See yesterday’s beginning remarks

By Louis Rosenberg – An alien species is headed toward earth. Many experts predict it will get here within 20 years, while others suggest it may take a little longer. Either way, there is little doubt it will arrive before this century is out and we humans have no reason to believe it will be friendly.     

An alien species is headed toward earth. Many experts predict it will get here within 20 years, while others suggest it may take a little longer. Either way, there is little doubt it will arrive before this century is out and we humans have no reason to believe it will be friendly.     

While I can’t say exactly what it will look like, I am confident it will be unlike us in almost every way, from its physiology and morphology to its psychology and sociology. Still, we will quickly determine it shares two key traits with us humans: consciousness and self-awareness. And while we may resist admitting this, we will eventually conclude that it is far more intelligent than even the smartest among us. 

No, this alien will not come from a distant planet in a fanciful ship. Instead it will be born right here on earth, hatched in a well-funded research lab at a prestigious university or multinational corporation. I am referring to the first general artificial intelligence (AGI) to demonstrate thinking capabilities that exceed our own.  

I know — there are some scientists who believe AGI will not happen for generations, while others suggest it may never be attainable. That said, researchers have surveyed large numbers of AI experts many times over the past decade and nearly half consistently predict AGI will happen before 2060. And with each passing year, the speed of advancements in the field of AI exceeds industry expectations. Read On: