ICYMI Eliezer Yudkowsky, a self-taught artificial intelligence decision theorist (whatever that is) got the tech world in a tizzy by suggesting that a proposed six-month pause in AI development is not enough and we should shut it all down now or “literally everyone on Earth will die.” He sees this[…] Read On
For years I’ve watched friends tie themselves up in knots trying to discover the meaning of life. Which really sucks because that’s time they could have spent actually enjoying what little time they have on this planet. Don’t get me wrong. I am intensely curious about the workings of the[…] Read On
From Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 to Idiocracy and Zombieland we’ve seen countless depictions of depressing dystopian futures. The greatest imaginations in history have told some horrific tales of what the world might someday become. They ain’t got nothing on 2020. You know how I’m always saying, “you just can’t make[…] Read On
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface startup, just revealed a system it hopes to start testing on humans next year. Think about it. Surgically implanting thousands of electrodes so your brain can connect directly to the internet through a high-bandwidth USB-C port. Sure. Sign me up. I mean, what could possibly[…] Read On
“There’s a one in a billion chance that this is reality.” – Elon Musk There is a growing school of thought in the scientific community that we are all living inside a computer simulation designed by some super-advanced civilization. This is not some fringe idea dreamed up by a weed-smoking[…] Read On
Millions of Trekkies recently celebrated the birthday of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. I was a sci-fi nut growing up, and that was hands down my favorite show as a kid. What I loved most was its portrayal of a kinder, gentler, more united future world. There was a United[…] Read On
Few are as critical of the status quo as I am, but it serves a real purpose in our lives. The status quo brings stability. Organization. Tranquility. Comfort. A feeling of sameness. It’s a hedge against change, which makes everyone nervous and some people neurotic, including me. Meanwhile, we live[…] Read On