly get it, you don't need to simulate electrons in a semi-conductive material at specific temperatures in order to build a complete working emulator for an old computer.

    --
    "I love my job, but I hate talking to people like you" (Freddie Mercury)
  3. Kurzweil documentary on The Singularity by peter303 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Ray's documentary about the Singularity has been touring the national film festivals along with Ray. I saw it June. Its begins as a dull-talking heads piece about the current state of A.I. Many of the Big Name A.I. Scientists are interviewed. Then it transitions into a crime-drama story about the legal rights of A.I.s. That part was more interesting, since it had a story. The film is full of special effects to advance the story. Although I know most of the film to be factual, I suspect it will look like a scifi movie to the average audience member. I think Ray is seeking looking at broader distribution on cable television or arts theaters after the festival run.

    Ray was interesting in person during a film-makers Q&A. He reminded me of Woody Allen, but more confident and intelligent. He was graduated from M.I.T. about decade before myself. I personally believe in the Singularity, but more likely in centuries rather than decades.

  4. Re:ahh, the "singularity"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    religious woo

    Isn't that a tautology?

    (Incidentally, I'm really curious whether this comment will end up at -1, Troll or +5, Interesting now.)