The technological singularity / Murray Shanahan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shanahan, Murray.

Series:

The MIT Press essential knowledge series.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Artificial intelligence--Forecasting.

Artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence--Psychological aspects.

Technology--Social aspects.

Technology.

Conscious automata.

Brain--Computer simulation.

Brain.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (269 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press, [2015]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"The idea that human history is approaching a 'singularity'--that ordinary humans will someday be overtaken by artificially intelligent machines or cognitively enhanced biological intelligence, or both--has moved from the realm of science fiction to serious debate. Some singularity theorists predict that if the field of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to develop at its current dizzying rate, the singularity could come about in the middle of the present century. Murray Shanahan offers an introduction to the idea of the singularity and considers the ramifications of such a potentially seismic event. Shanahan's aim is not to make predictions but rather to investigate a range of scenarios. Whether we believe that singularity is near or far, likely or impossible, apocalypse or utopia, the very idea raises crucial philosophical and pragmatic questions, forcing us to think seriously about what we want as a species. Shanahan describes technological advances in AI, both biologically inspired and engineered from scratch. Once human-level AI--theoretically possible, but difficult to accomplish--has been achieved, he explains, the transition to superintelligent AI could be very rapid. Shanahan considers what the existence of superintelligent machines could mean for such matters as personhood, responsibility, rights, and identity. Some superhuman AI agents might be created to benefit humankind; some might go rogue. (Is Siri the template, or HAL?) The singularity presents both an existential threat to humanity and an existential opportunity for humanity to transcend its limitations. Shanahan makes it clear that we need to imagine both possibilities if we want to bring about the better outcome"--MIT CogNet.

Contents:

Routes to Artificial Intelligence

Whole Brain Emulation

Engineering AI

Superintelligence

AI and Consciousness

The Impact of AI

Heaven or Hell.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

OCLC-licensed vendor bibliographic record.

ISBN:

0-262-33183-7

0-262-33182-9

OCLC:

917889148