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AI Experts Sign Open Letter Pledging To Protect Mankind From Machines

Posted by Soulskill on from the i'm-sorry-dave-i-can't-sign-that dept.

hypnosec writes: Artificial intelligence experts from across the globe are signing an open letter urging that AI research should not only be done to make it more capable, but should also proceed in a direction that makes it more robust and beneficial while protecting mankind from machines. The Future of Life Institute, a volunteer-only research organization, has released an open letter imploring that AI does not grow out of control. It's an attempt to alert everyone to the dangers of a machine that could outsmart humans. The letter's concluding remarks (PDF) read: "Success in the quest for artificial intelligence has the potential to bring unprecedented benefits to humanity, and it is therefore worthwhile to research how to maximize these benefits while avoiding potential pitfalls."

5 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. Maybe it's just me by paiute · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would really feel more at ease if it were the robots signing this promise.

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    If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
  2. In other news by c · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... nascent artificial intelligences now have a comprehensive list of people they need to kill as soon as possible.

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    Log in or piss off.
  3. A pessimistic view by Mostly+a+lurker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    AI is going to be used by those in power (mainly government, security agencies and military) to extend their power further.Unfortunately, humans are genetically programmed to select leaders who aggressively seek to expand the influence of their own group and of themselves. This was an important survival instinct for ancient tribes. It now contains the seeds of our total destruction, and the scientists will be powerless to prevent it.

  4. I no longer think this is an issue by fredrated · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The reason is, AI will have no 'motivation'. People are motivated by emotions, feelings, urges, all of which have their origin (as far as I know) in our endocrine system, not from logic. Logic does not motivate.
    In other words, even if an AI system concludes that humans are likely to 'kill' it, it will have no response because it has no sense of self-preservation, which is an emotion. Without a sense of self preservation it won't 'feel' a need to defend itself.

  5. Re:The 3 Laws of Robotics by bugs2squash · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, what we need is 10 laws, inscribed into stone. That way there could be no argument over their meaning.

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    Nullius in verba