Highly intelligent AI discussion by Dawkins & Pinker

The title of the discussion is too tiny.

I met and was profoundly impressed by Steven Pinker in 1970 (in the midst of the insanity of anti-war movement and blatant stupidities of Harvard radicals both students and supposed sages) and have read everything he has published ever since. Although I never met Richard Dawkins I have long read and admired him. Their discussion on this video is stellar. The jewel in the discussion occurs for a few minutes at 56:30 when they begin to discuss AI and read a poem, but I only push you there to increase the chances that you listen to the entire video.

They also mention their recently deceased friend/colleague Daniel Dennet, who is my favorite author within modern science/philosophy, and a strong proponent of most of their works, while offering solid combative questioning on the side.

You will have to be lucky to find a better condensed examination of who we now are and what AI might be for humans as we evolve.

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I very much enjoyed Daniel Dennet’s talks. The one that sticks out the most is the one on memes.

  • ÂżWhat are memes for?
  • ¡For themselves!

My conclusion, “If god is a meme, an atheist can believe that gods exist!” Only two of the four horsemen remain.

Secularism is being blamed for many of today’s problems. it certainly is less cohesive than religion but a study of history reveals a lot of religious horrors. Pogo got it right…

Can We Still Be Optimistic About the Future?

The Future could care less!
Take care of the Present.

The Captain

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