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Hawking: AI Could Be 'Worst Event in the History of Our Civilization' (usatoday.com)
An anonymous reader shares a USA Today report: Elon Musk isn't the only high-profile figure concerned about the rise of artificial intelligence. Scientist Stephen Hawking warned AI could serve as the "worst event in the history of our civilization" unless humanity is prepared for its possible risks. Hawking made the remarks during the opening night of the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal. Hawking expects AI to transform every part of our lives, with the potential to undo damage done to the Earth and cure diseases. However, Hawking said AI could also spur the creation of powerful autonomous weapons of terror that could be used as a tool "by the few to oppress the many." "Success in creating effective AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilization, or the worst," he said. Hawking called for more research in AI on how to best use the technology, as well as implored scientists to think about AI's impact. "Perhaps we should all stop for a moment and focus our thinking on not only making AI more capable and successful, but maximizing its societal benefit," he said.
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The million dollar question is: can A.I. become _actually_ conscious?
Imagine the answer to that day is "Yes" and a future day where Scientists have _finally_ figured out how Consciousness is represented.
They can:
* download it
* duplicate it
* upload it
No longer would a human's life be reduced to doing demotivating and demoralizing menial tasks where a human is just-another-cog in some assembly line building parts, doing janitorial work, etc.
A.I. could potentially allows us as a species to increase the quality of life. This is why we invent machines in the first place!
A) To do all the boring crap that we don't want to do in the first place, and
B) Scale up. i.e. Farm machines can do what it would take hundreds of people to do.
C) To do it faster
D) With less mistakes
E) Cheaper
A.I. is just the natural evolution of empowering a tool to do human's tasks.
If the secret of consciousness is eventually found, it would also effectively, this would end death.
The implications of "A.I. become truly sentient" are mind-blowing.
A.I. is just like any other technology. It can be abused, or used correctly
Do we need to proceed with caution? Yes.
Do we need to panic? No.
We need to proceed methodically and with careful consideration viewing ALL the angles: Both positive and negative, instead of a knee-jerk "The World is DOOMED! Doomed, I tell you!"
A.I. is eventually going to happen -- whether we want it or not.
Silicon Consciousness has a lot to offer and teach Carbon-based Consciousness.
Things are going to get REAL interesting ...